Page 2 | Semara dana - Balinese gamelan - the next generation

Historic gamelan

Contents

Semara dana (1)

Historic gamelan (2)

Gamelan gong kebyar (3)

Gamelan semara dana (4)

Seleh Notes Volume 10 Number 2 March 2003

© Andy Channing

The sweetly-toned gamelan semar pegulingan saih pitu is a seven-tone (saih pitu) court gamelan, dating from about the 17th century.

Its repertoire derives from gambuh, with the suling melodies transposed to the trompong, a row of gong-chimes, and the addition of several one-octave gender.

Like gambuh, semar pegulingan became very scarce during the 20th century, but has recently become more fashionable again.

Gamelan pelegongan is essentially a five-tone version and later variant of semar pegulingan. The trompong was replaced by two gender rambat, with 13-15 keys, played in a two-handed style, similar to those played in gender wayang.

Gamelan pelegongan was used from the 19th century to accompany the classical legong, a narrative dance originally devised for two young girls, and calonarang - magic dance drama.

Gamelan gong gede at the Bali Arts Festival 2002

The majestic gamelan gong gedé (great gong) also dates from the 15th century and was used within the courts for rituals and ceremonies.

The enormous instruments were used to play lelambatan pieces for temple festivals and to accompany ritual dances such as baris and topeng (mask dance).

Gong gedé consists of massive bronze saron and gongs, together with drums, and requires some 40 - 50 players.

The melodies are slow and stately with ornamentation provided by the trompong and reyong. In the late 19th century a smaller version, known as gamelan gong developed in the villages to be played for temple ceremonies.

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