Dang |
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Note of the Balinese solfeggio system :
| (a) |
Last note in the pentatonic pèlog scales. It corresponds to the figure 6 of the modern numeral 12356 notation system (5 in the modern Balinese 12345). It precedes ding (or dong in the tetratonic saih bebonangan) and follows dung, like shown in the diagram :
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| Tell me more : Instrument ranges of Tarangga Kañcana. |
| (b) |
Fourth note of the seléndro scale. In the tetratonic saih angklung, it is the third. It precedes ding and follows dung. |
| (c) |
The heptatonic pèlog scale of the gambang and salunding gamelans has two notes called 'dang' : dang ageng (lower dang) is the third note, and dang alit (higher dang) is the sixth. The lower dang precedes dèng and follows the lower dong. The higher dang is precedes the higher dong and follows dung. |
| (d) |
Second note of the tetratonic saih jègog. It precedes ding and follows dung. |
- Dang cenik or dang alit : Besides the usage in (c), it refers to dang in the next upper octave.
- Dang ageng : Besides the usage in (c), it refers to dang in the previous lower octave. Also dang gedé.
- Saih dang : In the gambang and salunding gamelans, it is the name of a "mode"/scale. Saih dang cenik is also a scale in these ensembles.
The syllable is used in voice imitation of gamelan also as ndang, nang, na, nda and even just a.
Dang can also be used in the name of a composition, being one of the title's words.
See also :
Etymology
The onomatopoeic nature is obvious when we think of a percussion sound of metallic origin. Even in English words like ting, ding, dong, ding-dong, ring denote bell sounds.
About the Balinese syllables, Ernst Schager wrote that their use could reflect a former practice in Balinese vocal arts where each vowel is sung in its corresponding note.
