Echoes of Indonesia: An Insight on the Five-Noted Instruments Whose Sound Will Fill Murphy Recital Hall

I walked through Hannon yesterday and happened upon a particular sound in front of Tenderich. It had been long since I had heard it, yet, sure enough, there it was, resonating through the hallway: Indonesian gamelan. Yeah I said it, Indonesian Gamelan. For years, LMU's Gamelan orchestra has rocked Murphy Recital Hall with their renditions of Indonesian and American classics, and with a unique familiarity I was able to catch a glimpse at this year's ensemble and sit down with conductor Paul Humphreys.

So what exactly is Indonesian Gamelan? Beyond a name, "it is an orchestra, that is far more prevalent in Indonesia, but still has its place in America," said Humphreys. The Indonesian Gamelan can consist of as little as three members, however LMU boasts a choir of some 25 music students who come to play simple music on simple instruments. So simple that the kantilan,which forms the basis of Gamelan music, has only five notes. These five notes are the notes of the penta-tonic scale - the black keys on the piano to you and I. Several kantilan of different sizes form the melody of Gamelan music, often alternating in rhythm to create the desired effect.

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