Gamelan Celempung Instrument

Description

The 13 pairs of strings celempung chordophone is a plucked string instrument used in Javanese gamelan. Related to the kacapi used in Sundanese gamelan. The teak wood carved instrument body is in complete good condition. The iron strings will need adjustment by the musician. One of a kind museum quality piece.

The siter and celempung each have between 11 and 13 pairs of strings, strung on each side, between a box resonator. Typically the strings on one side tuned to pélog and the other to slendro. The siter is generally about a foot long and fits in a box (which it is set upon while played), while the celempung is about three feet long and sits on four legs, and is tuned one octave below the siter. They are used as one of the elaborating instruments (panerusan), that play cengkok (melodic patterns based on the balungan). Both the siter and celempung play at the same speed as the gambang (which is rapidly).

The strings of the siter are played with the thumbnails, while the fingers are used to dampen the strings when the next one is hit, as is typical with instruments in the gamelan. The fingers of both hands are used for the damping, with the right hand below the strings and the left hand above them.

Dimensions: 17″ x 37″ x 24″

Vintage piece. Sell in used, pre-owned condition. Vintage and antique items by nature have variable amounts of wear, imperfections, signs of use, age and time. Perfectly imperfect. Condition shown as in pictures. Kindly contact us if you need more info. or detail pictures.

Due to the size and/or the delicate situation of the item. Please contact us for more detail information /pick up or shipping options.

* The last two museum gamelan celempung pictures refer from links below:

THE MET     https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/501877

MFABoston  https://collections.mfa.org/objects/51328/psaltery-celempung;jsessionid=6795C3A00D43F80A7420B8FDC2527F46