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The Javanese gamelan of Indonesia
The word "gamelan" comes from the Javanese word "gamel", meaning to strike or hammer. The gamelan orchestra is a native art form predating the Hindu and Buddhist culture that came to dominate Indonesia. In Javanese mythology, the gamelan was created by Sang Hyang Guru in Saka AD 230. The legend describes a god who ruled as king of all Java from a palace on the Maendra Mountains in Medangkamulan (now Mount Lawu). He needed a signal to summon the gods, and thus invented the gong then for more complicated communication he invented two other gongs.
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The instruments developed into their current form during the Majapahit Empire from AD 1293 to around 1500. They consist of the saron, gendér, gangsa, and ugal – (metals bars laid out in a single row and struck like a glockenspiel). There are hanging gongs called kempul and ageng, cradled gongs called bonang and kenong) large, drum-shaped gongs laid out horizontally on stands). Wooden xylophone-like instruments called gambang, drums called kendhang as well as bamboo instruments, flutes, zithers, and sometime the gamelan orchestra is accompanied by singers.
A Short video showing Gamelan instrument being made
A video of The Marsudi Raras gamelan group
Gamelan Kusuma Laras in New York
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