Traditional Javanese Membranophone Percussion Play Formalization for Virtual Orchestra Automation

Abstract

This research aims to formalize kendhangs play, an instrument that is part of traditional music orchestra from Java called Gamelan. Knowledge acquisition of the kendhang (traditional Javanese drum) play patterns was carried out by involving experts, and the knowledge was then used to set rules and implemented into traditional Javanese drums play automation system. Considering kendhang is a membranophone and an unpitched instrument, note sequences data from the composition, including the sound of each note from several pitched metallophone instruments, are collected as well to support the evaluation of the play in virtual orchestra mode. The Gamelan virtual orchestra automation system consisted of a set of traditional virtual music instruments is designed based on the symbolic representation. The input is a collection of compositions in the form of note sequence data. The system reads beat-by-beat data and calls out sounds. The evaluation was carried out by asking experts to choose the correct automation of kendhang play patterns from several compositions played by the system. The results of the evaluation showed that the proposed system could play kendhangs correctly. All the correct compositions selected by experts are compositions played by the system using the correct kendhangs pattern.