Gamelans are treated with great respect. A player always takes his shoes off before playing, will never step over an instrument, and will conduct himself with humility, usually moving around the instruments with bowed head. It is believed the gamelan is of divine origin, the first gong having been made as a signal between gods. Gamelan refers to the instruments and not the musicians. Players may come and go but the instruments always stay together. The group rehearses as an ensemble - no one takes an instrument home to do individual practice. All musicians are expected to be proficient on most of the instruments.

< home >