Gamelan is the traditional ensemble music of Javanese, Sudanese and Balinese people of Indonesia. It is made up of percussion instruments like Metallophones played by Mallets and a set of hand-played drums known as Kendhang. Kendhang is used to register the beat. In Java, a banana shaped idiophone known as Kemanak and Gangsa (another Metallophone) are used as Gamelan instruments.
Gamelan used to be played in traditional ceremonies as well as modern activities in Indonesia. Gamelan traditions were recognized as part of National Intangible Cultural Heritage of Indonesia in 2014 by the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture.
Javanese Gamelan is more like Relaxing in nature whereas Balinese is Energic and Sudanese is of Healing nature. In learning gamelan music, unlike western orchestral music, a musician will learn more than just one instrument. In order to understand gamelan, it is necessary to know what each instrument provides to the whole. During the performance, you will see the artists moving around and switching instruments.
Read in detail about Gamelan here
Watch the amazing Gamelan.
