Pelog

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Pelog

Pelog refers to 7-note tunings used in Indonesian gamelan music. There is no one definitive pelog scale, as there is considerable variation between gamelan, and especially between different regions (in particular Java, Bali, and Sunda). The other major traditional Indonesian tuning is slendro, which has 5 tones.

It provides an octave-repeating heptatonic scale, although octaves are usually stretched to account for the high inharmonicity inherent to gamelans and (in Bali) to produce complex beating patterns known as ombak.

Javanese gamelan

In Javanese gamelan, the tones of Pelog are numbered 1 through 7 (traditionally associated with body parts: 1 = head, 2 = neck, 3 = chest, 4 = groin, 5 = knees, 6 = feet, 7 = hands). The exact tuning varies considerably between gamelan, but it is not uncommon for the pairs 1-5, 2-6, and 3-7 to be approximated by 3/2.

Traditionally, there are three pathet, or modes, of Pelog. Pelog nem (or pathet nem) uses the tones 1–2–3–5–6 with an emphasis on either 6–2 or 5–1 depending on the piece (technically, depending whether the piece is emulating Slendro manyuro or Slendro songo). Pelog barang uses 2–3–5–6–7, usually emphasizing 6+2 or 3+7. Pelog lima is a sort of "odds and ends" for uses of the 1–2–3–5–6 scale that don't really fit into anywhere else. Definitions are somewhat fuzzy and may vary by gamelan master. The 4 tone is not often encountered, and some elaborating instruments lack the tone entirely.

The 2L 5s (antidiatonic) scale of 9edo approximates many pelog tunings in Javanese gamelan in a statistically significant manner. However, in practice pelog's intervals are slightly different throughout the scale, while 9edo supposes exactly two distinct interval sizes.

Music

See also: Category:Pelog tracks

See also

• Slendro
• Neuroscience of Music: Pelog

References

Todo: expand, research