Glossary

Balungan

"Skeleton"; the melodic framework of a piece; melody.

Buka

A solo introduction often played by bonang barung, rebab, or gènder.

Gatra, gåtrå

Basic metric unit of a gamelan piece--usually four notes long. Similar to a measure in Western music.

Gongan

A section of a piece between subsequent gong strokes. Generally the largest colotomic division of a piece. Also see kenongan

Imbal

An interlocking playing style or pattern played between two similar instruments. Most frequently, imbal is played between two bonang although other instruments can play imbal also. See also sekaran.

Irama

Irama levels refer to the musical subdivision of the balungan or the density of the music. One might also think that this refers to the tempo, or speed, of the piece, but irama refers to the subdivision level that happen at a particular tempo (e.g. one can play a fast irama II or a slow irama I, which may have similar tempos). Irama levels can be:

Irama I (lancar or tanggung) - two peking notes per balungan beat.
Irama II (dadi) - four peking notes per balungan beat.
Irama III (wilet) - eight peking notes per balungan beat.
Irama IV (rangkep) - sixteen peking notes per balungan beat.

Kenongan

A section of a piece between subsequent kenong strokes. In many pieces, a number of kenongan make up a gongan.

Laras

Tuning system; scale, either pélog or sléndro. Literally "harmony". See a description of the Javanese scales.

Pathet

Literally "to restrain." Modes (like major and minor in Western music or church modes during the Middle Ages); hierarchical use of tones within a scale or laras.

Sléndro nem
Sléndro sångå
Sléndro manyurå

Pélog nem
Pélog limå
Pélog barang

Sekaran

"Flower" pattern; somewhat improvisatory patterns that are ornaments or embellishments for the music. Bonang frequently alternate between sekaran and imbal in certain pieces.

Suwuk

The ending of a piece.