Maxwell Museum of Anthropology - Instruments of the World
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GENDER (72.17.43)
Indonesia
Idiophone 

Similar to the xylophone in design, the gender has bars made of metal instead of wood.  Below each metal bar is a bamboo resonator.  The bamboo vibrates beneath the metal bar, making its low, muted tone.  The gender is used in gamelan orchestras in Java. Gamelan is a percussion-dominated musical ensemble.