Indonesian/Gamelan Music

Question 1

Gamelan instrumentation

Answer 1

• Gong
• Metallophone
• Bonang (table with gold pots on top)
• Saron (table with blocks/notes on top)
• Suling (like a flute)
• Gender (long table with blocks/notes on top)
• Kendang (drum)
• Sometimes vocals

Question 2

Gamelan tempo

Answer 2

Frequent tempo changes led by the drummer playing the Kendang

Question 3

Gamelan tonality

Answer 3

Two main scales used:
Slendro - pentatonic scale
Pelog - heptatonic scale

Question 4

Gamelan structure

Answer 4

• Interlocking layers of instruments
• Core melodic line (balungan)

Question 5

Gamelan texture

Answer 5

Heterophonic

Question 6

Gamelan rhythm

Answer 6

Music often divided into 4-beat groups called keteg

Question 7

Gamelan general characteristics

Answer 7

• Use of outdated instruments shows the importance of its oral tradition
• Sudden drastic changes in tempo, texture, and dynamics