Gamelan Banjar

A. History of Gamelan Banjar
Banjar Gamelan existence has existed since the time of the 14th century Dipa State Kingdom brought by Prince Suryanta to South Kalimantan along with Banjar Wayang Kulit and keris weapons as gifts for the Majapahit Kingdom. At that time the people of South Kalimantan were encouraged to imitate Javanese culture.
After the collapse of the Kingdom of Daha (1526), ​​there were several traditional leaders who taught gamelan and other arts to the community, namely:
1. Datu Taruna as a gamelan drummer
2. Datu Taya as the puppet mastermind
3. Datu Putih as a mask dancer
Masa Pangeran Hidayatulla, gamelan musicians were told to learn to beat the gamelan in the Solo palace. This led to similarities in the Banjar Gamelan with Javanese Gamelan both in terms of instruments and game techniques.
                                         
B. Understanding of Banjar Gamelan
Banjar Gamelan is a gamelan device that develops among the Banjar Tribe in South Kalimantan. This gamelan device has a distinctive sound, not resembling Javanese, Sundanese or Balinese gamelan. The closest one is Angklung Caruk Banyuwangi. Hastanto said that the tuning system was pentatonic which approached Balinese slendro (salonding). However, in Balinese karawitan, the gamelan Salonding device is known as a gamelan device which has pelog seven-tone release using the saih system (similar to the pathet system). It might be more appropriate if the Banjar Gamelan is said to have a similar mood or atmosphere with the Salonding gamelan.
C. Banjar Gamelan Device
In its development, there are two versions of the Banjar Gamelan namely, the palace version and the popular version.
1. The Keraton Banjar Gamelan, the instrument:
a. Babun
b. drum two
c. fiddle
d. xylophone
e. celent
f. tap
g. dawu
h. sarun 1
i. sarun 2
j. sarun 3
k. flute
l. kanung
m. miss
n. big gong
o. small gong
2. Whereas the popular Gamelan Banjar version, the instrument device:
a. Babun
b. Dawu
c. Sarun
d. Sarantam
e. Kanung
f. Kangsi
g. big gong
h. small gong
Based on the presentation of the instrument in both versions of the Banjar Gamelan, it can be concluded that the Keraton Banjar Gamelan has more instruments than the popular Gamelan Banjar. There are eight instruments in common, and in the version of the palace there are five instruments that are not possessed by the popular version, namely on the drum, instrument, gambang, ketuk, and seruling instruments.
D. Function of the Banjar Gamelan
In its development, the Banjar Gamelan can function as a stand-alone gamelan device (instrumental as Hastanto said) and can also function as a gamelan device to accompany other types of performing arts. The types of art accompanied by Banjar Gamelan include dance, gipang horses, Banjar masks, and Banjar puppets, both wayang kulit and wayang gung (wayang orang).
Performing art performances accompanied by the Banjar Gamelan are often used at ceremonial and sacred events. This can usually be seen in the types of offerings used. In addition, it can also be profane which is shown for the celebration of marriage and as an entertainment spectacle.