GAMELAN

Gamelan is an music ensembles that usually shows metalophone, gambang, kendang and gong. The nickname of gamelan refer to its instrument which is become a unity when formed and played together. The words gamelan derived from Javanese word “gamel” means pound, followed by “an” ending that makes it a noun. Gamlan orchestra mostly can be found in the island of Java, Madura, Bali and Lombok in Indonesia.  

The appearance of gamelan preceded with Hindu-Budha culture that dominate Indonesia in the beginning of historical record, that also represented Indonesian art. The instrument was developed in the days of Majapahit Kingdom and the shape become like gamelan we know nowadays. In the Java mythology, gamelan was created by Sang Hyang Guru in the era of Saka. The Gods who role the entire Java island who lived in the palace located in Mahendra mountain in Medangkamulan (now known as lawu mountain). At first, Sang Hyang Guru create a gong to call the other Gods. And then for a specific message, 2 gongs has been made, and as the time flow, a set of gamelan has been created. Image of the first musical ensembles was found in Borobudhur temple, in Magelang province, Central Java. Music instrument such as bamboo flute, bell, “kendang” in various size, stringed musical instrument, found in the relief. But, there is little information about musical instrument made from metal. However, relief about those kind of musical instrument has been told as the origin of gamelan.        

Gamelan music is a form of unity about foreign arts influence. Connection of the tones from China, musical instrument from Southeast Asia, drum band and music movement from India, bowed string from Middle East, even Europe milliter style has been adopted in the Java and Bali traditional music nowadays. 

One set of gamelan consist of several musical instrument, such as kendhang, rebab and cempelung, gambang, gong dan bamboo flute. Main component that arrange gamelan musical instrument is bamboo, metal and woods. Each instrument has their own function in the gamelan performance, such as gong has a role to close a long music rhytm and give balance after the music filled up with gending sound before.