Java is an amazing place filled with a wide variety of traditional music, dance, art and culture. I’ve been there several times to record, film and learn from these amazing people.
Javanese music is both complicated and very mystical. The instruments are tuned to a variety of exotic musical scales including Pelog & Slendro. Books have been written on the deep meaning and creation of the extended musical pieces played on Javanese gamelan. The giant gongs (called Gong Ageng) are the soul of the ensemble and are believed to have a resident spirit. Great deference is payed to this gong and offerings of fruit and incense are frequently given to it.
I comissioned the creation of a gamelan for me by the late great gamelan builder mas Hirdjan. I met him in Jogjakarta. It took 1 year to build these intruments. Here are a few photos for you.
This is the music created by the Javanese gamelan: Gending Bonang
Gong Ageng with other gongs
Some bonangs – horizontal tuned metal pots
Chuck Jonkey with kengangs each drum is hand carved from a tree trunk
Three sizes of Sarongs (solo style) that play the melody
Chuck Jonkey plays slenthem
this plays the bass melody
This is the Gender. It is played with both hands using these mallets.
Intricate carving on gong stand.
This work is all done by hand.
Gong stand base. Amazing carving.
Do you mind sharing information about the construction of and the materials for the mallets used playing the slenthem?
Thank you.
The mallet for the slenthem is just like the gender mallets only twice as large. Only one mallet is used to play the large keys. It is made of some dark hard wood and has a red, soft cylindrical tube at it’s tip (not sure of the material) but makes a perfect striking material.