bonang

Bonang is a set of small kettle-shaped bronze gongs used as a melodic percussion instrument in Indonesian gamelan ensembles, especially in Java and Bali. The instrument typically comprises two rows of gongs mounted on a wooden frame: bonang barung, the larger, lower-pitched set, and bonang panerus, the smaller, higher-pitched set. Each gong is struck with padded mallets to produce bright, ringing tones that blend with other metallophones and drums in the ensemble.

The bonang gongs are tuned to the gamelan’s scales, which may be pelog or slendro, and its notes function as a melodic elaboration rather than the core if used alone. In performance, the bonang often carries two-note patterns that outline or embellish the balungan, the skeletal melody played by other instruments. This elaborating role helps to define the musical color and rhythmic flow of a piece.

Playing technique typically involves two players, one for each row, who strike the gongs with padded sticks or mallets. The patterns are frequently fast and interlocking, a practice known as kotekan in many styles, where the two players alternate notes to create a shimmering, continuous texture. The instrument’s bright attack and sustained resonance contribute to the overall texture and propulsion of the gamelan cycle.

Culturally, the bonang is a central component of Javanese and Balinese gamelan traditions. It appears in ceremonial and courtly contexts as well as in contemporary performances, where it helps shape the melodic and rhythmic fabric of the music. Variations in construction and tuning reflect regional traditions while preserving its essential role as a driver of melodic elaboration within the ensemble.