The gamelan orchestra varies in size, quality and composition, but always percussion instruments are of paramount importance. The huge gongs serve to mark the beginning and end of a musical phrase, the smaller kethuk, kenong and kempul divide the large gong-phrase in smaller parts. The balungan instruments, saron, demung and slenthem play a nuclear melody which is embellished by the gender,bonang,gambang, rebab andsuling. And in a very simple way the peking which is usually described as a balungan instrument.
The drum or drums,kendhang, perform the function of an audible conductor who plays very intricate rhythmical patterns.
Furthermore there are female singers, pasindhen and a male choir gerong. Expensive gamelans are made of bronze; cheaper gamelans have iron keys and iron gongs, sometimes with copper knobs. The wood used for the kendhang is usually nangka. Gambang keys are today best made of ironwood (kayu besi).
Contents/Inhoud/Isi:
-Notaties/Notations/Titilaras Gendhing