gamelan

(Photo: http://asiarecipe.com gamelan)

A gamelan is a musical ensemble from Indonesia, featuring a variety of instruments such as metallophones, xylophones, drums and gongs; bamboo flutes, bowed and plucked strings. Vocalists may also be included. Gamelan music is important kind in Indonesia. Gamelan orchestras accompany all dances and dramas.

The word "gamelan" comes from the Javanese word "gamels", meaning to strike or hammer, and the suffix "an", which makes the root a collective noun. Gamelan orchestra are mostly in Java, Madura, Bali, and Lombok in Indonesia in a variety of sizes and shapes of ensembles.

The description of the first ensemble of musical instruments found in the temple of Borobudur, Central Java, Indonesia, which has stood since the 8th century. Musical instruments such as bamboo flute, bells, kendhang in various sizes, lute (kecapi) is found in these reliefs.

Gamelan music is an integral part of all cultural activities in Java such as wayang kulit (leather puppets) performance, court dance, uyon-uyon (symphony orchestra performance), etc. There are two kinds of laras (tuning) in gamelan, namely slendro (comparable to minor key in Western music) and Pelog (major key).

Javanese gamelan instruments consist of the following: Kendang, Bonang, Bonang Penerus, Demung, Saron, Peking (Gamelan), Kenong & kethuk, Slenthem, Gender, Gong, Gambang (Xylophone), Rebab (Fiddle), Siter, Suling (Flute).

Gamelan Types: Javanese Gamelan, Balinese Gamelan, Sundanese Gamelan, Gamelan Banyuwangi, Gamelan Banjar, Gamelan Kutai, Gamelan Sasak, Gambang Kromong, Gambang Semarang.