Indonesia Zone

Gamelan is a musical ensemble that usually obtrude metallophone, xylophone (gambang), drums (gendang), and gongs. The term gamelan refers to the instrument / tool, which is a unified whole that is realized and be pronounced together. The word gamelan comes from the Javanese language "gamel", which means hitting / beating, followed by a suffix -an that makes the noun. Gamelan orchestra are mostly in Java, Madura, Bali, and Lombok in Indonesia in a variety of sizes and shapes of ensembles. In Bali and Lombok today, and in Java through the 18th century, the term gong is more considered synonymous with gamelan.

Emergence of gamelan preceded by Hindu-Buddhist culture that dominated Indonesia in the early days of recording history, which also represents the original art of Indonesia. Instrument developed at the time of Majapahit Kingdom. In Javanese mythology, the gamelan was created by Sang Hyang Guru in Saka Era, the god who ruled the land of Java, the palace on the mountain Mahendra in Medangkamulan (now Mount Lawu). 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 the first ensemble of musical instruments found in the temple of Borobudur, Magelang, Central Java, which has stood since the 8th century. Musical instruments such as bamboo flute, bells, kendhang in various sizes, lute (kecapi) is found in these reliefs.

Penalaan and making gamelan orchestra is a complex process. Gamelan uses penalaan four ways, namely slendro, pelog, "Degung" (special Sunda region, or West Java), and "madenda" (also known as the diatonic, the same as the original minor scale widely used in Europe.

Javanese gamelan instruments consist of the following:

1. Kendang

2. Bonang

3. Bonang Penerus

4. Demung

5. Saron

6. Peking (Gamelan)

7. Kenong & kethuk

8. Slenthem

9. Gender

10. Gong

11. Gambang (Xylophone)

12. Rebab (Fiddle)

13. Siter

14. Suling (Flute)

Gamelan Types:

1. Javanese Gamelan

2. Balinese Gamelan

3. Sundanese Gamelan

4. Gamelan Banyuwangi

5. Gamelan Banjar

6. Gamelan Kutai

7. Gamelan Sasak

8. Gambang Kromong

9. Gambang Semarang