Indonesian Shapes

Indonesian music is rich and diverse, featuring a wide array of traditional instruments. In this project, I created a program that uses audio from the Gamelan, Angklung, drums, and gong. In a traditional Gamelan orchestra, these percussion instruments play together in a complex, layered rhythm. I wanted to bring that to life visually through custom-coded animations using p5JS; a javascript library. Each shape in the animation represents the emotions I associate with each instrument—for example, rectangles for the Gamelan that slowly fade away to evoke its bright resonance, or a circular form that expands with the resonant crash of the gong. Try it out in the link below! And feel free to scroll down further to learn more about the traditional Indonesian instruments!

Click here!

  • Angklung- played by creating a shaking motion towards the bottom of the bamboo piece

  • Usually played in a whole percussion orchestra, with each Gamelan having its own unique notes to the music.

  • A traditional drum called the Kendang