Explain why gamelan instruments cannot be used interchangeably between other gamelans, but at the same time all good bronze gamelan instruments are carefully kept in proper tuning
What will be an ideal response?
• A gamelan is held in great respect, given a proper name, and given offerings.
• Gamelan instruments are not tuned to a fixed, standard pitch as in the Western music-culture where the A above middle C is taken to be at exactly 440 cycles per second. Rather, the tuning of the instruments in each gamelan is unique; instruments are very carefully tuned for the particular ensemble in which they are being used. Bronze gamelan instruments may require periodic tuning which, in turn, requires a long process of hammering, filing, and intuitive experimentation by experts.
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