Gamelan Tuning

Can anyone on the list tell me how gamelan orchestras tune their
instruments so that they beat very slightly. How many cents off are they?

It's more of an instinctual process than any sort of calculation. I've
seen comparisons of pitch frequencies of different gamelan instruments
throughout Java and though they tend to fall within a particular range,
there is much variance between gamelans. Also, some instruments, most
noticeably gongs , are designed to beat against themselves, which has to
do with the acoustic properties of metallophones. The different amounts
of beating heard throughout the scalar range really varies, sometimes a
slow undulation, sometimes a humming vibration. It's an experience
remarkable in its unpredictability.

>----------
>From: Brian Carlson[SMTP:bxcarl3@uswest.com]
>Sent: Friday, January 08, 1999 2:54 PM
>To: tuning@onelist.com
>Subject: [tuning] Gamelan Tuning
>
>From: "Brian Carlson" <bxcarl3@uswest.com>
>
>Can anyone on the list tell me how gamelan orchestras tune their
>instruments so that they beat very slightly. How many cents off are they?
>
>
>
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