Some people believe the history of gamelan in Java already existed before the arrival of Hindu influence. Gamelan is an ensemble or combination of several musical instruments, such as xylophone, drum, and gong. UNESO has designated the gamelan, which is a traditional musical instrument typical of Indonesia, as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The history of gamelan or a set of instruments that sounded simultaneously has existed in Java since 404 ad. This can be seen from the depiction of the past in reliefs in Borobudur and Prambanan temples.
Islam is a religion that not only regulates aspects of worship, but also social, cultural, and artistic aspects. Islam valued and developed art as a means to convey messages of goodness, beauty, and truth. One clear example of the influence of Islam in the field of art that accelerates the process of Islamization is done by Sunan Kalijaga in the Kingdom of Mataram. Sunan Kalijaga is one of the nine guardians who spread Islam in Java in a unique and creative way.
It combines Javanese culture with Islamic teachings so that people can accept Islam easily and without coercion. Javanese music is often used as healing or meditation music. This type of gamelan music has a long history that has been born since the 8th century. In the past, Javanese music was only intended for Kings and nobles. Those who can play gamelan are believed to have a calm soul brave and wise. Gamelan was used as a musical instrument to spread Islam during the Majapahit and Islamic Mataram Kingdoms. Thus, the musical instrument is still preserved until now.
Bonang musical instrument is one of the instruments derived from the historical story of one of the great figures of Islam, Sunan Bonang. This musical instrument originating from East Java was used as a method of Da’wah Sunan Bonang in his time to invite more people to listen to his syiarnya.
Sunan Bonang was asked to do da’wah in Tuban, he began to reflect and think about Da’wah strategy.
Sunan Bonang who is good at playing puppets and gamelan instruments, namely bonang, uses it to preach. The sound that comes out of bonang and songs that contain Islamic messages played by Sunan Bonang beautifully that makes people more curious about Islam
Made of brass circular and prominent central part, bonang produces a melodious sound to be heard so as to hook the public to listen to the DA’wah of Sunan Bonang and participate in the study of Islam. Bonang musical instruments are played by being hit with a wooden bat and wrapped around a cloth at the end. The layer is called bindhi which aims to control the sound that comes out to be more beautiful.
Bonang players will usually sit in the middle of the side of a row of low-octave gongs, and hold bindhi in both hands. Not only playing the gamelan, Sunan Bonang is also good at puppetry, then he changed the puppet play into an Islamic play that also has religious messages.
With the increasing number of people who like the puppet show, then Sunan Bonang also insert a lot of messages through the puppet play. To spread the teachings of Islam, Sunan Bonang traveled and traveled around, and became one of the guardians who played a major role in establishing the Demak mosque.
Bonang musical instrument is one of the instruments derived from the historical story of one of the great figures of Islam, Sunan Bonang. This musical instrument originating from East Java was used as a method of Da’wah Sunan Bonang in his time to invite more people to listen to his teachings.
Sunan Bonang was asked to do da’wah in Tuban, he began to reflect and think about Da’wah strategy.
Sunan Bonang who is good at playing puppets and gamelan instruments, namely bonang, uses it to preach. The sound that comes out of bonang and songs that contain Islamic messages played by Sunan Bonang beautifully that makes people more curious about Islam
Made of brass circular and prominent central part, bonang produces a melodious sound to be heard so as to hook the public to listen to the DA’wah of Sunan Bonang and participate in the study of Islam. Bonang musical instruments are played by being hit with a wooden bat and wrapped around a cloth at the end. The layer is called bindhi which aims to control the sound that comes out to be more beautiful.
Bonang players will usually sit in the middle of the side of a row of low-octave gongs, and hold bindhi in both hands. Not only playing the gamelan, Sunan Bonang is also good at puppetry, then he changed the puppet play into an Islamic play that also has religious messages.
With the increasing number of people who like the puppet show, then Sunan Bonang also insert a lot of messages through the puppet play. To spread the teachings of Islam, Sunan Bonang traveled and traveled around, and became one of the guardians who played a major role in establishing the Demak mosque.
