kenong

Kenong

Picture Credit: Dr. Han Kuo-Huang

Listen to Kenong

Kenong is the largest cradled gong. The wooden case that supported the Kenongs are like two wooden boxes open at the top and the bottom, and sharing a common side. Two pieces of stout cord which cross diagonally, from each corner, are placed across the top. These cords serve as the support of the Kenongs. Each case hold two Kenongs. In some gamelan, there are wooden case which hold three Kenongs.

Kenong comes in different sizes. The height of a smallest Kenong, from the rim to the top of the knob is approximately 32cm, and the diameter is about 34cm. The largest Kenong has a similar height, but the diameter is approximately 37cm.

Usually, there are more Kenongs then Kempuls in a gamelan. All gamelan pieces require Kenongs, but not all require Kempuls. The numbers of Kenong varied in different gamelans, however, normally there are about ten Kenongs in a gamelan. All Kenongs are arranged around the Kenong player. Because of this setting, sometimes we called this a gong-chimes. The player will struck on the knob with with sticks that are lightly padded with coiled string.

Like most of the gongs, except Bonang, the function of Gong Ageng is more for punctuation.

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