pathet

noun

pa·​thet ˈpä-ˌtet 

variants or less commonly patet

plural pathet also patet

: any of six modes in Javanese gamelan music characterized by specific cadential patterns, emphasized notes, and melodic formulas in the pelog and slendro tunings

A large variety of pathet are used in Javanese and Balinese gamelan, each of them based on pitch material extracted from either the pelog scale or the slendro scale.

—Jan Laurens Hartong, Musical Terms Worldwide, 2006

Word History

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined above

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