The flute: musicality and types of coverage in Balinese gamelan

Abstract

The flute is a wind instrument in Balinese gamelan that serves to enhance the music and connect empty sections. While it is often considered a complementary instrument, upon closer inspection, it plays a significant role within the ensemble. This paper examines the musicality of the flute and the types of coverings found on the instrument. This qualitative research draws data from participant observation, interviews, and document studies. The theories used include ethnomusical, structural-functional, and ethnomusicological theories. The results indicate that the flute plays a crucial role in Balinese gamelan, not only as a unified whole within the ensemble but also as a stand-alone instrument within the gamelan gong suling ensemble, often referred to as gamelan gong suling. As part of the Balinese gamelan, the flute is rich in musical elements. This richness of musical elements can be seen in the form and type of repertoire, composition, rhythm, melodic formulas, and arrangement patterns. Meanwhile, the flute has at least five types of coverings in use: dong covering, deng covering, dung covering, dang covering, and ding covering