Traditional Javanese Musical Instruments
Ditulis pada: October 10, 2021
Every ethnic group in Indonesia, must have its own characteristics that become their identity in life. One of these identities can be obtained through musical instruments used by these ethnic groups, one of which is Javanese musical instruments.
There are several types of Javanese musical instruments that are still commonly found and even used on various occasions. A collection of Javanese musical instruments, often called gamelan. Gamelan itself is a collection of musical instruments that have a pentatonic tone.
The gamelan instrument consists of several types of musical instruments. Gamelan itself is composed of several types of musical instruments made of bamboo, metal, and wood.
Each instrument has a different function in the appearance of the music. Western society often refers to gamelan as a javanese orchestra, because the composition of this music consists of several types of musical instruments as in the orchestras in the West.
The term gamelan, which is a Javanese musical instrument, is taken from the Javanese word gamel, which means hitting or beating.
The suffix an after the word gamel changes the word order into a noun. However, gamelan is more defined as a collection of musical instruments that are played simultaneously.
In historical research, there is no data that is able to explain how gamelan was created. However, many believe that this musical instrument was born since the arrival of Hindu-Buddhist culture to Indonesia. Moreover, many characteristics of gamelan instruments are similar to Indian musical instruments.
Although it has undergone several developments, there are still lingering similarities between gamelan and Indian musical instruments. One of them is in the process of singing songs, for male singers it is called wiraswara and female singers are known as waranggana.
However, if studied from the history of Java, gamelan is a musical instrument created by Sang Hyang Guru during the Saka period.
Sang Hyang Guru is a god who has power throughout Java, and is enthroned on Mount Mahendra which is located in the Medang Kamulan area. This mountain itself is currently known as Mount Lawu which is located in Karanganyar Regency, Central Java and Magetan, East Java.
Gong is a musical instrument that was first created in the Javanese myth. This gong was made as a tool to gather the gods.
In addition, Sang Hyang Guru also made other equipment in the form of two smaller gongs. Its purpose was to convey a special message to the gods. From this process, in the end a set of gamelan can be formed.
During the kingdom period, especially when Majapahit was still standing, gamelan musical instruments began to develop. This happens because of the many music experts and also developments in the field of technology.
Gamelan which was developed during the Majapahit kingdom is what we know today and is widely available in various regions such as Bali, Sunda, and Central Java.
One of the evidences that during the Majapahit era, gamelan has been found is the discovery of reliefs on the walls of Borobudur Temple.
The temple, which was founded in the 8th century, displays several sculptures showing several musical instruments in the gamelan. This shows that when Borobudur was made, the musical instrument was already known by the public.
In its development, gamelan in the modern era as it is today is widely used for various activities. For example, gamelan is used to accompany wayang performances or dances. The progress of gamelan is also shown by the collaboration between modern music and gamelan that is able to create interesting and unique rhythms.
Gamelan developed in Java, especially Central Java, differs from the gamelan in Bali or West Java. This is because the Javanese gamelan has a soft tone characteristic, in contrast to the Balinese gamelan which tends to be loud or the Sundanese gamelan which is softer and more dominant in the sound of the flute.
Experts say, the difference is caused by the concept of the Javanese people's view of life in general. The people of Central Java have the view that in life there must always be harmony and balance.
There is harmony and balance in the physical and spiritual life, as well as the compatibility between actions and words. That is why, Javanese people will try to avoid exploding expressions and try to create tolerance in others.
These things are symbolized in various musical instruments in the gamelan. For example, the balanced pull of the fiddle string, the harmony in the sounds of kenong, saron drums and xylophone, and depicted in the sounding of the gong as a marker of the end of the rhythm.
Gamelan Musical Instruments
In gamelan there are several types of musical instruments that are a means of realizing a harmonious symphony. Some of these musical instruments, among others, as follows.
1. Kendang
Kendang is one of the musical instruments that characterizes Javanese gamelan. The way to play this instrument is to beat it with your bare hands. The function of the drum is to regulate the rhythm of gamelan music.
Kendang itself consists of several types, for example for a small drum called ketipung. In addition, drums that have a medium size are known as ciblon or kebar drums.
Ketipung itself has a partner called the big drum or the Kalih drum. Kalih drums are played for songs that have a smooth melody, while for wayang performances, there is a drum known as the kendang kosek.
2. Gong
Gong is a musical instrument from the gamelan which is currently widely used by the international community. In Indonesia, the maker of this musical instrument is rarely found. Making the gong itself is not easy, because it requires several processes to be used.
Gongs that have been forged, cannot be used immediately, because they cannot determine the tone. The new gong tone can be formed when it has been rinsed or cleaned. If the desired tone has not been obtained, the gong will be scraped to reduce the bronze layer of the gong-making material.
Abroad, gongs can also be found, such as in South Korea. In that country, the gong is known as Kkwaenggwari.
3. Saron
Saron is often known as ricik, which is a gamelan instrument that is included in the balungan group. In a gamelan, there will be four saron. Each saron has a pelog and slendro version. The tone produced by the saron is usually an octave higher than the demung, although the shape of the saron is smaller.
To hit the saron, usually used wood that looks like a hammer. In beating the saron, it is usually done alternately. The speed or level of beating of the saron, usually follows the instructions of the drum or the type of gending that is accompanied by it.
4. Kenong
Kenong is classified into the pencon group as well as gong, bonang or also kethuk. Kenong is used as part of the largest form of the pencon instrument. Kenong is usually placed on a pedestal made of hard wood with a rope base.
The rope is used so that when the kenong is hit it does not make it sway sideways but only up and down, so that later the kenong is able to produce the desired sound.
Hopefully this is useful.
