Music notation

  • Each grid represents a separate gongan, except if a gongan is too long to fit across the page.
  • The gong (gir) occurs at the start of the gongan. This is intentional and has partly a technical reason. It is also more convenient for players who are not accustomed to the concept of considering the gir as the end of a gongan.
  • Vertical lines indicate a kempli beat. The beat occurs on the first note after each line. If the lines are dotted there is no kempli beat.
  • The notation within a grid or gongan is aligned vertically: notes appearing below each other should be played simultaneously.
  • Some gongans have a unique label (in blue) that can be used in combination with 'go to' directives and sequences. This enables to modify the order in which the gongans should be played.
  • A sequence specifies the order in which the following gongans should be played by listing the gongan labels in the required order.
ioeua

The notes ding, dong, deng, dung, dang.
r s The notes deung and daing (for 7-tone instruments only).
ioeua

Notes in the middle/main octave of the instrument.
i,o,e,u,a,

Notes in the lowest octave of the instrument. The audio sample starts on dong, which is the lowest note on the gangsa.
i<o<e<u<a<

Notes in the higher octave of the instrument. The audio sample only plays the ding, which is the only note in the highest octave of the gangsa.
Ai Io Oe Eu Ua

'Grace note': the smaller note sounds briefly. The main note (the larger note) is on the beat.
----- Note extension. Each dash extends the duration of the preceding note with a whole note duration.
..... Silence. Each dot stands for the duration of a whole note. If this symbol follows a note or extension symbol, the note should be muted.
i_o_e_u_a_

Half note duration (= double speed).
i-o-e-u-a-

Double note duration (= half speed).
i.o.e.u.a.

Mute the keys between the strokes. De duration of the notes and of the silences are equal.
i/.o/.e/.u/.a/.

Mute the keys immediately after striking them. The duration until the next note does not change.
i?.o?.e?.u?.a?.

Mute the keys while striking them.
x (reyong) Strike the rim of the chime.
x? Same, but do not lift the stick(s) after the stroke.
b (reyong) Strike the first and third chime of the corresponding position (byong).
b/ (reyong) Same, but mute the chimes immediately after striking them (byot).
b? (reyong) Muting stroke: do not lift the sticks after the stroke. (jet)
t (reyong leftmost position - penyorog) Strike deng en ding simultaneously. Only used as part of the dong norot pattern.
G Gir (gong)
P Pur (kempur)
T Tong (kemong)