saron
- Museum number
- As1859,1228.200
- Description
-
Saron, probably a saron barung, part of a Javanese musical ensemble (Gamelan). It has seven cast bronze keys. The keys rest on wooden pegs attached to the base and they sit on a pad of fibre which would have helped the resonance of the instrument. The base is an intricately carved horned mythical creature. It is lacquered in red and black and has gilt detail.
- Production date
- 1750s-1815
- Dimensions
-
Height: 54 centimetres
-
Length: 145 centimetres
-
Weight: 33.20 kilograms
-
Depth: 38 centimetres
- Curator's comments
-
This instrument could be a saron demung. The two instruments look very similar but the saron barung plays one octave higher than the saron demung.
-
According to Jeune Scott-Kemball in a 1976 letter, the scaling of the gamelan instruments was determined by Jaap Kunst in 1938. All the instruments except one were slendro. The exception is pelog. The ordering of the keys in the scale was determined by a Javanese musician.
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited:
2009 1 May-20 Sep, Victoria, Royal BC Museum, Treasures of the World's Cultures
2009 11 Dec-2010 10 May, Madrid, Canal de Isabel II, Treasures of the World's Cultures
2012 18 Apr – 17 Jul, Abu Dhabi, Manarat Al Saadiyat, ‘Treasures of the World’s Cultures’
- Acquisition date
- 1859
- Department
- Asia
- Registration number
- As1859,1228.200
