Javanese Gamelan Music and Instruments

This is Gamelan Sulukala, Built for Goddard College in Plainfield, Vermont, USA. by Suhirdjan, Gamelan Builder and Tuner - Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Javanese Gamelan Gamelan music is composed by the layering of simple melody lines or rhythm patterns. There are five categories in this polyphonic stratification: 1. “ Nuclear ” Theme 2. Elaboration 3. Punctuation 4. Counter-Melody 5. Rhythm

Gamelan Instruments 1. “ Nuclear ” Theme 2. Elaboration 3. Punctuation 4. Counter melody 5. Rhythm

Gamelan Music Structure Punctuating Punctuating Gong Gong Gong Gong

The Gamelan tradition says that the music is always going on (a.k.a. Cosmic Radio) and the instruments simply make it audible to us. The music “ starts ” with the last note and traditionally ends after the audience leaves to signify that it continues...

Playing technique Playing technique Playing technique Playing technique Examples

Playing technique Playing technique Playing technique Playing technique

Udan Mas - “ Golden Rain ”

Javanese Gamelan Music and Instruments