USE YOUR PANS
how to set them for sound
KETTLE GONGS
-kettle gongs
where the bottom of a pan or a pot can vibrate as a membrane. It can be fine tuned by hammering a boss in the middle, following Dresher/Schmidt for aluminium discs.This was done by Pontjopangrawit for the Gamelan Digul, using tin cans and kitchenware, (forever thankful to Jody Diamond for showing us this amazing history!).
BELLS (RING MODE)
-bells (ring mode)
Where the outer ring of the pan just rings like a bell, and a nodal point in the centre of the bottom, which allows us to hold them like bowls or to drill a hole in the centre and stack them on an axis (a threaded rod works with nuts). This way we can hold several of them closer in a row, allowing for a playing-muting action similar to playing keyed instruments.
​
​
CAN WE TUNE?
After being amazed by the beautiful sounds we found in old trashed pans, and having had so much fun playing Gamelan Beleganjur patterns on kettle gong modes, and kotekan on Ring Mode as duets, we realized if we want to create a bigger ensemble so we need lots of pans that are not randomly tuned. So, we are learning how to retune the pans, so we can recycle virtually every pan that sounds good. We are still doing experiments, but by now we have managed to raise and lower down the pitch by one tone and a half, by cutting or grinding on certain places. We hope my next experiments with drilling can be successful, because it can be easier for many people to just drill wholes in specific regions of the pans rather than cutting or grinding segments. We will publish our experiences soon.