GAMELAN PADHANG MONCAR

Gamelan Instruments

"Gamelan gets its name from the low Javanese word 'gamel', which means a type of hammer, like a blacksmith's hammer. The name 'gamelan' refers to the method of playing the instruments - by striking them - as they are almost entirely percussion." (Lindsay, J. (1979). Javanese Gamelan. Oxford: Oxford University Press, p.9)

"The bronze gamelan instruments are made from a mixture of copper and tin; three parts tin to ten parts copper." (Lindsay,1979, p.19)

Click here to see some pictures at a gongsmith's of gongs being made.

Videos of gong-making here or here.

Want to know more? Follow these links to other websites with more information of a general and more technical nature.

Mp3 samples of gamelan music

The instruments in the gamelan have defined musical roles:

Kendang - drums
The kendang is the rhythmic leader of the group.


Kempul
Photo of kempul

The kethuk, kempyang, kenong, kempul and gong support the kendhang in defining the structure and setting the speed. Their names are onomatopoeic; the names sound like the sounds made by the instruments.

Photo of kenong and kethuk.


The slenthem (left) and saron (right) play the balungan - the skeleton of the melodic line.

Photo of sarons.


The bonang plays an elaboration on the melodic line. It acts as the melodic leader in ensembles of the louder instruments.

Photo of bonangs.

To hear bonang barung, listen to the introduction to Ladrang Eling-eling badranaya on our mp3 samples page.


Photo of gender


Photo of rebab

To hear rebab, listen to the introduction to Ladrang Kinanthi Sandung on our mp3 samples page.


The gender, rebab, gambang, suling and celempung, also elaborate on the melodic line. They are used in an ensemble of softer instruments and in quieter pieces.
The gender or rebab act as melodic leader in these ensembles.
The gambang has wooden keys.
Singers have a role in gamelan that is comparable with other instruments. The singers are usually organised as a solo female voice (pesindhen) and a male chorus (gerong).

To hear gender barung (solo for the introduction) with rebab, suling and voices, listen to Ladrang Wilujeng on our mp3 samples page.

Follow this link to hear master musician and dhalang, Midiyanto, playing gender on its own.

For information on how to play gender, click here.

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