History of Javanese Gamelan

Gamelan is a set of instruments with pentatonic melodies, which consists of: Kendang, Bonang, Bonang successor, demung, Saron, Peking (Gamelan), Kenong & Kethuk, Slenthem, Gender, Gong, Gambang, fiddle,, zither, flute.
The main components of gamelan music instruments are: bamboo, metal, and wood. Each instrument has its own function in gamelan music
Gamelan word itself comes from the Javanese "gamel" which means hitting / beating, followed by the suffix "an" to make it as a noun. While the term gamelan has a meaning as a unity of musical instruments being played together.
There is no clarity about the history of the creation of this instrument. However, the gamelan is estimated at the time of culture was born out of Hinduism - Buddhism dominated Indonesia.Although there are differences in its development with the music of India, still there are some features that are not lost, one of which is a way of "singing" the song. Commonly referred to as the male singer and female singer wiraswara called waranggana or sinden.
According to Javanese mythology, the gamelan was created by Sang Hyang Guru in Saka Era. He is the god who controlled the whole land of Java, with a palace on the mountain Mahendra in Medangkamulan (now Lawu).
Gamelan musical instruments which first created the "gong", which is used to summon the gods. After that, to convey a special message, Sang Hyang Guru re-create some of the other equipment such as two gongs, until it forms a set of gamelan.
At the time of Majapahit, gamelan music instruments have developed very well until it reaches the shape it is today and spread in some regions such as Bali, and Sunda (West Java).
The first authentic evidence regarding the existence gamelanditemukan at Borobudur Temple, Magelang, Central Java, which stood since the 8th century. In his reliefs seen some equipment such as bamboo flutes, bells, drums in various sizes, harp, stringed musical instrument that is swiped and picked, including a little picture of the element of metal musical instruments. Subsequent developments, gamelan used to accompany wayang performance and dance. Until finally stood up as the music itself and equipped with sound sinden.
Gamelan is developing in Central Java, slightly different from Balinese gamelan ataupunGamelan Sunda. Javanese gamelan has a softer tone when compared denganGamelan Bali's lively and Sundanese gamelan and a lilting flute-dominated sound.According to some studies, the difference is the result of the disclosure terhadappandangan life "Javanese people" in general.
The view in question is: as the Javanese people always have to "maintain physical life and spiritual harmony, and harmony in speaking and acting". Therefore, the "Java" always avoid the expression of explosive and always trying to create tolerance. The most obvious manifestation in gamelan music is the pull string fiddle that is, balanced blend of sounds kenong, saron drums and xylophone and gong sounds at every closing cadence.
Tuning and making gamelan orchestra is a very complex process.Gamelan tuning using four ways, namely "slendro", "pelog", "gamelan" (special area of ​​Sunda, or West Java), and "madenda" (also known as diatonic), the same as the original minor scale that is widely used in Europe.
• Slendro has 5 tones per octave, namely: 1 2 3 5 6 [C-D E + GA] with a small interval difference.
• Pelog has 7 tones per octave, namely: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 [C + D E-F # G # AB] with a large interval difference.
Gamelan musical compositions created by some rules, which consist of several rounds and pathet, limited by a gong and the melodies were created in a unit consisting of four tones.

source

• wikipedia.org
• yogyes.com
• supriantoeko.ngeblogs.com
• photobucket.com
• ngeteh.files.wordpress.com
• wacananusantara.org