On Friday 1st February, the shimmering sounds of Indonesian gamelan were echoed through the corridors of 
St Mary’s, as all the LIV Form as well as the LV Form and A Level music students participated in a series of gamelan workshops.
Gamelan in Indonesia means ‘orchestra’ and is made up of instruments similar to xylophones and gongs.
Our workshop leader Andy Warn, dressed as an Indonesian nobleman, gave us some interesting facts on gamelan and Indonesian culture.
Most surprising was the fact that instruments in Indonesia, have human rights! One of the implications is that one is not allowed to step over an instrument – this is because Indonesians believe that there is an invisible connection between the head of a person (or instrument) and their god, and if you run your hand over the head of a person or step over an instrument, that connection will be broken.
This is also therefore considered as one of greatest insults you can give to an Indonesian person. Likewise, as a sign of respect to the instruments, one should always remove your shoes when performing on the instruments.
The girls learned to play two gamelan pieces, usually performed during a shadow puppet show. It was interesting to learn that all the parts were based on the same melody, which forms the skeleton of the whole piece.
All the other instruments were either doing a slightly more decorated version, or just highlighting the important notes of the melody in the phrase, resulting in the typical glistening sounds of gamelan.
At the end of the workshop everyone had an opportunity to play the big gong – which is the largest gong made in the world.