Gamelan is a traditional ensemble music of the Javanese, Sundanese, and Balinese peoples of Indonesia, made up predominantly of percussive instruments. The word "gamelan" is believed to be a low Javanese word that refers to the mallet with which Gamelan musicians strike their instruments. The ensemble typically includes xylophones, gongs, gong-chimes, drums, cymbals, string instruments, and bamboo flutes. Gamelan music follows precise rules and techniques regarding tuning, layout, rhythmic and metric patterns, and performance.

Gamelan is an integral part of Indonesian identity dating back centuries, and archaeological evidence of the practice has been found in the relief sculptures of the eighth-century Borobudur temple. Practitioners include vocalists and instrumentalists, as well as instrument-makers and tuners. Gamelan is rarely performed as just a musical concert. Instead, it usually accompanies another visual art form like dance. Balinese (and Javanese) dance follows a centuries-old tradition of storytelling through body language.

There are almost 50 varieties of Gamelan that involve different ensemble sizes, instrumentation, and performance practices. Distinctions of Gamelan are based on the geographical regions of Javanese (Central and East Java), Balinese (Bali), and Sundanese (West Java). One of the most popular is Gamelan Gong Kebyar, a style characterized by its sudden and rapid jumps in volume and speed.

In summary, Gamelan is a traditional ensemble music of the Javanese, Sundanese, and Balinese peoples of Indonesia, made up predominantly of percussive instruments. It follows precise rules and techniques regarding tuning, layout, rhythmic and metric patterns, and performance. Gamelan is an integral part of Indonesian identity and is rarely performed as just a musical concert. Instead, it usually accompanies another visual art form like dance. There are almost 50 varieties of Gamelan that involve different ensemble sizes, instrumentation, and performance practices.