Indonesia – Java
Indonesians

Wood, buffalo hide, leather, cloth, pigment
Mid  20th century
Length: 28.25 in
Membranophones – Struck Membranophones

This large, beautifully engraved kendhang ageng (gendhing) from Java is a double-headed, barrel-shaped drum.  The drumheads (buffalo hide) are of varied sizes on each end.  Each drum head is framed with a leather hoop.  These hoops are connected and laced to each other in a “Y” pattern of leather strips that can be tightened with sliding rings to change the pitch on each drumhead. 

The kendhang ageng rests horizontally on a decoratively painted wooden carved stand so the drummer can sit on the ground to play the drum.  The drum is played with bare hands using part of the palm and/or fingers with the right hand playing the larger drumhead.  The kendhang ageng serves an integral part in the Javanese gamelan ensemble, signaling tempo changes, starts and stops and is considered the leader of the ensemble.  It also accentuates other collaborative forms such as tari (dance) and wayang kulitg (shadow puppets).  

There are three kinds of kendhang in modern gamelan ensembles: large kendhang ageng/gendhing (seen here), kendhang alit/Batangan, and Kendhang ketipung.

Resource: https://vetter.sites.grinnell.edu/gamelan/kendhang-agenggendhing