"The center of gravity of a gamelan composition, and the improviser's guideline, is a melody known as the 'skeleton' or 'framework' (balungan), played in a slow, even rhythm on [the]...saron."[7]
"If the balungan is the same, then the elaborating parts should be the same."
"The instrumental melody called balungan (literally, 'skeleton', 'outline')."[5]
"The balungan gendhing is important-if not, indeed, the most important-factor in the practice of karawitan, because as the framework of the gendhing it gives a composition its basic shape, and is used as a frame of reference and point of departure for the playing of the gamelan instruments."
^ abAnderson Sutton, Richard (1991). Traditions of Gamelan Music in Java: Musical Pluralism and Regional Identity. Cambridge University. p. xix. ISBN9780521361538
^Sumarsam (1995). Gamelan: Cultural Interaction and Musical Development in Central Java. University of Chicago. p. 151. ISBN9780226780115
^Perlman, Marc (2004). Unplayed Melodies: Javanese Gamelan and the Genesis of Music Theory. University of California. p. 1. ISBN9780520930490[注 3]