Kendang - Javanese Drums

Kendang/Javanese Drums

Kendangs are smaller then a Bedug.  There are usually three to four Kendangs in a gamelan.  These drums are in different sizes, however, they are all of similar barrel shape.  Both heads of each drum are covered with a skin, usually from goat or buffalo.  Each drum has two different sizes of head, one is bigger then the other.  The larger head, which produces the lower sounds, is usually placed to the player's right.

Kendangs are cradled in small wooden stands.  Sometimes, the smallest drum, Kendang Ketipung is held in the lap of the drum player.  The player uses his hands to play the drums.  Usually the drums has a relatively easy part with a few strokes and uncomplicated rhythm.

The names of these drums from the largest to the smallest are: Kendang Gending,  Kendang Wayangan, Kendang Ciblon, and Kendang Ketipung.

Function
The kendhang player shoulders a great deal of responsibility in the gamelan, for the role of the kendhang is to establish and maintain the tempo, to lead the gamelan through all tempo changes within a piece of music, to decide whether or not to move immediately from one piece of music into another without stopping, and to signal the end of each piece. The kendhang ageng can be played together with the kendhang ketipung by the same player, an arrangement known as kendhang kalih, or it can be played alone by one person, known as kendhang satunggal or kendhang satu. Compared to the ciblon and wayang, this kendhang is played with relatively little ornamentation and is characterized by very deep, resonating sounds.