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Play gamelan

Playing gamelan is a great musical activity which can be enjoyed by everyone.

These pages are intended for anyone who is interested in learning to play gamelan in the UK.

Where to play gamelan in the UK

Details of groups throughout the UK offering regular playing sessions with tuition. See Where to play gamelan

Playing techniques

This section is intended for those who are new to gamelan and is intended to provide straightforward information on playing techniques and musical concepts relating to Central Javanese gamelan.

We have included

Videos

Short videos demonstrating playing techniques for Javanese gamelan instruments. We intend to include other instruments over the coming months. See playing techniques videos

Basic musical concepts

Central Javanese gamelan music is based on a number of concepts. We are including notes and information to explain some of these for beginners.

irama

'Bentuk Basics' (musical structures) download in pdf format

pathet (coming soon)

A Gamelan Glossary

A practical glossary intended to cover the more commonly used terms and illustrated with musical examples.

Download 'A Gamelan Glossary' in pdf format

Please note all these items are intended for beginners. Those seeking more details should ask their tutors or consult one of the recommended books below.

Further reading

Much of the material on these pages derives from items originally published in Seleh Notes. Many of our playing techniques articles have been republished in handy booklet form and are obtainable from the UK Gamelan Network. See the publications page.

Probably the best general introduction to Central Javanese Gamelan currently in print is 'Music in Central Java' by Benjamin Brinner, published by Oxford University Press in the Global Music Series. Recommended for beginners
Read the review.

Obtainable from Amazon - see details included on our review page.

Highly recommended for beginners are

'Javanese Gamelan: Traditional Orchestra of Indonesia' published by Oxford University Press in its 'Images of Asia' series.

'A Guide to the Gamelan' by Neil Sorrell published by Faber and Faber and reprinted by the American Gamelan Institute

Neither of these two books are currently in print, but second hand copies are sometimes obtainable from Amazon.

More advanced players will find 'A Gamelan Manual' by Richard Pickvance of interest.

This is a thoroughly researched in-depth introduction to all aspects of playing Central Javanese Gamelan.

Read the review

 

 

 

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