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NMM 9886. Kenong in Laras Slendro. Six bronze pots suspended on three separate teakwood frames. Pots suspended on red cord attached to the frame. Frames decorated with flower and leaf patterns covered in gold leaf. Length of frames: 89.7 cm, 89.8 cm, 89.9 cm. Diameter of largest pot (at base): 30.5 cm. Mallet (tabuh) with red cord wrapped very close to one end creating a soft, springy, oval shape that comes in contact with the pots.
Function: The kenong is often referred to as a structure instrument. The function of the kenong is to play at specific places within a composition depending upon the structure of that composition. Some commonly played structures are lancaran, ketawang, ladrang, gendhing, srepeg, and sampak. In each of these structures the kenong has assigned places in which it plays that are related to the patterns of the kethuk, kempiang, kempul, and gong. In modern Central Javanese gamelan music, the kenong also follows and anticipates the movements of the melody, paying close attention to areas of repeated notes and transitions into the ngelik, or higher melodic section.
Playing technique: The kenong is usually played with one mallet, but can be played with two if the music is very fast. The player sits on the floor and strikes the node (or highest point) of the pot with the soft end of the mallet.
