Gamelan gong kebyar and, "loosely constructed," at the beginning of the 20th century but became increasingly standardized. The music is divided into 4 beat groups, this whole rhythmic cycle is called the gongan. The gongs divide gongan into sections, gong ageng, the largest gong, marks the end of gongan, the smaller gongs mark the 4th or 8th beat and the smallest gongs outline the pulse. Gamelan gong kebyar Gamelan gong kebyar is a style or genre of Balinese gamelan music. "Kebyar" means "the process of flowering", and refers to the explosive changes in tempo and dynamics characteristic of the style. It is the
Gamelan common in national arts conservatories founded in the middle of the 20th century. Gamelan's role in rituals is so important that there is a Javanese saying, "It is not official until the gong is hung". Some performances are associated with royalty, such as visits by the sultan of Yogyakarta. Certain gamelans are associated with specific rituals, such as the "Gamelan Sekaten", which is used in celebration of "Mawlid an-Nabi" (Muhammad's birthday). In Bali, almost all religious rituals include gamelan performance. Gamelan is also used in the ceremonies of the Catholic church in Indonesia. Certain pieces are designated for starting and