Book excerpt: This book combines ethnography, philosophy, and musical analysis for an in-depth look into the social context and musical praxis of gamelan gong gede, the largest gamelan orchestra of bronze gongs and percussion on the island of Bali. The Hindu-Balinese notion of three human qualities called triguna serves as an interpretive framework for categorizing the musical repertoire, according to both widespread religious knowledge and more esoteric wisdom. (Series: KlangKulturStudien/SoundCultureStudies - Vol. 2)