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Gamelan



Gamelan refers to the traditional Indonesian percussion orchestra and its instruments. The main instruments are hand-forged percussive instruments, including xylophones, gongs, gong-chimes, drums, cymbals, string instruments, and bamboo flutes. Gamelan music follows a strict set of rules and techniques regarding tuning, layout, rhythmic and metric patterns, and performance. Typically, a melody is played simultaneously by several instruments, and multiple instruments may play interlocking parts to form a single rhythm. This is typically played for religious rituals and ceremonies, traditional theater, festivals, and concerts, by men, women, and children of all ages. It is also used for music therapy and is seen as an expression of human feeling and a connection to the universe. It is an integral part of Indonesian identity for thousands of years, dating back as far as the eighth-century relief sculptures of the Borobudur temple during the Hindu-Buddhist predominant. Gamelan is practiced by vocalists, instrumentalists, instrument makers, and tuners. It continues to be passed down from generation to generation through both formal and informal education, including classrooms and after-school activities. Gamelan has been an influential part of Indonesian culture. Although it is played in many parts of Indonesia such as in Sumatra, Kalimantan, and West Nusa Tenggara, it is mostly known and practiced in Java and Bali. There are many gamelan styles, and they differ by their collection of instruments, voice, tunings, repertoire, style, and cultural context. In general, no two gamelan ensembles are the same, and those that originated in prestigious courts often have their own style, tuning, and repertoire. Certain styles may also be shared by nearby ensembles that lead to regional styles. Most of the varieties are geographically grouped, with the main division between the styles favored by the Balinese, Javanese, and Sundanese peoples. Javanese gamelan is slow in tone and dynamics with fast music rhythms, while Balinese gamelan is strong in tones and dynamic tones with soft music rhythms. Sundanese gamelan, which is dominated by the sound of flutes, is not only slow but equally mellow. Indonesian gamelan is often used in religious rituals such as sekaten and galungan, and in various ceremonies such as the king's coronation ceremony, wedding receptions, and funeral ceremonies (Ngaben in Bali). In addition to traditional dances (all traditional dances in the islands of Java and Bali are accompanied by gamelan music), the gamelan is also used in dance-drama performances (combined drama and dances), such as Ramayana Ballet (a popular dance-drama performance in Javanese culture). Other traditional performances accompanied by gamelan include wayang puppet performances (such as wayang kulit, wayang golek, and wayang beber), the traditional theater performances (such as ludruk and kethoprak), the singing performances famously known as campur sari and tembang Sunda, and the various regular festivals in Solo, Yogyakarta, and Bali. Contemporary Indonesian music scene groups fuse local ethnic music traditions with modern jazz fusion music. Krakatau and SambaSunda combine the traditional Sundanese kacapi and gamelan degung with the drum set, keyboard, and guitar. In addition, they also include traditional Sundanese music traditions, such as Javanese kacapi suling and Javanese gamelan orchestra. Bands such as Bossanova Java fuse Javanese music with bossa nova, and the Kulkul. Anggun is an Indonesian singer based in France who incorporates into her works gamelan music and tembang style of singing. Examples are 'Snow on the Sahara' and 'A Rose in the Wind'. Several factors led to the exportation of Indonesian gamelan. The migration of Indonesians (Javanese, Balinese, or Sundanese) to other countries leads to the introduction of gamelan abroad. The government of Indonesia also actively promotes culture internationally through cultural missions and scholarship programs.


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