Javanese Gamelan history and origins - One of Indonesia's famous cultural richness in music is the art of gamelan. Gamelan mostly found in various regions of Indonesia. There gamelan music in Java, Madura, Bali, and Lombok. Of course, variants of which used different musical instruments. Neither the name nor form.
In Java, gamelan is called the gong. Especially, since the 18th century. Javanese gamelan comes from the Javanese, gamel, which means it is an instrument that was beaten and beaten. Made of wood and gangsa, a type of metal mixed with copper or tin and rejasa. Musical instrument accompaniment of gamelan instruments consisting of drums, bonang, panerus, gender, xylophone, flute, zither, clempung, slenthem, demung, saron, kenong, kethuk, japan, kempyang, kempul, howl, and gongs.
Origin of Javanese Gamelan
Initially, gamelan musical instruments made under the existing reliefs in Borobudur temple in the 8th century. In the reliefs in the temple, there are several musical instruments consisting of drums, bamboo flute, harp, that is swiped and plucked strings, and bells.
Since then, the instrument used as an instrument in the music of Javanese gamelan. Musical instruments contained in the reliefs of Borobudur is used to play the gamelan. On the influence of Hindu-Buddhist culture developed in the kingdom of Majapahit, the gamelan was introduced in the Java community in the Kingdom of Majapahit.
That said, according to the beliefs of Java, the gamelan itself was created by Sang Hyang Guru Saka Era, as the god who used to rule the whole land of Java. The god that creates musical gong, which is used to summon the gods.
Javanese gamelan music in Java itself is called musicians. Gamelan is a term used to refer to the strains of gamelan music is fine. Art gamelan musicians who use instruments found in the art of dance and art Java distinctive voice, is as follows.
1. Sound art composed of sinden, take it, Gerong, sendon, and Celuk.
2. Art consists of wayang kulit puppetry, puppet show, puppet Gedog, klithik puppet, wayang beber, wayang torches, and puppet revelation.
3. Dance dance consists of srimpi, bedayan, show, wireng, and dance pethilan.
Art of Javanese gamelan played not only to accompany the sound art, dance, puppet and attractions. At an official ceremony held at the royal palace, used as an accompaniment of gamelan music. Especially, if there are members of the palace wedding traditions of Java. Java community also uses the music of the gamelan when holding a wedding reception.