Gamelan
Metallophones and Tubulons.
These instruments are based on the Javanese pelog scale,
given in cents as:
0, 137, 446, 575, 687, 820, 1098, 1200
I first experimented with a 9-equal tubulon, which
provides a slight approximation of a pelog
and a sulendro scale. After being satisfied
with that, I made a pelog tubulon with some
1 1/4" conduit which had made its way into
my recycling pile. Having determined I had
enough metal bars, I went deluxe in acquiring
some pieces of neglected maple to make the
cabinents. The set consists of one
gender with gourd resonators and two sarons
with cave resonators.
One thing I didn’t like was the
sound metal cans made as resonators, and so
I turned to that annoying box of gourds I had
fortunately kept on hand for years.
Also pictured is a 5-et marimba, also with
gourd resonators, and some waterphones. I’ve
always found acoustical instruments demanding.
But in both cases, the marimba and the gamelan,
they were in scales that I became interested in,
and neither became a huge drain on resources of
time, materials, and space.
— Buzzy
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