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JAVANESE GAMELAN

What is the Gamelan?
  • Gamelan is an orchestra played on the islands of Java and Bali in Indonesia (South East Asia).
  • It consists mostly (although not entirely) of percussion instruments.
  • A full Javanese gamelan uses two tuning systems: Sléndro (a five note scale numbered 12356)
    Pélog (a seven-note scale numbered 1234567). The Bate Collection Gamelan has both of these tunings! 
How Does the Gamelan Work?
  • Most Pieces are in cyclic form. 
    The instruments in the centre play a repeating melody called balungan (or skeleton). 
  • This is punctuated by the large gongs at the back and elaborated by the instruments at the front. 
  • The ensemble is co-ordinated by the drums (kendhang) in the centre of the gamelan. 
  • The voice is important in the gamelan, often including a gérong (male chorus) and pesindhén (solo female singer). 
When and where is Gamelan played?

Gamelan music is traditionally played for:

  • sacred, temple, ritual or royal court ceremonies and processions 
  • marking rites of passage (birth, birthdays, marriage, death) 
  • accompanying dance and drama such as shadow-puppet plays 
  • community celebrations, cultural gatherings, social functions, and informally, for fun! 
  • It is widely recorded for film, television, radio and commercial recordings. 
About the Bate Collection's Gamelan:
  • The Bate Collection's Javanese gamelan is named 'Kyai Madu Laras' which translates as the 'Venerable Sweet Harmony'.
  •  It is located in the Recital Hall of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities in the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter.  It is available for booked education sessions, community events and Oxford Gamelan Society rehearsals. 
Book a Gamelan Session

Groups wishing to book Gamelan workshops, please contact bate.education@music.ox.ac.uk

Adults wishing to play gamelan can join the weekly sessions run by the Oxford Gamelan Society on Tuesday evenings.

Starting to play Javanese Gamelan music is easy. By the end of your first session, you should have played through the whole of a simple piece, concentrating mainly on coordination with other players and on the structure of the composition - the technique for playing most of the instruments is relatively simple. Enthusiasm and concentration are required rather than any previous musical experience or training.

Rehearsals of the Oxford Gamelan Society:
  • Tuesday evenings during Oxford University term time (weeks 0 through 9), in the Recital Hall of the new Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities. 
  • From week 1 of term onwards, new players are invited to come along from 6 – 7.30pm. 
  • The session for more experienced players is from 7.30 – 9pm.
Membership of the Oxford Gamelan Society:
  • FREE for students and staff of the Music Faculty. 
  • £25 per term for students from other departments 
  • £25 for individuals with low incomes 
  • £85 per term for non-students 

OXFORD GAMELAN SOCIETY

Contact the Oxford Gamelan Society: enquiries@oxfordgamelan.org