| The most important instruments used a playing
tile nuclear theme belong to the group of sarons. These consist of
convex metallic resonating keys, which are beaten with small mallets.
The rebab serves the same purpose; this is two stringed instrument,
played like a cello. One of tile finest instruments Is the gender:
small key -shaped bronze are suspended freely by two cords in a row.
Under each slab there is a resonating tube, tuned to tile same pitch,
which gives the tone the necessary resonance. As soon as a slab is
struck, (the instrument is played with two small round sticks), the
same hand acts as a damper.
The gender is especially suitable for developing the nuclear them
and accompanying the dalang as lie sings.
The same purpose is served by the gambang, a trough xylophone,
with wooden keys which are similarly struck with round sticks. This
instrument has a peculiarly soft and full tone.
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