The history of the gamelan is shrouded in myth but we know for sure that the gamelan originated on the Island of Java. According to Javanese myth, the gamelan was invented in about 230 AD by Sang Hyang Guru who was king of all of Java at the time. Sang Hyang Guru lived on present day Mount Lawu and wanted to summon the gods, so he invented the gong. The original gamelan set was that gong and then two other gongs that he would use to send more complex messages.
The first concrete evidence we have of the gamelan’s existence is located on the Buddhist monument of Borobudur, which was constructed in the 8th century in Central Java. Borobudur is the largest buddhist temple in the world and was used to lead people towards Nirvana by teaching them through reliefs how to be good people. A gamelan ensemble is depicted on one of the many reliefs that are carved all along the many levels of the stone monument. The instruments that are used in the gamelan today are believed to have been developed later during the Majapahit Empire which existed from 1293 to c.1527 in Java and other surrounding islands. There are inscriptions dated from this period that mention the gamelan in the detailed accounts that they give.
Throughout the following centuries royal courts in Java and Bali had gamelan sets made for a variety of reasons. For example, the Gamelan Singo Menkok, which is from East Java in Lamongan and was made in the 15th century for the purpose of spreading Islam by integrating Hindu-Buddhist and Islamic culture. By incorporating gamelan into Muslim holidays and religious events, the missionaries made Islam more palatable for the local people. In Western Java in Sumedang, gamelan Panglipur was specifically made for King Kusumahdinata IV, who ruled from 1625-1633, to entertain and comfort him after his beloved child died.
Relief in Borobudur of the ancient gamelan (photo source)
National Treasures: The Gamelan of Indonesia
The gamelan is a unique and widely used ensemble of predominantly metal instruments in Indonesia, specifically on the islands of Java and Bali, although there are other areas in Indonesia where the gamelan can be found. The gamelan is a central part of Indonesian culture and has been for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Today, the gamelan is played during religious ceremonies and other performances, such as the story of Ramayana, a Hindu epic and dance about King Rama who must save his kidnapped wife, Sita. These performances are accompanied by a gamelan ensemble in Java. In 2021, the gamelan was entered onto the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, forever cementing its importance in Indonesian and human heritage.
Here I am in Bali playing a metallophone, part of the gamelan ensemble
Here I am playing the gamelan with the instructor!
Parts and variants of the gamelan ensemble
The gamelan ensemble is made up of gongs, kedang (a drum that controls tempo), metallophones, xylophones, flutes, bowed and plucked strings, and sometimes voices. Each gamelan set is unique based on what it is used for, and the region that it comes from. For example, the Gamelan Munggang, which is a gamelan type from the 12th century in Central Java, is an ensemble meant for a loud style of gamelan music so it has mainly gongs and kedang. Another variable is that some gamelan sets mix multiple sets together so the Gamelan Ageng from Central and East Java includes Gamelan Munggang as well as many other gamelan sets. It is considered the most complete gamelan set in Java, as “ageng” means large, and is widely owned by the public and used in schools, in homes and such. Varieties also vary by region. The Sundanese Gamelan, for example, uses lots of flutes which makes it more mellow and melodic, and is used to bless events and connect with ancestors. Meanwhile, the Balinese gamelan is an integral part of the community, inseparable from life on the island. The dynamic anfast music constantly changes, except for the most sacred pieces, because the Balinese people believe that music should flow and change; often a gamelan ensemble will practice and write the piece they plan to perform at the same time. Gamelan in Bali is used for Hindu religious ceremonies and for entertainment.
Interesting Tidbit!
In the region of Yogyakarta in Java, the Sultan’s family has a special gamelan that only the royals and a select number of attendants are allowed to play.
Today, the gamelan is an integral part of Indonesian culture. The music plays a role in ceremonies, festivals and entertainment. In schools all over Java and Bali, children learn the gamelan in music class or learn it at special arts centers. On my trip to Indonesia, I was fortunate enough to learn how to play one of the many xylophones in the ensemble while visiting the Arma Museum. It is way more difficult than it looks! In the U.S., many universities that have a gamelan ensemble and I encourage you all to look up videos, it is amazing! Here are some videos of American ensembles playing Gamelan:
The gamelan is a very diverse instrument ensemble with a rich cultural heritage and unique sound. Even though the art is filled with tradition and protocol it manages to continue to be relevant and important in today's world. The gamelan is an instrument that I am sure will be around for at least another thousand years.