Gamelan degung

Gamelan Degung
A gamelan degung player
Classification
InventorSundanese
DevelopedIndonesia (West Java)
More articles or information
Gamelan
CountryIndonesia
Reference01607
RegionAsia and the Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription2021 (16th session)
ListRepresentative
Degung, Gambang, Gender Wayang, Gong gede, Gong kebyar, Jegog, Joged bumbung, Salendro, Selunding, Semar pegulingan, Surakarta

Gamelan degung is a form of Sundanese musical ensemble that uses a subset of modified gamelan instruments with a particular mode of degung scale. The instruments are manufactured under local conditions in towns in West Java such as Bogor and Bandung. Degung music is often played at public gatherings in West Java, such as at local elections, as well as many other events. There is international interest in degung as well among communities in other countries interested in Indonesian and gamelan music.

Gamelan degung also playable in madenda scale, which is included in the set as a complementary tone, usually marked as a -3/ni tone in the set. Playing gamelan degung in this scale requires the substitution of the 3/na metal bars into -3/ni tones on all instruments.

Gamelan tuning use its da/1 note as the reference. The tuning of a degung set should match with common suling tunings. A suling usually sold based on the length of the tube, such as 56 cm, 54 cm, etc. Shorter tube has higher base note. A 56 cm suling corresponds with da/1≈G.

degung and madenda scale comparison
Degung 5 4 3 2 1
Madenda 5 4 -3 2 1
reading la ti na ni mi da
surupan 56 B C D E F# G
surupan 54 A# B C# D# E# F#
surupan 52 A Bb C D E F