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The
Gamelan is the musical instruments.
In the Javanese Wayang, these
instruments nowadays consist of at
least 15 different types, mostly
made of bronze and generally of the
percussion type, mostly made of
bronze and generally of the
percussion type; a small bamboo
flute (suling), one or two
horizontal drums on wooden stands
(kendang), a two stringed
violin-like instrument (rebab) and a
wooden xylophone (gambang) are the
non percussion and/or non-bronze
musical instruments used to
accompany a wayang purwa
performance.
The
kothak or wooden chest. The kothak
normally functions as a storage box
for the wayang puppets and other
equipment such as the kelir,
chempala and kepyak. The store a
professional set consisting of
around 200 puppets, its measurement
should be approximately 150 cm.
long, 80 cm. wide and 60 cm. high
(with lid on).
The
chempala or wooden knockers are
usually made of teak wood. There are
two kinds, one about half size of
the other. The larger of these is
approximately 20 cm. long with a
diameter of about 5 cm. This is
usually held in the dalang's left
hand, is used to knock the kothak to
produce the sound effects and coded
orders he requires. When his two
hands are busy manipulating the
puppets, he uses the small chempala
for the same purpose by holding it
between the toes of his right foot,
for he sits cross-legged, his right
foot crossing his left thigh. As
mentioned above, the knocking sounds
not only produce sound effects, but
also serve as the coded
orders/signals of the dalang, orders
to the musicians on what melodies to
play, to slow down or quicken the
rythm, to play it loudly or softly,
or stop the music.
The
kepyak or metal rappers. This is
usually made of three pieces of
bronze plate measuring approximately
15 cm. long and 10 cm. wide
suspended on small cords or chains
to the outer side of the kothak. The
dalang hits it with the toes of his
right foot or with the small knocker
held between the toes of his right
foot. The function of this tool is
mainly to produce sound effects;
occassionally it functions as a
chempala in giving the coded
signals. |
