Balungan

The balungan (Javanese: skeleton, frame ) is sometimes called the "core melody" of a Javanese gamelan composition. This corresponds to the view that gamelan music is heterophonic: the balungan is then the melody which is being elaborated.

The group of instruments which play the closest to the balungan are sometimes also called the balungan, or balungan instruments. These are the saron family and the slenthem. In many pieces, they play the balungan. However, they can also elaborate on the parts in a variety of techniques. It is possible that there is no instrument playing the balungan, although many musicians claim that the balungan is still.

The term has been a source of some controversy, as various writers may define it differently. Sometimes it is identified with the melody played on the saron (whose range is limilted to an octave), but sometimes it is identified with a wider tessitura that is implied by the patterns on other instruments. This multi-octave melody is the one given in kepatihan notation, the cipher notation used for gamelan pieces.

Lagu is a related term, which is used by Sumarsam and is sometimes translated as "inner melody." It can mean the multi-octave balungan, or a more implicit melody. There is no consensus on the use of either term, and they may be used differently by different writers or in different contexts.

Other uses

Balungan is also the name of the Journal of the American Gamelan Institute.

Further reading

• Hood, Mantle. The Nuclear Theme as a Determinant of Patet in Javanese Music. Groningen and Jakarta: JB Walters, 1954.
• Kunst, Jaap. Music in Java: Its History, its Theory and its Technique. 2 vols, 3d ed enlarged. The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, 1973.
• Perlman, Marc. Unplayed Melodies: Javanese Gamelan and the Genesis of Music Theory. University of California Press, 2004.
• Supanggah, Rahaya. Trans. Marc Perlman. "Balungan." In Balungan, October 1988.

Instruments and vocals used in Javanese gamelan
Colotomic instruments: Balungan instruments: Panerusan instruments: Unpitched instruments: Vocals and clapping:		Kempyang and ketuk | Kempul | Kenong | Gong Saron panerus | Saron barung | Demung | Slenthem | Slentho Bonang | Gendér | Gambang | Siter | Celempung | Suling | Rebab Kendang | Bedug | Kecer | Kemanak | Kepyak Gerong | Sindhen | Alok | Senggakan | Keplok

Indonesia portal