Irama

Number of saron panerus notes per saron note in each irama.^[1]

"Irama" is the term used for tempo in gamelan. It can be used with elaborating instruments. It is a concept used in Javanese gamelan music,^[2] describing melodic tempo and relationships in density between the balungan, elaborating instruments, and gong structure.^[3] It is distinct from tempo (Javanese: Laya), as each Irama can be played in different tempi.^[4][5] Irama thus combines "the rate of temporal flow and temporal density"; and the temporal density is the primary factor.^[6]

One way to think of Irama is to use the most consistently struck instrument in the gamelan, the saron panerus (or peking). In some pieces, it plays once per note in the balungan (such as played by the saron barung). In others, it may play twice as often, or four times, as the notes of the balungan are more spread out. This corresponds to a slower Irama. In most cases, the more spread out the balungan is, the longer it takes to reach a gong ageng.^[7]

There are five Irama:^[2]

In slower Irama, there is more space to be filled, and typically elaborating instruments become more important.

Each Irama can be played in three Laya ("tempi"):

• Seseg ("fast"),
• Sedeng ("medium")
• Tamban ("slow").

Frequently, a change of Laya signals a new section.

Bibliography

• Spiller, Henry. Gamelan: the traditional sounds of Indonesia. ABC-Clio, 2004. ISBN 978-1-85109-506-3
• Sumarsan. Gamelan: cultural interaction and musical development in central Java. University of Chicago Press, 2nd Edition, 1996. ISBN 978-0-226-78011-5

References

Gamelan
Theory	Pelog Slendro Pathet Cengkok Seleh Sekaran Imbal & kotekan Gatra Colotomy Gendhing structures Irama Gamelan notation
Genres & ensembles	Gamelan angklung Gamelan bebonangan Gamelan beleganjur Gamelan degung Gamelan gadhon Gamelan gambang Gamelan gender wayang Gamelan gong gede Gamelan gong kebyar Gamelan jegog Gamelan joged bumbung Gamelan munggang Gamelan salendro Gamelan sekaten Gamelan selunding Gamelan semar pegulingan Gamelan siteran Gamelan surakarta
Musicians	Evan Ziporyn Gamelan Sekar Jaya Gamelan Son of Lion I Nyoman Windha K. P. H. Notoprojo List of U.S. gamelan ensembles Michael Tenzer
Instruments	Colotomic or phrase-making Kempyang Ketuk Kempul Kenong Gong Gong ageng Balungan or melody Saron peking Saron panerus Saron barung Saron demung Slentem Slentho Bonang barung Bonang panerus Bonang panembung Panerusan or elaborating Gender Gender panerus Gambang Siter Celempung Suling Rebab Unpitched Kendang gending Kendang ciblon Kendang ketipung Bedug Kecer Kemanak Kepyak Vocals and clapping Gerongan Sindenan Pesinden Alok Senggakan Keplok