Ompak
Encyclopedia
The ompak or umpak is a section of a gamelan
composition.
It refers to the opening gongan of a ladrang
or ketawang
, or four gongans of the lancaran
. These sections are usually repeated, and can be repeated as often as desired. This section is also called the bubuka gendhing, which is not to be confused with the buka
(i.e. bubuka opaq-opaq). The analogous section for a gendhing
is the merong
.
Ompak can also refer to the bridge which links separate sections of a gendhing
, i.e. between the merong
and minggah
sections. This usually consists of one or two nongan, or sometimes a whole gongan. The balungan
for the ompak may or may not be different from the regular merong, but there is always a different kendhang pattern. The cue to go to the ompak is usually given by an increase in speed from the kendhang, often including a change in irama
.
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....
composition.
It refers to the opening gongan of a ladrang
Ladrang
The ladrang is one of the gendhing structures used in Javanese gamelan music.The basic colotomic structure is a cycle of 32 beats in the following order:...
or ketawang
Ketawang
The ketawang is one of the gendhing structures used in Javanese gamelan music.Its colotomic structure is:where p indicates the strike of the kempyang, T the ketuk, P the kempul, N the kenong, and G the simultaneous stroke of the gong and kenong. The W indicates the wela, the pause where the kempul...
, or four gongans of the lancaran
Lancaran
The lancaran is one of the gendhing structures used in Javanese gamelan music. It is the shortest of the gendhing structures that are not from the wayang repertoire. Gangsaran and bubaran are related structures that share the same colotomic structure.Groupings of four are most common at all levels...
. These sections are usually repeated, and can be repeated as often as desired. This section is also called the bubuka gendhing, which is not to be confused with the buka
Buka (music)
The buka is the short introduction to pieces of gamelan. It is also called the bubuka or bubuka opaq-opaq....
(i.e. bubuka opaq-opaq). The analogous section for a gendhing
Gendhing
The gendhing is a class of gendhing structures used in Javanese gamelan music. Gendhing can also be used to refer to gamelan compositions in general....
is the merong
Merong
The merong is a section of a composition for Javanese gamelan, a musical ensemble featuring metallophones, xylophones, drums, and gongs. Specifically, the merong is the initial part of a gendhing...
.
Ompak can also refer to the bridge which links separate sections of a gendhing
Gendhing
The gendhing is a class of gendhing structures used in Javanese gamelan music. Gendhing can also be used to refer to gamelan compositions in general....
, i.e. between the merong
Merong
The merong is a section of a composition for Javanese gamelan, a musical ensemble featuring metallophones, xylophones, drums, and gongs. Specifically, the merong is the initial part of a gendhing...
and minggah
Minggah
The minggah or inggah is a section of a gendhing composition for gamelan.It follows the merong, after an ompak. It is distinguished from the previous section by the use of kempyang. In the minggah section, the kempyang and kethuk play in the same pattern as in the ketawang, but with no kempul, and...
sections. This usually consists of one or two nongan, or sometimes a whole gongan. 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....
for the ompak may or may not be different from the regular merong, but there is always a different kendhang pattern. The cue to go to the ompak is usually given by an increase in speed from the kendhang, often including a change in irama
Irama
Irama is a concept used in Javanese gamelan music, describing melodic tempo and relationships in density between the balungan, elaborating instruments, and gong structure. It is distinct from tempo , as each irama can be played in different tempi.One way to think of irama is to use the most...
.