FROM tinkling tintinnabulation to sonorous bass bongs, a complete set of traditional Indonesian gamelan musical instruments has gone on show in the Red House Museum in Christchurch.

Billed as the largest gamelan in England, the collection of more than 50 bronze gongs and chime bars was made in Java in 1994 and acquired by Hampshire county council for its schools music service.

The music of gamelan is used in Indonesian culture to accompany dance, drama, puppetry, religious and family ceremonies and even battles, but never performed on its own.

Explorers such as Sir Francis Drake first heard the haunting sound of the gamelan on their voyages of discovery to the Far East, and the distinctive oriental sound has influenced western composers as varied as Debussy and Mike Oldfield.

The gamelan instruments as works of art in themselves with the gongs mounted on ornate carved and gilded frames decorated with dragon motifs.

Named The Trusty Servant, the Hampshire gamelan comprises 10 "sulukan" and "kempel" large hanging gongs, 32 smaller, pot-shaped gongs arranged on wooden frames and nine "saran" metallophones comprising tuned brass chimes mounted over wooden boxes.

The gamelan instruments also include flutes, fiddles, zither and xylophone and "kendhang" drums.

But while the giant gamelan filling the Red House gallery cries out to be played, visitors will have to wait for the free workshop sessions to bang the gong.

Tutors from Hampshire Music Service will be conducting afternoon classes on May 25, June 1 and June 22 and places can be booked via the museum on 01202 482860.

The gamelan exhibition is open daily except Mondays until June 22.