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A '''Gamelan''' is a common Indonesian musical ensemble containing a variety of different instruments, most notably drums and pitched percussion, but also including flute-like instruments, plucked string instruments, and horns. The name is derived from the Javanese word Gamel, which means to strike with a hammer.

A '''Gamelan''' is a common [[Indonesian]] musical ensemble containing a variety of different [[instruments]], most notably [[drums]] and pitched percussion, but also including [[flute]]-like instruments, plucked string instruments, and [[horns]]. The name is derived from the Javanese word Gamel, which means to strike with a [[hammer]].

===Instruments===

===Instruments===

===Musical Ideology===

===Musical Ideology===

Where the common western/European system of music theory is based around a "well-tempered" scale consisting of exactly 12 pitches, evenly spaced in terms of the ratio to which the frequency of the sound is altered between each note. In Gamelan, there are two scales, or laras, neither of which are compatible with the standard system.  

Where the common western/European system of [[music theory]] is based around a "well-tempered" scale consisting of exactly 12 pitches, evenly spaced in terms of the ratio to which the frequency of the sound is altered between each note. In Gamelan, there are two [[scales]], or laras, neither of which are compatible with the standard system.  

One is the Slendro, which contains 5 notes making it [[Pentatonic.]] This concept can be illustrated to non-musicians by playing the 5 black keys of a [[Piano.]]

One is the Slendro, which contains 5 notes making it [[Pentatonic]]. This concept can be illustrated to non-musicians by playing the 5 black keys of a [[Piano]].

The other lara is the Pelog, a seven note scale that may sound quite dissonant to western ears due to the pitches falling between many of the pitches of the well tempered system. [http://homepages.cae.wisc.edu/~jjordan/gamelan/scales.html]

The other lara is the Pelog, a seven note scale that may sound quite dissonant to [[western]] ears due to the pitches falling between many of the pitches of the well-tempered system. [http://homepages.cae.wisc.edu/~jjordan/gamelan/scales.html]