Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Gamelan, Indonesian music

Gamelan is non-Melayu music originally from Indonesia. Typically in Java and Bali island featuring variety traditional music such as, metallophones, xylophones, drums and or gong, bamboo flute, bowed and plucked strings. Sometimes featuring vocalist too. See also for Sundanese bamboo music, Angklung.

The word of gamelan comes from Javanese languages "gamel" means to strike with hammer even real hammer is not used to play for gamelan music. This music is set for playing to accompany dance and Indonesian traditional puppet show or called Wayang.

Gamelan developed from Hindu period era (200 BC) and still exist until now.

This short video about Javanese gamelan :



Below this is Balinese gamelan :



In present time, gamelan sometimes collaborate with modern instrument. See this very good collaboration gamelan playing Mission Impossible theme :



Another link for Gamelan :
1. joglosemar
2. wikipedia


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