The traditional music of
The term gamelan is not used to
refer to the players of the instruments, but rather the set of instruments
themselves, as each set is said to have its own distinct personality. Gamelan
ensembles are composed of instruments made primarily from brass, iron, or
bronze, the last of which is most desirable because of the quality of the sound
it produces. Key categories of instruments composing the gamelan include gongs,
drums, kettles, flutes, xylophones, and a lute. Despite the wide variety of
musical possibilities, individual displays of virtuosity are not
favored. Instead the gamelan is played as a collaborative group activity.
Gamelan instruments are typically not
interchangeable between ensembles because they are made and tuned as a group.
In fact, they are often said to have a spirit of their own. Gamelan has two
scales, “Slendro” and “Pelog.” While the scales offer a predetermined
intervallic structure, ensembles are still prone to vary from one another.
Gamelan is not solely a musical
product but also a spiritual discipline. Speaking on the topic in 1820 Paku
Buwana said, “One must not be absorbed by the purely sensual sound of the
composition; its charm is only the means to make the heart receptive and to create
a great desire for unity with God.” While spirituality is surely an important
piece of the history of Gamelan, the influence of world religions in
