GAMELAN FACTS

· Gamelan originates from Bali and Java in Indonesia.

· The word 'gamel' means hammer.

· A gamelan orchestra consists mostly of gongs, metallophones, xylophones and drums.

· Gamelan music is used to accompany performances such as dance and shadow puppet plays.

· Gamelan pieces are based on a primary melodic phrase. Each instrument plays a variation of this melody.

· There are two main 'scales' used in gamelan music:

         The Slendro tuning system divides the octave into five equidistant parts.

         The Pelog tuning system divides the octave into seven unequal parts.

· No two gamelan sets have exactly the same tuning, giving each one its own distinctive character.

· Gamelan pieces are CYCLIC - with repetition and variation being characteristic features.