KENDANG

Kendang java

Kendang, kendhang or gendang is one of "gamelan" instruments in Java which controls the rhythm and included in the group "membranofon" is a musical instrument sound sources originating from the lining of leather or other materials.


According to historical evidence, membranofon group has been popular in Java since the mid-ninth century AD with the name: padahi, pataha (padaha), murawa or muraba, mrdangga, mrdala, muraja, panawa, Kahala, damaru, kendang. The term 'padahi' oldest graves can be found in the temple inscriptions which dates to 821 AD (Goris, 1930). As written in the book composed by MPU Prapanca Nagarakrtagama 1365 AD (Pigeaud, 1960), the term continued in use until the Majapahit era.


The mention of kendang with different names indicate a variety of shapes, sizes and materials used, among others: a small kendang, which is being held by the statue depicted the gods, these kendang are called "damaru". Evidence of the existence and diversity of kendang, can be seen in the reliefs of temples as follows:

Borobudur Temple (the beginning of the 9th century AD), described the various forms of percussion like shapes: cylindrical slender, asymmetrical barrel shape, a conical shape (Hary, 1985; 1986).
Shiva temple at Prambanan (mid-9th century AD), on the balustrade of the temple, the drums are placed in the stomach by using a kind of rope.

There's an interesting thing about the origins of this drum, which is a common written source mention of the Old Javanese written sources in India. This proves that there has been cultural contacts between them, including in the field of performing arts.


However, it can be concluded that the influence of Javanese kendang drums of India. Because the instrument is estimated membranofon kind existed before the cultural contacts with India, which is used in rituals. In the days of prehistoric cultures in Indonesia metal (bronze culture) has been known for the "moko" and "nekara". Nekara in his day serves as a kind of drum.

Tegawangi temple, the temple is a young classical period (East Java), 14th century), found relief a person carrying a cylindrical shape with a rope drums are worn on both shoulders.
"Panataran Temple", the young classical temple (the period of East Java), 14th century, relief drum membrane is described using only one hand and beaten with bat round ends. Jaap Kunst (1968:35-36) calls this musical instrument 'dogdog'.


Membranofon other types of instruments are 'bedug' and 'trebang'. The term 'bedug' found in book younger the Song of eMalat. In "Kakawin Hariwangsa", Ghatotkacasraya, and the Song Harsawijaya similar instruments referred to as "tipakan". In addition there is the term 'Tabang-Tabang' in the book and the book Sumanasantaka Ghatotkacasraya that may have evolved into the term 'tribang'.


If the data is correct, then the call "trebang" or "bedhug" is not a musical instrument that emerged after the inclusion of Islamic culture, but has been around since the 12th century AD (Zoetmulder, 1983:317-395).


If the views of size, the drum is divided into several types:


Small drums, this type is referred to as "ketipung".
Medium-sized drums, drum called a "ciblon" or "Chebar".
Large drum, drum of this type is a partner ketipung, called drums gedhe, or commonly referred to as "drum kalih". Drum is usually played on the song or the piece of fine character such as: Ketawang, gendhing kethuk kalih, and rhythm ladrang dadi. Can also be played on the downbeat quick launch type, ladrang rhythm responsibility.
Especially for the puppet there is one more typical drums are drums doormat.
Kendang, played only by hand, without any other tools. Hands of professional gamelan players who had been long enough to explore the culture of Java, drum is a musical instrument played with instinct. Therefore, there is always a difference in the feel, sound, depends on the people who play it.