Kendang

Kendang or Gendang (, , Bugis: Gendrang and Makassar: Gandrang or Ganrang ) is a two-headed drum used by people from the Indonesian Archipelago. 
Kendang is one of the primary instruments used in the Gamelan ensembles of Javanese, Sundanese, and Balinese, the Kendang ensemble as well as various Kulintang ensembles in Indonesia. It is constructed in a variety of ways by different ethnic groups.

Overview
The typical double-sided membrane drums are known throughout Maritime Southeast Asia and India. One of the oldest image of kendang can be found in ancient temples in Indonesia, especially the ninth century Borobudur and Prambanan temple.

Among the Javanese, Sundanese, Balinese or Malay peoples, the  has one side larger than the other, with the larger, lower-pitched side usually placed to the right, and are usually placed on stands horizontally and hit with the hands on either side while seated on the floor. Amongst groups like the Balinese, Tausug, and Maranao, both sides are of equal size, and are played on either one or both sides using a combination of hands and/or sticks.

Within , the  is smaller than the , which is placed inside a frame, hit with a beater, but used less frequently. The  usually has the function of keeping the tempo (laya) while changing the density (), and signaling some of the transitions () to sections and the end of the piece ().

In the dance or  performance, the  player will follow the movements of the dancer, and communicate them to the other players in the ensemble. In West Java (Sundanese),  are used to keep the tempo of .  are also used as main instrument for Jaipongan dances. In another composition called Rampak Kendang, a group of drummers play in harmony.

Among the Makassarese, the  () drums have much more importance, with it considered the most sacred of all musical instruments, comparable to gongs in Java. This can be seen in local origin stories, accompaniments for local ceremony, dance such as , and martial arts, even local government ceremonies are opened by official sounding of a ganrang rather than the usual gong in Java. They are usually played alone with multiple drums playing different patterns creating syncopation. These traditions can be seen across lowland South Sulawesi with Bugis people also sharing similar reverence to the .

Kendang making 
Good kendang instruments are said to be made from the wood of jackfruit, coconuts or cempedak. Buffalo hide is often used for the bam (inferior surface which emits low-pitch beats) while soft goatskin is used for the chang (superior surface which emits high-pitch beats).

The skin is stretched on y-shaped leather or rattan strings, which can be tightened to change the pitch of the heads. The thinner the leather the sharper the sound.

Accompaniments

Sundanese
In Sundanese Gamelan, a minimum set consists of three drums.
  (large drum)
 , two (small drum). Kendang Kulanter is divided into two, namely the Katipung and the Kutiplak.
Many types of Sundanese Kendang are distinguished according to their function in accompaniment :
 Kendang Kiliningan 
 Kendang Jaipongan
 Kendang Ketuk Tilu
 Kendang Keurseus
 Kendang Penca
 Kendang Bajidor
 Kendang Sisingaan and others.
Each type of drums in Sundanese music has a difference in size, pattern, variety, and motif.

Javanese
In Gamelan Surakarta, four sizes of kendhang are used:
 ,  (krama/ngoko, similar to  in usage), or  is the largest , which usually has the deepest tone. It is played by itself in the  (lit. "single drum") style, which is used for the most solemn or majestic pieces or parts of pieces. It is played with the kendhang ketipung for  (lit. "double drum") style, which is used in faster tempos and less solemn pieces.
  is also medium-sized, and was traditionally used to accompany  performances, although now other drums can be used as well.
  or  is a medium-sized drum, used for the most complex or lively rhythms. It is typically used for livelier sections within a piece. The word ciblon derives from a Javanese type of water-play, where people smack the water with different hand shapes to give different sounds and complex rhythms. The technique of this , which is said to imitate the water-play, is more difficult to learn than the other kendang styles.
  is the smallest , used with the  in  (double drum) style.

Balinese
In , there are two :
 , the "female" and lowest pitched. 
 , the "male" and highest pitched.

Makassarese
 (Makassarese s) can be divided to three types: 
  is the largest drums as a result it is also called  (largest drum in Makassarese language).These drums are usually used in important sacred ceremonies such as blessing for sultanate's heirlooms.
  are usually smaller with diameters measuring in 30–40 cm, which are usually used for  dance, which used 2-4 drums with differing beats and symbolizes the men's strength and vitality.
  are usually the smallest with diameters measuring in 20–25 cm, and used as martial arts accompaniments.

Buginese
Among the Bugis  there are two types of playing techniques based on the position of the . if the  is placed on the player's lap it is called . If the players are standing with the s tied with a shoulder strap it is called , this position are usually used for sacred ceremony, or for entertainment like  beating of rice mortars or .
There are generally three types of beats pattern in  playing:
  patterns are usually the beginning as intro
  are played afterwards which are usually more energetic
  patterns are used afterward, as finale.

Gallery

See also 
 Dabakan
 Gendang beleq
 Rampak Kendang

Sources

Further reading
 Sumarsam. Javanese Gamelan Instruments and Vocalists. 1978-1979.

External links 

 Kendang information, with audio
 Rampak Kendang in Google.

Gamelan instruments
Drums
Hand drums
Indonesian musical instruments