What's Karawitan Art And Gamelan?

 

            The word "Gamelan" originates from the Javanese word 'gamel,' which means to strike, while the suffix '-an' serves to indicate a noun. Gamelan refers to a set of traditional musical instruments played by striking (Roekmana et al., 2020). Gamelan instruments are predominantly made of wood and bronze or a combination of tin and copper. The gamelan instrument ensemble includes kendhang, gong, bonang barung, bonang panerus, gender, saron, demung, kenong, slenthem, kempul, kethuk, kempyang, and gambang. Gamelan instruments have been present in Java since 326 Saka or 404 CE. Depictions of gamelan performances can be found in the reliefs of Borobudur Temple and Prambanan Temple (Pustikasari, 2022). Javanese gamelan, characterized by its gentle rhythm, is commonly used to accompany wayang performances, traditional dances, or other shows. Over time, Javanese gamelan evolved into a standalone music performance accompanied by a vocalist known as "sinden." Additionally, gamelan is played as accompanying music in Javanese palace wedding processions, and to this day, Javanese communities still use gamelan for wedding receptions (Fibiona & Harnoko, 2021).

The Javanese worldview expressed through gamelan music emphasizes harmony in words and actions, creating explosive expressions and fostering tolerance among people. This is manifested in the balanced harmony of the rebab, the balanced combination of the sounds of kenong, kendang saron, and gambang, as well as the gong in each rhythmic arrangement (Abdina, 2006). The art of gamelan and vocal art using the slendro and pelog tonal scales is known as Seni Karawitan. Karawitan art embodies noble values such as maintaining eloquent speech, learning proper etiquette, cherishing cultural heritage, shaping positive character, and more. According to Soedarsono (1992), karawitan is an art form with delicate and intricate beauty. The complexity inherent in karawitan is considered a learning object that needs to be addressed in the study of karawitan. Creating a comfortable learning environment is crucial for preserving Javanese cultural heritage and should consider the learner's environment and nationalism (Arifin et al., 2016). The educational institution serves as the learning environment in this development. Educational institutions play a primary role in society, and the choice of the learning environment is based on educational clauses that can take place through three essential elements: family, school, and society (Pramanta et al., 2013).

In the present day, the younger generation is inseparable from gadgets, especially Android smartphones. Android is a mobile operating system based on a modified version of the Linux kernel and other open-source software. It is designed for touch-screen devices such as smartphones and tablets. Android's operating system was first released in September 2008 and was developed by the Open Handset Alliance, sponsored commercially by Google. Additionally, Android is free and open-source software, meaning Google allows users to develop the operating system. Android also has an application store called Google Play Store.