Balinese Gamelan: Overview

Bali is a home to various style of Gamelan ensembles, much like the rest of the Indonesian archipelago. With the island itself, there are many forms of Gamelan, but generally has its own styles that makes it distinct from the rest of the regions.

Balinese music is generally described as vigorous, explosive and energetic as compared to their Javanese counterparts. The sound is bright and percussive, with the use of hard hammers or horns used for many instruments and the frequent clash of the cymbals.

Kotekan

A prominent musical characteristic of Balinese gamelan would be the Kotek, which is the sharing of the musical line by two players sharing pitches, making for a much faster pace of performance.

A Balinese dance performance featuring Angsel
Another characteristic of Balinese Gamelan would be Angsel, which is a break during a continuous line for emphasis on a dance move or musical gesture.