Gamelan - Music To Summon The Gods

Gamelan is a ensemble musical that features metallophone, xylophone, drums, and gongs. The word gamelan comes from the Javanese language "gamel" which means hitting or beating. Gamelan orchestra are mostly in Java, Madura, Bali, and Lombok in a variety of sizes and shapes.

Gamelan becoming known as Hindhu-Buddhist dominated Indonesia in the days of majapahit empire. The difference with the music of India is how to sing the music. In Javanese mythology, the gamelan made by Sang Hyang Guru (god who ruled the land of Java and has a palace on the Mahendra mountain or the Lawu mountain Lawu) on the Saka Era. Sang Hyang Guru first create a gong to summon the gods. For a more specific message and then create two gongs, and finally formed set of gamelan.

The description of this instrument first discovered in the temple of Borobudur, Magelang, Central Java, which has stood since the 8th century. Musical instruments such as bamboo flute, bells, kendang in various sizes, lute are also found in these reliefs. However, cannot found some elements in the metal instruments. But the relief of these instruments still said to be the origin of the gamelan. The popularity of gamelan has penetrated the continent, and has created new music of jazz-gamelan. Gamelan music instrument can now be enjoyed in many parts of the world, but the Yogyakarta is the most appropriate place to enjoy the gamelan it since you can enjoy the original version.

Gamelan developing in Yogyakarta is Javanese gamelan, different from Balinese gamelan or Sundanese gamelan. Javanese gamelan has a softer tone and slow, unlike a dynamic Balinese gamelan and Sundanese gamelan which lilting flute and voice dominated. The difference is that Java has its own view of life on the harmony of physical and spiritual well in speaking and acting. Order not to create an expression that explosive and realize that tolerance is expressed in the rhythm of gamelan music. Being real in his music is the pull string fiddle that is, a balanced blend of sound kenong, saron drums and xylophone and a gong sounds on every cover of rhythm.

A set of gamelan instruments consisting of drums, fiddle and zither, xylophone, gongs and bamboo flutes. The main components that make up musical instruments in the gamelan is bamboo, metal, and wood. Each instrument has its own function in gamelan music show, for example, closing a gong played music and gave long after the previous balance was decorated by the rhythm of the gending music.

Gamelan is usually used as an accompaniment certain music performances, dance or performing arts such as wayang and ketoprak. Gamelan music is usually combined with the voices of the singers of Java (male singers called wiraswara and female singers called waranggana or sinden). Gamelan music performances can now be a classic or contemporary gamelan. One form of contemporary gamelan music is jazz-gamelan (musical combination of pentatonic and diatonic).

One of the places in Yogyakarta where can see the performance of gamelan is the sultan's palace. On Thursday at 10:00 p.m. to 12:00 p.m. gamelan as a musical performance. On Saturday at the same time the music performed as the accompaniment of gamelan wayang kulit. On Sunday at the same time held the gamelan music as a traditional Javanese dance accompanist. To see the show, you can go to the Hall of Sri Maganti. To see the old gamelan, you can go to another hall of the kingdom which lies further to the rear.