Traditional Indonesian music - Gamelan percussion band
Gamelan refers to traditional Indonesian orchestral arrangements that include metallophones, xylophones, flutes, gongs, vocals, and various string instruments. It is both a term for the musical ensemble and the set of instruments, primarily made of hand-forged metal. Gamelan music, an integral part of Indonesian culture dating back to at least the eighth century, features distinct regional styles: the vigorous and intense Balinese gamelan and the softer, calming Javanese gamelan. This cultural heritage, involving vocalists, instrumentalists, and instrument-makers, is passed down through generations via both informal and formal education. In Bali, boys start practicing gamelan early, with village bands called beleganjur regularly rehearsing. The term "gamelan" originates from the Javanese word "gamel," meaning drumming or hitting, reflecting the ensemble's percussion dominance. The Balinese gamelan produces a unique, energetic melody through the synchronized striking of instruments with wooden mallets.
Origins of Gamelan Music
Gamelan music adheres to precise rules and techniques regarding tuning, layout, rhythms, and performance. It involves simultaneous melody playing and interlocking parts to form a single rhythm, performed by men, women, and children across various events such as religious rituals, ceremonies, traditional theatre, festivals, and concerts. Gamelan also serves music therapy and connects humans to the universe.
In Java, the classical performance known as Karawitan, which means "delicate" or "intricate," accompanies traditional dances, vocals, and puppetry. Karawitan categorizes Gamelan by function and type, including ensembles like Gamelan Kodhok Ngorek for weddings, Gamelan Munggang for royal ceremonies, Gamelan Sekaten for Islamic and royal ceremonies, and Gamelan Carabalen for entertainment.
Gamelan Kodhok Ngorek and Gamelan Munggang are the oldest Javanese ensembles, originating in the 12th century, and they established the gentle and loud styles of Gamelan music. From the 17th century, these styles influenced Gamelan performances in Sunda, Java, and Bali. Gamelan, adapted from Hindu-Buddhist culture during the Majapahit Dynasty, shows Indian influence in Javanese singing and Wayang Kulit puppet plays. The earliest evidence of Gamelan, found in an 8th-century Borobudur temple sculpture, depicts musicians with various instruments
Wajang - shadow Indonesian theater accompanied by traditional musical instruments
Music Gamelan and Mythology
According to Javanese mythology, the deity Sang Hyang Guru created Gamelan music. He ruled Java from his palace on Mahendra Mountain (now Mount Lawu) in AD 230. Initially, he invented a gong to summon other gods, and later added a second gong for specific messages, forming the initial model of a Gamelan set.
In West Java, the Sundanese people perform Gamelan Degung at local events and gatherings, alongside other styles like Gamelan Salendro and Tembang Sunda. Sundanese Gamelan has a distinctive style different from Javanese and Balinese Gamelan.
In the 19th century, Central Javanese rulers refined Gamelan music into an intricate orchestral form using two main tuning systems: sléndro and pélog. Sléndro features five tones with large, nearly equidistant intervals, while pélog has seven tones with uneven intervals, usually played in subsets of five. Other tuning systems include Degung for Sundanese Gamelan and Madenda, similar to the European minor scale.
Traditional Balinese Music
Upon arriving in Bali, you'll be greeted by the soothing sounds of traditional Balinese music. Gamelan music is ubiquitous, heard in hotel lobbies, spas, restaurants, and town squares where children and adults practice.
Balinese children are encouraged to join village gamelan bands, called sekaa gong or beleganjur, from a young age. These groups, categorized by age and gender, rehearse regularly for dance and gamelan performances. They are essential for temple rituals, weddings, tooth-filing ceremonies, and blessings of new businesses and homes.
Bali’s musical and dance performances are major tourist attractions, integral to rituals honoring Gods, deities, and ancestors. Balinese Gamelan, dating back to the 8th century, includes styles like Gamelan Gong Kebyar, often featured in Kecak dance, religious ceremonies, and art performances.
Javanese and Balinese Gamelan
When an instrumentalist performs Gamelan, he acts as a rhythmic leader, carefully listening to the beats of the bonang (small gongs), kenong (cradled gong for harmony), and saron (high-note xylophone), while staying attuned to the melodies of the fiddle and flute. He must also know when to adjust the tempo. Unlike the contemplative and slow tempo of Javanese gamelan, Balinese gamelan is typically dynamic and fast-paced.
Gamelan performances reflect the culture of a society. For example, percussion instruments like the gambang or saron suit those with a temperamental nature, while string instruments like the siter or rebab (bowed string instrument) align with gentler traits. Ultimately, a Gamelan performance mirrors the society's attitudes, dynamics, and philosophical beliefs.
Balinese gamelan, originally from Java, features powerful, dynamic tones with faster rhythms, in contrast to the gentler, slower tones of Javanese gamelan and the soft, flute-dominated sounds of Sundanese gamelan.
Gamelan remains integral to Balinese Hindu rituals and is enjoyed by Bali’s banjar communities and visitors as group entertainment. It serves as a social setting where people gather, often accompanying religious rites and musical performances.
Indonesian Traditional Instruments
The Gamelan ensemble comprises various traditional instruments, each with a unique role:
Reyong:
The largest instrument in the ensemble, played by 2-4 musicians. It features a frame with a dozen bronze gongs producing varied tones depending on their size and thickness.
Trompong:
Played by a single musician at the front of the ensemble, this instrument has 10 gongs covering two octaves. The trompong player, a highly skilled musician, leads the ensemble and improvises melodies.
Gangsa:
A xylophone-like instrument with 4-14 metal plates. The ensemble leader plays the gangsa, using a wooden mallet and directing the performance.
Gong:
Large bronze gongs at the back of the ensemble. These suspended gongs are struck with a cloth-covered mallet to produce deep, mellow tones, adding a mystical element to the music.
Ceng-ceng:
Metal cymbals decorated with red tassels are struck together to create rhythmic accents. It consists of six metal pieces on the bottom and two on the top.
Kendang:
A two-headed drum made of hollow wood played with hands or sticks. In Balinese gamelan, there are two types: the lower-pitched Kendang wadon ("female") and the higher-pitched Kendang lanang ("male"). The kendang player often mimics the movements of dancers in performances.
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