“Kendhang” is the generic term for gamelan double-headed membranophones with roughly truncated cone-shaped shells and heads with different diameters. The hides for the heads are stretched and folded over stiff hoops, which in turn are held tightly over the shell openings with a long hide strap that passes back and forth along the length of the shell and over the hoops. Rings around pairs of straps can be slid up and down the length of the shell to control the tension, and therefore tune, the drumheads. Kendhang rest horizontally on low stands and for some types both heads are sounded with the performer’s hand while for other types a stick beater with a hard-ball head is used to strike only the larger drumhead.
