Kendang

A ''kendang'' or ''gendang'' (, , , Tausug/ Bajau/ Maranao: ''gandang'', Bugis: ''gendrang'' and Makassar: ''gandrang'' or ''ganrang'') is a two-headed drum used by people from the Indonesian Archipelago. The kendang is one of the primary instruments used in the gamelan ensembles of Javanese, Sundanese, and Balinese music. It is also used in various Kulintang ensembles in Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines. It is constructed in a variety of ways by different ethnic groups. It is related to the Indian double-headed mridangam drum.

Overview

The typical double-sided membrane drums are known throughout Maritime Southeast Asia and India. One of the oldest image of kendang can be found in ancient temples in Indonesia, especially the ninth century Borobudur and Prambanan temple.

Among the Javanese, Sundanese, and Balinese, the has one side larger than the other, with the larger, lower-pitched side usually placed to the right, and are usually placed on stands horizontally and hit with the hands on either side while seated on the floor. Amongst groups like the Balinese, Tausug, and Maranao, both sides are of equal size, and are played on either one or both sides using a combination of hands and/or sticks.

Within , the is smaller than the , which is placed inside a frame, hit with a beater, but used less frequently. The usually has the function of keeping the tempo (''laya'') while changing the density (), and signaling some of the transitions () to sections and the end of the piece ().

In the dance or performance, the player will follow the movements of the dancer, and communicate them to the other players in the ensemble. In West Java (Sundanese), are used to keep the tempo of . are also used as main instrument for Jaipongan dances. In another composition called Rampak Kendang, a group of drummers play in harmony.

Among the Makassarese, the () drums have much more importance, with it considered the most sacred of all musical instruments, comparable to gongs in Java. This can be seen in local origin stories, accompaniments for local ceremony, dance such as , and martial arts, even local government ceremonies are opened by official sounding of a ganrang rather than the usual gong in Java. They are usually played alone with multiple drums playing different patterns creating syncopation. These traditions can be seen across lowland South Sulawesi with Bugis people also sharing similar reverence to the .

Kendang making

Good kendang instruments are said to be made from the wood of jackfruit, coconuts or cempedak. Buffalo hide is often used for the ''bam'' (inferior surface which emits low-pitch beats) while soft goatskin is used for the ''chang'' (superior surface which emits high-pitch beats).

The skin is stretched on y-shaped leather or rattan strings, which can be tightened to change the pitch of the heads. The thinner the leather the sharper the sound.

Accompaniments

Javanese

In Gamelan Reog, kendhang are used To accompany the Reog Ponorogo art, the sound produced by Kendhang Reog is very distinctive with the beat of "dang thak dhak thung glhang". The existence of Kendang Reog is currently the largest in the world of the existing types of Kendhang.

In Gamelan Surakarta, four sizes of kendhang are used:
* , (''krama/ngoko'', similar to in usage), or is the largest , which usually has the deepest tone. It is played by itself in the (lit. "single drum") style, which is used for the most solemn or majestic pieces or parts of pieces. It is played with the kendhang ketipung for (lit. "double drum") style, which is used in faster tempos and less solemn pieces.
* is also medium-sized, and was traditionally used to accompany performances, although now other drums can be used as well.
* or is a medium-sized drum, used for the most complex or lively rhythms. It is typically used for livelier sections within a piece. The word ''ciblon'' derives from a Javanese type of water-play, where people smack the water with different hand shapes to give different sounds and complex rhythms. The technique of this , which is said to imitate the water-play, is more difficult to learn than the other kendang styles.
* is the smallest , used with the in (double drum) style.

Sundanese

In Sundanese Gamelan, a minimum set consists of three drums.
* (large drum)
* , two (small drum). Kendang ''Kulanter'' is divided into two, namely the Katipung and the Kutiplak.
Many types of Sundanese Kendang are distinguished according to their function in accompaniment :
* ''Kendang Kiliningan''
* ''Kendang Jaipongan''
* ''Kendang Ketuk Tilu''
* ''Kendang Keurseus''
* ''Kendang Penca''
* ''Kendang Bajidor''
* ''Kendang Sisingaan'' and others.
Each type of drums in Sundanese music has a difference in size, pattern, variety, and motif.

Balinese

In , there are two :
* , the "female" and lowest pitched.
* , the "male" and highest pitched.

Makassarese

(Makassarese s) can be divided to three types:
* is the largest drums as a result it is also called (largest drum in Makassarese language).These drums are usually used in important sacred ceremonies such as blessing for sultanate's heirlooms.
* are usually smaller with diameters measuring in 30–40 cm, which are usually used for dance, which used 2-4 drums with differing beats and symbolizes the men's strength and vitality.
* are usually the smallest with diameters measuring in 20–25 cm, and used as martial arts accompaniments.

Buginese

Among the Bugis there are two types of playing techniques based on the position of the . if the is placed on the player's lap it is called . If the players are standing with the s tied with a shoulder strap it is called , this position are usually used for sacred ceremony, or for entertainment like beating of rice mortars or .
There are generally three types of beats pattern in playing:
* patterns are usually the beginning as intro
* are played afterwards which are usually more energetic
* patterns are used afterward, as finale.

Gallery

File:SambaSunda Quintett in Cologne (0253).jpg, A member of the Sundanese Gamelan quintet Samba-Sunda, a family playing Sundanese drums ().
Image:Gamelan of Bali 200507-3.jpg, of Bali, note the equal size of both sides. The drum in this picture is exceptional - usually Balinese s are conical (actually hour-glass formed on the inside).
Image:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Dubbelvellige tonvormige trom onderdeel van gamelan Slendro TMnr 500-7.jpg, of Java, one side is bigger than other.
File:Reliëf met een trom op een tempel van Prambanan bij Jogjakarta, KITLV 17728.tiff, Bas-relief of kendang at Prambanan
File:Relief on the northern balustrade of candi Siwa OD-12488.tiff, Bas-relief of kendang at Prambanan

See also

* Dabakan
* Gendang beleq
* Gordang sambilan
* Rampak Kendang

Sources

Further reading

* Sumarsam. ''Javanese Gamelan Instruments and Vocalists''. 1978–1979.

External links

Kendang information, with audio

Rampak Kendang in Google

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Gamelan instruments
Drums
Hand drums
Bruneian musical instruments
Indonesian musical instruments
Malaysian musical instruments
Philippine musical instruments
Philippine folk instruments