Gamelan Instrument Tuning

In November of 2007 we hosted I Made Kartawan, a distinguished instrument maker from Bali and a member of the faculty of ISI Denpasar. While in Swarthmore, Pak Kartawan did comprehensive maintenance and renovation of our instruments. He retuned most of our bronze keys and repaired broken resonators.

Gamelan Instrument 1

Bronze gangsa keys with electric sander.
Bronze gangsa keys with electric sander.

Gamelan Instrument 2

Gangsa cases with keys removed, showing the tops of the bamboo resonators.
Gangsa cases with keys removed, showing the tops of the bamboo resonators.

Gamelan Instrument 3

Pak Kartawan compares the pitch of a bronze key and its resonator.
Pak Kartawan compares the pitch of a bronze key and its resonator.

Gamelan Instrument 4

Final check of a retuned gangsa key atop its resonator.
Final check of a retuned gangsa key atop its resonator.