Gamelan Batu Salebu: An Ethnomusicological and Islamic Cultural Study in Javanese Tradition

This article examines Gamelan Batu Salebu, a rare lithophone-based musical ensemble found in Salebu Village, Majenang District, Cilacap Regency, Central Java, Indonesia, through an ethnomusicological and Islamic cultural lens. The study investigates its historical background, organological characteristics, performance practices, social functions, and the religious meanings embedded within its contemporary use. Using a qualitative ethnographic approach that includes participant observation, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and audio-visual documentation, this research demonstrates that Gamelan Batu Salebu operates not merely as a musical artifact but as a living cultural medium that facilitates spiritual expression, communal solidarity, and moral transmission grounded in Islamic values. The findings reveal that the integration of prehistoric lithophone traditions into Islamic ritual and social life reflects an ongoing process of cultural acculturation, whereby local musical heritage adapts to religious transformations without losing its indigenous identity. This adaptive continuity highlights the dynamic relationship between tradition, religion, and community resilience in rural Java. By documenting a previously understudied musical practice, this study contributes to broader discussions in ethnomusicology, anthropology of religion, and Islamic cultural studies, while also emphasizing the urgency of safeguarding endangered local musical traditions as part of cultural sustainability and identity formation in contemporary Indonesian society.