Question | Answer |
What is the predominant religion of Java? | Islam |
What is the predominant religion of Bali? | Hindu |
Elements of Gamelan Music (6) | 1. Orchestras featuring bronze instruments
2. Compositions guided by core melody
3. Polyphonic texture
4. Colotomic structure
5. Paired families of tuning systems
6. Stress at the end of metrical cycles |
What are metallophones? | metal-keyed xylophones |
What is the core melody called in Java? | Balungan |
What is the core melody called in Bali? | Pokok |
What does it mean to have a polyphonic texture? | The song is composed of interlocking melodies |
What does it mean to have a colotomic structure? | There is a structure of beats in which there is the regular punctuation by gongs |
What are the two paired families of tuning systems? | Pelog (7 tone) and Slendro (5 tone) |
How are the metrical cycles organized? (in groups of...) | Groups of 4 |
Gender (the instrument) | family of thin-keyed metallophones with tube resonators |
Bonang | family of kettle gongs (sets of 2 or 3) each tuned slightly different |
Rebab | 2-string vertical spike fiddle that acts as the melodic leader of the orchestra |
Suling | end-blown bamboo duct flute |
Gong Ageng | largest vertical gong that dramatically ends the metrical cycle of gamelan music |
Kendang | 2 double-headed drums played by a single drummer; lead the orchestra, control tempo, signals |
Ceng-Ceng | cymbals that reinforce drum patterns |
What is Kecak? | A Balinese chorus of interlocking shouts (imitates a gamelan) |
What is Topeng? | The mask dance-drama of Bali; includes the kebyar (gong) gamelan |
What is Wayang Kulit? | A shadow puppet play |
What are some defining characteristics of Java? | *Alus - elegant, refined
*Balungan - core melody derived from the lagu
*Ambiguous |
What are some defining characteristics of Bali? | *Kasar - coarse, exciting
*Pokok - core melody
*Highly precise |
Buka | slow introduction at the beginning of a Javanese piece |
Gongan | divider; large phrase between successive gong hits (multiples of 4) |
Irama | relationship between each instrument's rhythmic density |
Kebyar | Gong gamelan |
Kembangan | "flowering"; ornamented version of balungan |
Lagu | unheard melody (most ornamented) |
Patet | "mode"; collection of pitches indicating mood of piece |
Wela | silent beat (absence of colotomic stroke) |