Gamelan degung

Gamelan degung is unique to Sunda. It developed during the 19th century in the courts of the Bupati (Regents), who were the local Indonesian rulers under the Dutch. Since Independence in 1945 degung has become increasingly widespread among the general populace. Nowadays it is often played at wedding receptions, or as background music. Because of its former aristocratic connections, the middle class consider it more 'up-market' than gamelan saléndro. At the same time it has also become the vehicle for a certain type of Sundanese popular music , which via the cassette industry enjoyed phenomenal commercial success in the late 1980s (degung instrumental. While in the courts (Kabupatén) degung was played exclusively by men, now it is more often played by groups of women (apart from the suling and kendang).

A gamelan degung comprises the following instruments:

goong,jengglong,bonang,cémprés or panerus,peking or saron,kendang,suling

In older degung the jengglong pots are hung from a frame, facing the player. In more recent instruments, the pots are often placed on horizontal frames (as in the photograph above). One musician told me that this is considered more suitable for women players!

The bonang consists of 14 pots arranged in a single row. In older degung these were placed on two frames set at an angle in a V-shape. In more recent degung, they are often placed on three shorter frames set at right-angles in a U-shape.

The suling (bamboo flute) used in degung is quite short (a little over 30 cm long) and has four holes. Its effective range is two octaves.

The instruments mentioned so far constitute the classical line-up. Nowadays in degung kawih other instruments are often added. These may include a kempul (small hanging gong), gambang (xylophone), a pair of one-octave saron, and a kacapi siter (a small zither with 20 steel strings). Occasionally a rebab may replace the suling, particularly if playing pieces from the gamelan pélog repertoire. In degung kawih, the normal suling degung may be replaced by a longer 6-hole suling tembang which has a larger range.