Gamelan degung

Gamelan degung is a form of Sundanese musical ensemble that uses a subset of modified gamelan instruments with a particular mode of degung scale. The instruments are manufactured under local conditions in towns in West Java such as Bogor and Bandung.^[1] Degung music is often played at public gatherings in West Java, such as at local elections, as well as many other events.^[2] There is international interest in degung as well among communities in other countries interested in Indonesian and gamelan music.^[3]

Gamelan Degung

A gamelan degung player
Classification	Percussion instrument Idiophone Gong
Inventor(s)	Sundanese
Developed	Indonesia (West Java)
More articles or information
Gamelan

Gamelan
UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage
Gamelan musical instrument
Country	Indonesia
Domains	Traditional craftsmanship, oral traditions and expressions, social practices, rituals and festive events
Reference	01607
Region	Asia and the Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription	2021 (16th session)
List	Representative List
Degung, Gambang, Gender Wayang, Gong gede, Gong kebyar, Jegog, Joged bumbung, Salendro, Selunding, Semar pegulingan, Surakarta

Gamelan degung also playable in madenda scale, which is included in the set as a complementary tone, usually marked as a -3/ni tone in the set. Playing gamelan degung in this scale requires the substitution of the 3/na metal bars into -3/ni tones on all instruments.

degung and madenda scale comparison

Degung	5	4	3		2	1
Madenda	5	4		-3	2	1
reading	la	ti	na	ni	mi	da

Instruments

The instrumentation of gamelan degung is quite flexible. It may include:

• Bonang/kolènang: two rows of seven small bulbous gongs. It differs from its Javanese counterpart in that the rows are each placed on either side of the player.
• saron/peking: a high-pitched bronze metallophone with fourteen keys. Usually, there are two sarons in a single set.
• panerus: another bronze metallophone, similar to the peking but pitched an octave lower.
• Jengglong: six bulbous gongs suspended from the same frame. Could be played like bonang, or hanged.
• goong ageung: a large gong.
• Pancer: a smaller gong, secondary gong.
• A set of kendang, consisting of one large (kendang indung) and two small double-sided drums (kulantér).
• Suling degung: a four-holed bamboo flute.
• Suling kawih: a six-holed bamboo flute, interchangeably used with suling degung
• Gambang: a wooden xylophone.
• Kacapi: a zither.

In classical degung, the bonang serves as a conductor for the whole ensemble. Except in certain modern compositions, it is rarely absent.

Gallery

• 
  Closeup of a bonang from gamelan degung
• 
  Sundanese gamelan degung
• 
  Sundanese students playing gamelan degung on the street
• 
  Gamelan degung performed by Indra Swara in Mexico
• 
  Gamelan degung instruments
• 
  Bonang

See also

• Music portal
• Indonesia portal

• Gong gede

References

1. Retno K. Djojo, "For the love of music", The Jakarta Post, 29 January 2010.
2. Theresia Sufa, "Sundanese music and dance liven election day in Bogor", The Jakarta Post, 26 October 2008.
3. Dewi Anggraeni, "Melbourne: Gamelan, elephants and 'Jackpot'", Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine, The Jakarta Post, 22 February 2004.