Gong

Gong

Physical description:
The largest hanging gong that has the lowest pitch among the gamelan instruments is called “gong ageng” (ageng means large), with a diameter of around 34 inches. It is hung on a stand. The gong ageng is played with a round, heavily padded beater. A full gamelan set may have a pair of gongs, although it is also not uncommon for gamelan to have only one gong. There is also medium sized hanging gong, with a diameter of around 24 inches that has the same function as gong ageng; it is called gong suwukan. A full gamelan set has one gong suwukan, although there are also gamelan that have two or more gong suwukan.

Role in the gamelan ensemble:
The gong ageng or gong suwukan has an important function in the ensemble. As one of the instruments that delineates the formal structure of a gendhing, the gong marks the end of a longer musical unit; it gives a feeling of balance after the longest melodic section of a gendhing. The importance of the gong in marking the end of a gendhing formal structure leads to the naming of this structure itself as “gongan.”

-Sumarsam, 2004

Indonesia