A gangsa is a type of metallophone used mainly in Balinese and Javanese Gamelan music in Indonesia. In Balinese gong kebyar styles, two types of gangsa are typically used: the smaller, higher-pitched kantilan and the larger pemade. Each instrument has several tuned metal bars, made of either iron or bronze, placed over individual resonators. The bars are struck with a wooden mallet called a panggul, each producing a different pitch. The length of the sound and its quality are controlled by touching the bars with the fingers of the free hand. In Balinese gong kebyar ensembles, gangsa instruments are played in pairs. These pairs play together with fast, interlocking parts that add details to the melody (see Kotekan). The pairs are tuned to create dissonant sounds that produce specific vibrations, creating a shimmering tone (see Ombak) that can travel far. The gangsa is similar to the old gendér and the saron.
The same word is used to describe both an ensemble of shallow, hand-held gongs (with one gong per musician) and the individual gongs themselves in the traditional music of the Cordilleran Igorot peoples of Northern Luzon. Most performances use these gongs to accompany dances. There is no standard tuning, and there are several ways to hold and play these gongs.
Contextual Associations
The gangsa is a metallophone idiophone used by the Balinese people of Bali, Indonesia. It is a melodic instrument that is part of a musical ensemble called the Balinese gamelan gong kebyar. In the past, a single craftsman would create, upon request, a complete set of bronze instruments, usually twenty or more, to form a gamelan gong kebyar. Later in the 20th century, Balinese craftsmen noticed that foreign music lovers wanted to buy individual instruments instead of full sets. The gangsa shown here is an example of this change. In a full gamelan gong kebyar, there are usually nine gangsa, divided into three sizes and pitch levels: ugal (largest and lowest), pemade (medium), and kantilan (smallest and highest). Each gangsa has ten metal keys hanging over tuned bamboo resonators and is tuned to a pentatonic scale covering two octaves. The gangsa pictured here would be called a pemade in a complete gamelan gong kebyar. The wooden cases of all gamelan gong kebyar instruments are often carved with detailed patterns and painted in bright red and gold. While this gangsa is not painted, its surface has deep carvings of stylized plant designs, similar to those seen on Hindu temples and traditional buildings in Bali. The gamelan gong kebyar tradition began in the 1910s and is now the most well-known of Bali’s many gamelan styles. These ensembles are found in villages, towns, and cities, played by musicians from different backgrounds. They are used for religious events, music education, competitions, and performances for tourists, playing both instrumental music and accompanying dances.
Description
The gangsa is a musical instrument with metal bars (called don) that are arranged in two octaves. These bars are made of bronze (krawang) and are attached by rope and wooden posts over special tubes (tiying or bumbung) that help amplify the sound. The bars are shaped like rectangles and are placed in a row from the longest, widest, and thinnest bar at one end to the shortest, narrowest, and thickest bar at the other end. Holes are drilled at one-quarter of the length from both ends of each bar to hold the rope. These holes are located at points where the bar does not vibrate when struck. The bars hang above a wooden frame (plawah) and over bamboo tubes (bumbung), with one tube for each bar. Wooden spacers are placed between the tubes to keep them aligned with their matching bars. Even though the tubes look the same on the outside, they have natural sections inside that help the sound of each bar resonate clearly. Metal posts are placed on the top surfaces of the frame between pairs of bars. Leather cords are tied to these posts and pass through the holes in the bars. Each cord is secured to the frame and has a small bamboo pin inserted into a loop on the bottom of the bar to keep the cord in place. This setup allows the bars to vibrate freely for a long time after being struck. A single wooden hammer-shaped tool (panggul) is used to hit the bars.