World Music: Gamelan

Question 1

Metallophone

Answer 1

Xylophone-like instrument, usually plays main melody at medium pitch

Question 2

Gongs

Answer 2

Cymbal-like instrument, small ones play repeat4ed ostinato baseline at a high pitch; big gongs play occasionally on first beats of each bar at low pitch

Question 3

Drums

Answer 3

Usually plays ostinato

Question 4

Suling

Answer 4

Flute-like instrument, usually improvised

Question 5

Java (4)

Answer 5

Gentle, slower, more consistent texture and tempo, usually gradual slowing at the end

Question 6

Bali (4)

Answer 6

More complex, extreme contrasts in dynamics and tempo, uses unison playing

Question 7

What is the commonly used texture in Gamelan music?

Answer 7

Heterophony (usually Metallophone playing main melody, other parts copy with repeating notes and decoration or simplified version)

Question 8

What type of scale is usually used in Gamelan music?

Answer 8

Pentatonic. Sometimes heptatonic