Irama

Irama is the term used for tempo in Indonesian gamelan in Java and Bali.

It is a concept used in Javanese gamelan music,[2] describing melodic tempo and relationships in density between the balungan, elaborating instruments, and gong structure.

[3] It is distinct from tempo (Javanese: Laya), as each Irama can be played in different tempi.

[6] One way to think of Irama is to use the most consistently struck instrument in the gamelan, the saron panerus (or peking).

In most cases, the more spread out the balungan is, the longer it takes to reach a gong ageng.