Gamelan is an ensemble of tuned percussion instruments played in several parts of Indonesia. It consists of some large low-pitched gongs, various sets of smaller gong chimes, metallophones, a xylophone, drums and a fiddle or bamboo flute.

GAMELAN DEGUNG

Gamelan degung is a type of gong-chime ensemble found only in Sunda, the mountainous region of West Java. For the Sundanese, gamelan degung is an important expression of their cultural identity, quite different from the gamelan traditions of Java and Bali (which are perhaps better known overseas).

Gamelan degung emerged during the 19th century in the courts of the Sundanese regents, who ruled under the Dutch colonial regime. Since Indonesian Independence in 1945, it has become increasingly widespread among the general populace. Nowadays it is often played at wedding receptions, or as background music. Because of its former aristocratic connections, it is considered more ‘up-market’ than gamelan salendro, the other main type of Sundanese gamelan. While in the courts degung was played exclusively by men, now it has become fashionable for women’s groups to perform.

Gamelan degung is tuned to a pentatonic scale, pelog degung, which approximates to the pitches Ab G Eb Db C. Some pieces use the sorog tuning: Ab G F Db C. The tuning is changed by exchanging the appropriate bars or gong chimes on each instrument.

Gamelan degung music has changed considerably since the time when it was played only in Court. Formerly the repertoire consisted primarily of long, rather austere pieces without singing (a style now called degung klasik). Later, singing was introduced, in repertoire which brought the singer very much to the fore: degung kawih. Pieces were also incorporated from the gamelan salendro repertoire. Gamelan degung has also become the vehicle for arrangements of pop Sunda, Sundanese popular music, which via the cassette industry enjoyed phenomenal commercial success in the late 1980s.

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