Gongs and Drums Used in

Gamelan Music
Craig Monson Sihler Lecture
Wednesday, March 14
7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
CFL Recital Hall

- Attendance is
mandatory
- Lecture reflection due
March 19, 2018
Questions to Ask While Researching to
help identify a thesis.
1) Have you come across any conflicting views?
2) In what ways does the music draw on past
conventions? Or what are some of the
influences evident on this type of music?
3) In what ways does the music break from past
conventions?
4) What is the function, usage, or performance
context for this music and which of its
features are appropriate for this?
 Kendhang (Drums)

Kendhang Gendhing (large), Ketipung (small), Ciblon (medium)

 Types of Kendhang
• Kendhang gendhing: largest and lowest-
pitched drum
• Ciblon: medium-sized drum, often used for
elaborating the rhythm
• Ketipung: Smallest drum; always played in
conjunction with Kendhang gendhing
 Drum Patterns and Colotomic Cycles
• Each colotomic cycle has different drum
patterns associated with it
• The drum patterns are the same length as the
colotomic cycle
 Playing Kendhang
• Kendhang Video

What are some of the playing techniques that

make the drum strokes sound different from one
another? (p. 36)
 Important Drum Strokes in Lancaran
• Dhung: Large head, hit near the middle of
drum, creates a high pitch (P)
• Dhah: Large head, hit near the edge of the
head, creates a low pitch (b)
• Tak: Slapping the small head (creates a sharp,
high pitched sound) (t)
Lancaran Singa Nebah Pélog (Track 13)
Listen to the kendhang part
1) How many different strokes are used?
2) When does the drummer play and when
does he not?
3) What do you think some functions of the
kendhang player are in this piece?
 Activity 1
• Review pages 37-40 to determine the
functions of the five patterns on p. 39
 Different Types of Rhythmic Patterns
Introductory rhythm: Signals other instruments to begin
playing

Regular Beat Pattern: Emphasizes every second beat

• Only used for 1st gong cycle of the melody and not for any
melodic repetitions

Main Rhythm: More complex rhythm

• Used for the 1st gong cycle for every statement of the
melody except for the first one
• If the melody lasts for more than two gong cycles, the main
rhythm with be repeated more frequently
Different Rhythmic Patterns (cont.)
Salahan: Last colotomic cycle of a melody
• If acceleration occurs, it happens in this
section

Suwuk pattern: Signals the end of the piece and

for the performers to slow down
 Activity 2
What would the order of drum patterns in
lancaran be with
a) A two-gong cycle melody stated twice?
b) A two-gong cycle melody stated three times?
c) A three-gong cycle melody stated three
times?
A two-gong cycle melody stated twice?
A
BD
CE
A two-gong cycle melody stated three times?
A
BD
CD
CE
A three-gong cycle melody stated twice
A
BCD
CCE
 Typical Structure of Drum Patterns (p. 39)

Gamelan Pieces with 2-Cycle Melodies

A – Introduction

B – Phrase 1 of melody, 1st time: Dhung strokes every second beat

D – Phrase 2 of melody, 1st time: Salahan

C- Phrase 1 of melody, 2nd time: Main drumming pattern

D- Phrase 2 of melody, 2nd time: Salahan

Subsequent repetitions of the Melody (if any)

C
D

Last Statement of Melody

C - Phrase 1 with tak substituted for dhung on the last stroke
E – Phrase 2 Suwuk
Lancaran Singa Nebah Pelog (Track 19)
Drum Pattern Structure: 3-cycle melody

• A: Introduction
• B: Dhung strokes (center) every second beat
(0:02)
• C: Main rhythm (11 seconds)
• D: Salahan (19 seconds)
• C: Main rhythm (29 seconds) – voice enters on
beat 16 (44 seconds)
 Irama
• Term for rhythm and density
• The gong cycle instruments can reduce or speed
up the tempo by multiples of two
If the gongs slow down by half:
• The melody instruments double the number of
pitches they play per beat
If the gong speeds up by half:
• The melody instruments decrease the number of
pitches they play per beat
 Irama
• Javanese pieces have multiple irama
• Irama 1: Halving the tempo
• Irama 2: Halving the tempo again
• Both happen in Lancaran Singa Nebah (track
19)