The Bonang Barung in Contemporary Gamelan Performance Practice

This article by René T. A. Lysloff examines the bonang barung’s role in contemporary Central Javanese gamelan performance, focusing on stylistic differences between the Yogyakarta and Surakarta traditions. The paper explores how balungan structure, irama, and pathet influence the bonang’s elaboration, and discusses region-specific terminology for rhythmic density. Through comparative analysis of performance practice and pedagogical challenges faced by non-Indonesian learners, Lysloff clarifies how the bonang functions both within fixed compositional frameworks and in semi-improvisatory contexts.