The gamelan is a traditional musical ensemble predominantly made up of percussion instruments, which are generally struck to produce a sound. In fact, it is believed the word “gamelan” is derived from the Javanese “gamel”, which refers to the the act of striking something with a mallet.
Apart from Malaysia, one can find gamelan music being performed in other Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia and Singapore. There are also different styles such as Javanese, Balinese and Malay, each with a distinct sound of its own.
For 48-year-old Colleen Wong, her interest in gamelan was piqued when she decided to learn an instrument that could be played in a group.
Since 1997, Wong, who also plays the piano and viola, has been a part of Rhythm in Bronze (RiB), a contemporary gamelan ensemble that aims to raise awareness about the richness of Malay gamelan music.
According to her, Malay gamelan originated from Riau Lingga and was subsequently brought into the Pahang and Terengganu palace courts in the 19th century. It is said that it wasn’t until the 1960s that gamelan was introduced to the public in Malaysia.
The Malay gamelan traditionally consists of a collection of instruments, namely the bonang or keromong (small kettle gongs); kenong (larger kettle gongs); saron (metallophones or instruments consisting of a series of metal bars that make tones when struck); gambang (wooden xylophone); gendang (barrel drum); and hanging gongs.
It was the collective sound of these instruments that initially captivated Adilah Junid, who is also part of RiB.
“It’s rich, deep, and has a very different and interesting feel,” shared the 46-year-old, who has been with the ensemble since 2004, and has even composed music for the gamelan despite not having any formal musical training.
Indeed, the gamelan is all about reverberations: as each instrument is struck, it produces its own distinctive noise, within its own range of frequencies. Individually, the sound is interesting; all at once, it is exquisite.
The importance of teamwork
So, what does it take to play the gamelan? “If you have musicality, you can do it. It’s simple in that way,” Adilah told FMT Lifestyle.
She also believes one must be willing to learn from others. “Ask, experiment with your touch, and find out what works. It’s very much about chemistry and teamwork.
“There is no conductor, so it’s about how you listen to each other’s tone and timing.”
Indeed, listening to one another is paramount, Wong concurred. “Rehearsals are a crucial time to listen and see how you play. How hard is your touch? How are you listening to what your fellow musicians are playing?
“It’s not a solo instrument, so we need to blend. The more we play together, the more we sound like one instrument instead of many.”
And when that cohesiveness is achieved, it results in an unforgettable sound that is quite literally music to the ears.
The next generation
A similar sentiment is echoed by Tarenddra Gunalan, 11, and Kate Lim, 12 from the Cempaka Gamelan Ensemble.
The troupe, which performs in the style of the Javanese gamelan, is trained by the award-winning Cempaka Performing Arts Company (CPAC), which was established in 2000 to manage the performing arts curriculum of Cempaka Schools.
While Tarenddra and Lim were initially drawn to the uniqueness of the instruments and the sound they produce, what they particularly enjoy now is the sense of teamwork and friendship within their ensemble.
“I really like the environment (during practices),” Lim said, adding that she particularly enjoyed learning her parts and playing together.
When visited by FMT Lifestyle recently, the ensemble performed a song titled “Inang Cina”, during which Tarenddra and Lim were clearly having a good time with their teammates.
Both pupils shared that they plan to keep playing for the foreseeable future, and encouraged those who are considering learning the gamelan to give it a go.
“It’s not difficult to learn, you just have to practise,” Lim enthused.
Tarenddra agreed wholeheartedly, saying: “Learning the gamelan is really fun!”
Learn more about Rhythm in Bronze by following their Facebook and Instagram.
Find out more about Cempaka Performing Arts Company via its website, Facebook and Instagram.
Stay current - Follow FMT on WhatsApp, Google news and Telegram