1. The Javanese Gamelan
Southeast Asia

2. Southeast Asia

3. Culture/Religion Great diversity
Major religions are Islam and Buddhism followed by Christianity
Before 13th century CE, Hinduism and Buddhism
Trade, missionaries, ruling class

4. Indonesia Archipelago of ~17,508 islands Over 238 million people
Shares borders with Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Malaysia
Important trade region since at least 7th century

6. Indonesia continued… Dutch colonialism Turbulent history
Distinct ethnic, linguistic, religious groups
Javanese largest ethnic group
“Bhinneka Tunggal Ika” “Unity in Diversity”

7. Java 100 million people ~75 million ethnically Javanese
Most Muslim though a minority practice
Mostly a farming society
Wet rice agriculture

8. Jakarta (Batavia)

9. Dutch East India Company

10. Regional Trade Network

11. Jakarta continued…

15. Yogjakarta

16. Bank of Indonesia

18. Yogjakarta Palace

19. Yogjakarta Palace Gamelan

21. Gamelan
A musical ensemble from Indonesia featuring a variety of instruments
Refers to a set of instruments unified by their tuning and often by their decorative carving and painting
Gamels “to strike or hammer”

22. Gamelan continued…
Predates Hindu-Buddhist culture that dominates earliest records of Indonesia
Developed into current form during Majapahit Empire ( )
Javanese mythology- Created by Sang Hyang Guru in Ska era 167 (c. AD 230)

23. Different types of gamelan Balinese Bamboo Gamelan

24. Sundanese Gamelan Degung

25. Javanese Gamelan

26. Gamelan Tuning and Modes
Laras (tuning system)
Slendro: a five-note (pentatonic) tuning
Pélog: a seven-note tuning
Pathet (Modes)*
Slendro Nem Pélog Nem
Slendro Sanga Pélog Lima
Slendro Manyura Pélog Barang
*Modes correspond to Wayang Kulit performance:
Nem from 9:00 PM to Midnight;
Sanga from Midnight to 3:00 AM;
Manyura from 3:00 AM to 6:00 AM.

27. Gamelan Musical Structure
Colotomic Structure: based upon a circular perception of time.
Reflects the persistence of Hindu-Buddhist conceptions of time introduced to Java during the first millennium C.E.
All instruments in the gamelan must play important structural or “auspicious” notes together. These “coincidences” carry important meaning in Javanese culture.

28. Gamelan Musical Structure
The sounding of the gong agung with the kenong marks the musical instance of the greatest weight or importance. It is at this point that the gendhing (piece) may begin or end.
Lesser points of coincidence also exist (listed in order of importance):
Kenong stroke
kethuk stroke
Kempul stroke

29. Gamelan Texture Three layers:
Structural: gong and kenong as well as kethuk/kempyang
Balungan: basic melodic content
Elaboration: realizes “inner melody”

31. Punctuating Instruments
Kempul
Gong Agung & Siyem
Kenong

32. Punctuating and Time Keeping Instruments
Kethuk
Kempyang
Kendhang
(Played by
the conductor
of the gamelan
Orchestra)

33. Sarons: Balungan Instruments
Saron Panarus or “Peking”
Saron Barung
Demung

34. Elaborating Instruments: Melodic Leaders of the Gamelan
Rebab
Bonang Barung and Bonang Panarus

35. “Soft-Style” Elaborating Instruments
Four Sulings (different tunings)
Gender (three tunings)
Gambang

36. The Drums

37. The Gongs

38. Kempul

39. Kenong

40. Kethuk

41. Kampyang

42. Demung

43. Saron

44. Peking

45. Gendèr

46. Slenthem

47. Bonang

48. Lancaran bubaran Kembang Pacar, laras pélog pathet nem Balungan Level: Sarons

49. Lancaran bubaran Kembang Pacar, IRAMA Level: Bonang Barung

50. Lancaran bubaran Kembang Pacar, IRAMA Level: Bonang Panarus