Gamelan

music
instruments
Angel grace
Instruments
 ❏ BONANG
The performer uses two wooden stick beaters
(tabuh) padded with tightly wound cord to strike
the pencu of gongs. A single player, seated on the
floor performs the instrument by striking its
knobs/bosses with the two tabuh, one held in
each hand
 ❏ GONG AGENAG

A single player performs the instrument by

striking its knob/boss with the tabuh; any
competent gamelan musician can play the instrument.
See Gamelan Besi (Iron) from Central Java for tuning
and register information for the gong ageng in this
gamelan.
 ❏ GAMBANG
A pair of long thin mallets (tabuh),
made of flexible water buffalo horn
tipped with felt, are used to play the
instrument. Gambangs are generally
played in parallel octaves
(gembyang). Occasionally, other styles
of playing are employed such as
playing kempyung which are playing
two notes separated by two keys.
 REBAB
A rebab is played by a solo musician sitting cross-
legged and is held in a vertical position either in
front of the left shin or clasped between the calf
and the thigh. The play bows the instrument with a
bow made from wood and horse's tail or, these days,
nylon.
KENDANG

The drums can be

played with the hands
alone or with a
drumstick in one hand.
The kendang drums lead
the ensemble and when
played together the
drums play in
interlocking patterns that
signal dynamic and
tempo changes.