Arranging A Gamelan Penting Ensemble Through Exploration and Interpretation Process

Abstract

An ensemble or commonly reffered to as a set of gamelan or barungan (in Bali) was a collection of musical instruments consisting of various types and forms of musical instruments used to present music. The quantity, shapes, and types of instruments used was depended on the ensemble type. Setting up a gamelan ensemble took a long time. gamelan ensemble could not be formed immediately. The musical instruments in it were arranged through evolutionary changes. The type and number of instruments used had been changed with musical or aesthetic considerations, as well as functional developments, and were carried out with enthusiasm. The factors that support the formation of a gamelan ensemble were the needs of the community, the creativity of the artists, and the dynamics of the community. The formation of a gamelan penting ensemble was a step towards creating an ensemble that was musically dominated by penting instruments. The formation of penting gamelan ensemble was carried out through various processes of exploration and interpretation. The exploration here related to the use of other types of instruments other than penting instrument and the size of penting instrument, while the interpretation was related to musical (aesthetic) considerations embodied by the type and shape of the instrument used.

Keywords: Exploration, interpretation, aesthetics, enthusiasm

Publication date:September 30^th 2020

DOI: 10.7176/ADS/85-03