The Gender Barung

The gender is a keyed metallophone. It comes in two different forms/kinds which are the gender barung and the gender panerus. Both are played with two mallets. The mallets are made in the form of a disc and are covered with material. The player will use their hands to dampen the sound. (The style is similar to that of a xylophone.) Also, the gender is tuned to one of the modes per performance.

The gender's form/shape is as follows...The fourteen bars are being held by a cord. That cord is suspended over tubes made of iron. The patterns on the wooden frame usually are floral or leaves.

The gender barung has fourteen keys. It is difficult to play because of its role in the gamelan music. The melody is enriched by the gender because of the ornamentation it incorporates. It plays an important role in the opening phrases by being the leader. The gender barung also articulates the melodic movements within the pieces.

Extra info: (The gender panerus also has fourteen keys. The bars are smaller than the gender barung. The pitch differs from the gender barung in that it is an octave higher. The bars are also thicker.)

 This video explains the different techniques a player can use when learning to play the gender barung. The woman does a very good job of using simple terms to explain how.

 

The man in this video is playing a song that is most likely a common melody of the Javanese people. He does a wonderful job of showing off the sound of this instrument. The video is very relaxing to listen to.

 

The man in this video sings as he plays the gender. I was amazed at how still he was sitting as he was playing. 

 

I chose this video because I wanted to show how the gender is used in the gamelan in relation to the other instruments. 

 

The gender and the suling are playing a duet together. I enjoyed the sound of these two together.

 

http://www.seasite.niu.edu/indonesian/budaya_bangsa/Gamelan/Javanese_Gamelan/metallophones/gender.htm
http://www.seasite.niu.edu/indonesian/budaya_bangsa/Gamelan/Javanese_Gamelan/metallophones/gender_barung.htm
http://www.seasite.niu.edu/indonesian/budaya_bangsa/Gamelan/Javanese_Gamelan/metallophones/gender_panerus.htm
http://collections.nmmusd.org/Gamelan/9859/Gender9859.html