Indonesian Gamelan Music Flashcards
Gamelan Translation
ensemble
Gamel
to hammer
Characteristics of Javanese Gamelan Music
Accompanies rituals, religious activities, and Wayang Kulit (shadow puppet theater).
Involves a significant level of improvisation, following traditional types
Characteristics of Balinese Gamela
Also accompanies rituals, religious events, and Wayang Kulit.
Compositions are typically strictly composed without improvisation.
Peleg
- seven tone scale
- less common
Slendro
A five-tone scale that also features prominently.
Selisir
most-common five-note scale
Which gong is the most important
The large, raised-boss gong is often considered the most crucial instrument, marking the start of each phrase.
Kemanak
banana-shaped idiophone used in Javanese gamelan, made of bronze/ Flat metal discs played with a mallet.
Kendang
two-sided drum, played on its side. This player acts as the
conductor of the ensemble.
Gangsa
A metallophone with bronze bars played using a hammer-type mallet; it’s a primary melodic instrument.
- one hand mutes the bars
How is the gangsa typically played (in terms of technique)
Typically 8 players, divided two groups of four (one octave apart), but each
pair is tuned 4-6hz apart.
Ugal
a bronze metallophone played one handed with a small hammer, often in a dance-like manner
- sounds one octave later
Gender
very similar to gangsa, bronze bars over resonators, played with a disc
shaped mallet.
- In certain styles, it is played with two mallets
Gender Barung
a slower
style, but the player uses two mallets and is often playing contrapuntally
tuned in pairs. The pairs are
tuned to be 4-6Hz apart, which is how the Balinese gamelan create the
shimmering sound
Ngumbang
refers to the lower-tuned instrument in the pair of gender
ngisep or ngisepan
higher tuned instrument in the pair of gender
Bonang
A set of tuned gongs, sometimes referred to as pots or kettles. This
gongs are laid down, not hung
Pengawak
the main melody, which is repeated multiple times.
The piece may end suddenly or move into a secondary melody, also repeated several times.
Interpunction
Gongs play an alternating pattern that provides a slow-moving foundation underneath other musical textures.
Connecting
These connecting lines are derived from the melody and connected through slurs, adding ornamentation.
Figuration
This layer uses specific patterns to develop the core melody
Kotekan
Rhythms are split between players to create faster, interlocking rhythmic patterns.
Nyog Cag
The simplest form of kotekan, with Polos playing downbeats and Sangsi playing upbeats.
Ubit - Ubitan
A more complex pattern of kotekan, typically following a 1+2+2 division.
What four musician did this music influence?
Debussy
Cage
Reich,
Cowell
Panggul
hammer in gangsa
Gangsa Pemade
lower octave gangsa
Gangsa Kantil
