In this cultural post, I talk about the varieties of Indonesian gamelan.
Indonesian gamelan is generally grouped geographically, with three main styles: the Balinese, Javanese, and Sundanese. One important style of Sundanese gamelan is Gamelan Degung, which uses a unique subset of gamelan instruments with a pelog scale. Balinese gamelan, however, is characterized by its virtuosity and rapid changes of tempo. In addition, Balinese gamelan is often accompanied by theatrical dances, like Kecak. Moreover, compared to the other types, the Balinese have exceptionally active composers, writing new pieces for their ensembles. Javanese gamelan, on the other hand, largely stemmed from the courts of the 19th-century Javanese rulers. As such, Javanese gamelan tends to be slower and meditative than the other two types of gamelan. In contrast to the Balinese style, musicians in Javanese gamelan are allowed to and are even encouraged to improvise. It is not an improvisation in the Western sense of the terms, but more in the sense of being able to develop, embellish and "improve" a piece as it is being performed. Balinese music, however, is strictly composed and there is very little space for improvisation.
Having performed and watched both Javanese and Balinese types, I definitely prefer the Javanese type more. From my experience, the Javanese type is much more mellow, but still captures the power of the Balinese type. The singing component between the two is really different too. Whereas the Balinese singing is more folklorish (if that is a term), the Javanese singing tends to be deep, rustic, and powerful. The melodies are different too. The singer's pace in Javanese gamelan is naturally more subdued compared to his/her counterpart in the Balinese type. The Balinese type definitely lives up to its description: extremely fast, which, for me, seems a bit chaotic.
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