gamelan
UK[ˈɡæməlæn]US[ˈɡæməˌlɑːn]
n
A traditional instrumental ensemble of Indonesia, typically from Java or Bali, featuring a variety of percussion instruments such as metallophones, xylophones, gongs, and drums, often with vocalists.
Etymology
The word 'gamelan' entered English in the early 19th century as a direct borrowing from Javanese. In Javanese, 'gamel' refers to the act of hitting or hammering, which is the primary playing technique for the ensemble's key metallic instruments, and the suffix '-an' forms a noun. Thus, the term literally means "a set of things to be struck." The ensemble itself is a sophisticated musical tradition with deep spiritual and cultural roots in Indonesian society, particularly in the courts of Java and the temples of Bali. Its adoption into English vocabulary reflects the global appreciation and study of its complex, shimmering sonic textures and intricate, cyclical musical structures.
Analysis
This word is a loanword from Javanese, borrowed as a single, unanalyzable unit into English. It does not contain separable morphemes within the English language system.
Examples
The serene courtyard echoed with the hypnotic sounds of the gamelan.
She spent a year in Central Java studying gamelan performance.
The composer incorporated elements of gamelan music into the contemporary orchestral piece.