SonicCouture Balinese Gamelan II KONTAKT

Gamelan is an ensemble of instruments originating from Indonesia. The majority of Gamelan instruments are percussive, and most of these are bronze. They include xylophone-like metallophones of different sizes and pitch, tuned gong chimes, very large pitched gongs, and an assortment of drums and percussion. There are many types of Gamelan ensembles, but the two dominant types are Javanese and Balinese. Balinese Gamelan has a characteristic 'shimmering' sound which is due to the detuning of paired instruments playing the same musical part.

Although Gamelan music has been around for centuries (there is evidence of instruments existing before 800 AD), it is very much a living music in Indonesia, and is growing in popularity in the west. Styles keep evolving and new Gamelan music is being written all the time. Balinese "Gong Kebyar", a particularly flamboyant style, has dominated much of the century and is probably Bali's most famous export.

Gamelan music is very much about the collective - it has been described as 'a negotiation between musicians'. Many of the musicians play interlocking parts, in which alternate notes are shared between two instruments. This technique enables the ensemble to play incredibly fast passages.


– GAMELAN SEMARADANA –

PITCHED INSTRUMENTS
Jegog x 2
Calung x 2
Ugal
Kantilan x 2
Pemade x 2
Panyacah x 2

PERCUSSION
Kajar + Benbende (open & damped)
Gentorak
Kempli x 3 with different mallets
Ceng Ceng (tight, closed, loose, open, rhythmn)
Kendang x 2

GONGS
Wadon
Kempur
Lanang
Klentong


– GAMELAN BATEL –

PITCHED INSTRUMENTS
Kantilan x 2
Pemade x 2

PERCUSSION
Tawa Tawa
Kajar
Kendang x 2

GONGS
Kempur
Klenong


SAMPLING SPECS
All sampling in 24bit 96khz stereo
Adjustable key-off level + multiple articulations
MUTE + RING samples (key-switched) for all pitched instruments.
3 to 20 round robin layers and up to 15 velocity layers depending on instrument
Total library size 14GB with NCW compression
Approx. 8000 samples
Full control over tuning: equal temperament and microtuning
102 snapshot presets for quick selection of instruments and sound design presets.