Are there many types of gamelan in Bali? Which ones are
the most common?
Unbeknownst to many, there are in fact more than forty different
types of gamelan in Bali. This is saying something for such
a small island.
The most common type is called gong kebyar (exploding gong)
which is overwhelmingly dominant at festivals and competitions.
Originating in Buleleng in the early 20th century, it emerged
as a secular gamelan for flamboyant, fast-paced music and
dance performances held usually in the market place outside
in temple. In the space of only ten or twenty years, this
ensemble and its capricious music swept the island by storm.
Smaller than the stately ceremonial gamelan, gong gede, it
was quickly adopted into religious ceremonies and soon replaced
it in all regencies outside of Bangli. Now in Bali there are
more than 10,000 sets of the versatile gong kebyar. Almost
every banjar and every temple own at least one set and large
numbers of wealthy Balinese have commissioned sets for themselves
as well. Kebyar music is characterized by its loud sound and
lightening pace, and its emotional music tends to both attract
and deter curious tourists.
The next most popular gamelan is angklung which has four keys
in South Bali and anything up to seven keys in Buleleng. It
provides cremation music all over the island and in Central
and East Bali it is also used in temple anniversaries and
private ceremonies. Angklung is high-pitched and highly rhythmic
with note intervals resembling that of the Western major scale,
and to the occidental ear sounds lively and jolly. To the
Balinese, with its close association to cremations, it evokes
melancholy and sadness.
Another common ensemble is the pair of bamboo xylophones called
rindik in South Bali and grantang in the north. Heard playing
in restaurants and hotel lobbies across the island, these
instruments and their cheerful and airy music were created
by farmers in their breaks between tending to their crops
and livestock.
The remaining thirty-five or so ensembles are considered rare.
Some are more endangered than others and I’ll tell you
more about them in the next edition of Kulture Kid.
Copyright@ Kulture Kid 2006
You can read all past articles of Kulture Kid at www.BaliAdvertiser.biz
