Mysticism and Divinity in Gamelan

Introduction “Gamelan music mirrors and manifests a central system of thought, experience, and belief in Javanese culture: mysticism.”  -Susan Pratt Walton Gamelan is an Indonesian and Eastern Asian style of music that is radically different from our western styles of music. Many western music theorists have attempted to document gamelan music theory and contextualize it in a way that makes more sense to our western ears, but the results have not really gotten to the heart of gamelan music. This is because mysticism is at the heart of gamelan music. Similar to medieval church music like gregorian chant, the idea that music is a vessel for the spirit is very prominent in gamelan music. Gamelan songs exist not necessarily because they sound nice, or the melody is pleasing, but so that the performers and listeners might please the spirits of their culture. Gamelan also exists to please the ancestors and put honor upon dignified individuals. A gamelan might perform at a birthday ce...