Javanese Gamelan Between Reality, Myth and Mysticism

Baca Juga

FEMUSINDO.com - Javanese Gamelan is a traditional musical ensemble of the people of Java Island, Indonesia, which usually features metallophones, gambang, gendang, and gong.

The music created in Javanese Gamelan comes from a combination of the sounds of gongs, kenong and other Javanese musical instruments.

The rhythm of the music is generally soft and reflects the harmony of life, as is the principle of life generally adopted by Javanese society.

The name gamelan itself actually comes from two syllables "gamel" and "an". Gamel in Javanese means to hit or beat, while an in Javanese means a noun.

So, gamelan is a beating activity carried out by people in ancient times which later became the name of the ensemble musical instrument.

Behind its soft and melodious musical rhythm, Javanese Gamelan has a mystical and horror side. Believe it or not, this musical instrument can be connected to another dimension.

According to Javanese belief, gamelan was created by the god who rules the land of Java, namely Sang Hyang Guru who lives on Mount Mahendra or is currently better known as Mount Lawu.

In ancient times, the gamelan was made and used to communicate and to summon other gods.

However, in order to convey a more specific message, finally 2 types of gongs were made which became the forerunner of gamelan in general as it is today.

Some people think that gamelan is not just a traditional musical instrument, it has a soul that is related to the world of supernatural beings or to one of the supernatural beings.

According to myths and news that are not necessarily true, there are many testimonies from people who believe that gamelan is usually used as a ritual tool to summon spirits in Java.

In addition, there are also many testimonies of gamelan sounds in places, such as forests or certain mountains in Java, Indonesia, in particular. (*)