Gamelan Music

Gamelan Music

Gamelan ensembles are found predominantly on the islands of Java and Bali, and comprise mainly bronze metallophones and gongs.They are led by drummers who play double-headed drums and give rhythmic signals to the other performers regarding tempo and dynamic changes.

Gamelan Music

Gamelan gets it name from the 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.

Gamelan Music

Traditional gamelan notation uses numbers instead of letters. However, it should be noted that Gamelan is an oral tradition, and is rarely written down. Melodies are learnt by heart.
Gamelan music is based on one of two scales - the five-note SLENDRO scale and the seven-note PELOG scale. These can vary from region to region, depending on the sound of the instruments - one reason why instruments cannot be interchanged between different groups.