OUR FACILITIES:
Javanese Gamelan
The Gamelan, whose purchase was funded by the National Foundation for Youth Music, is a collection of hand-crafted Indonesian percussion instruments, which can be played by up to 20 people. One of the key objectives of the project was to involve young people under the age of 18.
What is a Gamelan?
Matthew Spring, lecturer at Bath Spa University explains a little of the history of the instrument and the plans for it.
A Gamelan (the word comes from the Javanese 'gamal', which means hammer) is not a single instrument but a collection of instruments that can be played by a variable number of musicians from 4 to 40 . The mainstay of the group are 8 to 10 metal percussion instruments which are like glockenspiels in that they have 10-12 metal bars which are hit with a mallet. These instruments playa melody cycle that is repeated as many times as is wanted. Around these instruments other larger metal and wood percussion instruments add a bass below and an elaboration of the melody above.
A distinctive feature of the gamelan are the very large gongs that punctuate the music and give it structure. As well as the percussion instruments are a range of others - suling flute, a bowed rebab, zither and drums that add further spice to the music.
Javanese traditional music (karawitan) is highly spiritual and the gamelan itself is a mystic religious qualities. It is held in high reverence and each Gamelan is a unique entity with its own qualities and strengths. The University's gamelan has been named Sumekar.
Gamelan Sumekar comes from the Central Java area around the ancient city of Jogja. In Java the Gamelan is very often used in combination with traditional dances as part of a wayang kulit - a shadow play using ornate puppets manipulated by a dhalang - a traditional puppeteer. The performances use a mixture of allusion and allegory, poetry and prose and are always related to the Hindu religious epics, the Mahabharata and Ramayana. It is from the wayang that many of the pieces and songs that form the basis of the gamelan repertory.
The Gamelan is used not only by our students in the normal course of their studies but also by groups in the local community. The Music Department has a special interest in PGCE music, and has already put in place a number of programmes that involve PGCE students.
Upcoming events:
Creative Music Technology Degree Show
Wed 23rd May 2012, 6:30pm
Commercial Music Degree Performance
Thu 24th May 2012, 8:00pm