Irama
Encyclopedia
Irama is a concept used in Java
nese gamelan
music, describing melodic tempo and relationships in density between the balungan
, elaborating instruments, and gong structure. It is distinct from tempo (Basa Jawa
: laya), as each irama can be played in different tempi.
One way to think of irama is to use the most consistently struck instrument in the gamelan, the saron panerus. In some pieces, it plays once per note in the balungan (such as played by the saron barung). In others, it may play twice as often, or four times, as the notes of the balungan are more spread out. This corresponds to a slower irama. In most cases, the more spread out the balungan is, the longer it takes to reach a gong
.
There are five irama:
In slower iramas, there is more space to be filled, and typically elaborating instruments become more important.
Each irama can be played in three laya ("tempi"): seseg ("fast"), sedeng ("medium") and tamban ("slow"). Frequently the changes of laya will signal a different section.
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
nese gamelan
Gamelan
A gamelan is a musical ensemble from Indonesia, typically from the islands of Bali or Java, featuring a variety of instruments such as metallophones, xylophones, drums and gongs; bamboo flutes, bowed and plucked strings. Vocalists may also be included....
music, describing melodic tempo and relationships in density between the balungan
Balungan
The balungan 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....
, elaborating instruments, and gong structure. It is distinct from tempo (Basa Jawa
Javanese language
Javanese language is the language of the Javanese people from the central and eastern parts of the island of Java, in Indonesia. In addition, there are also some pockets of Javanese speakers in the northern coast of western Java...
: laya), as each irama can be played in different tempi.
One way to think of irama is to use the most consistently struck instrument in the gamelan, the saron panerus. In some pieces, it plays once per note in the balungan (such as played by the saron barung). In others, it may play twice as often, or four times, as the notes of the balungan are more spread out. This corresponds to a slower irama. In most cases, the more spread out the balungan is, the longer it takes to reach a gong
Gong ageng
The gong ageng is . It is the largest of the bronze gongs in the Javanese and Balinese gamelan orchestra...
.
There are five irama:
| Irama number | Irama name | Saron panerus beats per balungan note |
|---|---|---|
| 1/2 | Irama lancar | 1 |
| I | Irama tanggung | 2 |
| II | Irama dados (or dadi) | 4 |
| III | Irama wilet | 8 |
| IV | Irama rangkep | 16 |
In slower iramas, there is more space to be filled, and typically elaborating instruments become more important.
Each irama can be played in three laya ("tempi"): seseg ("fast"), sedeng ("medium") and tamban ("slow"). Frequently the changes of laya will signal a different section.