Seleh

In Javanese gamelan music, the sèlèh note or nada seleh is the final note of a gatra, or four-beat melodic unit. As such it is the note which serves as the goal for all the various strands of the musical texture.^[1]

The main underlying melodic structure of a gamelan piece, called the balungan, is grouped into four-beat units (called gatra). This typical grouping of four is similar to a great deal of Western music; however, in contrast with a bar of four beats in western classical music, the strongest beat in gamelan music falls not on the first of the four beats, but on the last. This last beat is referred to as the seleh note.

The seleh note has a crucial role in predicating what decorative patterns (cengkok and sekaran) the elaborating instruments such as the bonang should play, since these patterns usually aim to coincide with the balungan on the seleh note so as to produce aural consonance.

Sources

↑ Brinner, Benjamin (2008). Music in Central Java, p.60. ISBN 978-0-19-514737-7.

Gamelan

Theory

Musicians performing musical ensemble, bas-relief of Borobudur.

Genres &
ensembles

Musicians

Instruments

Colotomic or phrase-making	Kempyang Ketuk Kempul Kenong Gong Gong ageng

Balungan or melody	Saron peking Saron panerus Saron barung Saron demung Slentem Slentho Bonang barung Bonang panerus Bonang panembung

Panerusan or elaborating	Gender Gender panerus Gambang Siter Celempung Suling Rebab

Unpitched	Kendang gending Kendang ciblon Kendang ketipung Bedug Kecer Kemanak Kepyak

Vocals and clapping	Gerongan Sindenan Pesinden Alok Senggakan Keplok

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