Grade 81st Quarter: Music of Southeast Asia

Geographical, historical, cultural background Indonesia

o Gamelan - traditional ensemble music of Java and Bali in Indonesia, made up predominantly of percussive instruments. The most common instruments are metallophones played by mallets as well as a set of hand played drums called kendhang which register the beat.

o Javanese vs Balinese Gamelan - The major difference between Balinese Gamelan music in regards to Javanese music is that Balinese music is strictly composed. There is very little space for improvisation, although there is some at times. Each piece is written and practiced as such to attain a “unified musical expression” (Tenzer, 1991). This possibly gave the opportunity to composers to broaden the orchestral complexity of their Gamelan music. Balinese musicians “rehearse to perfect their music more than any other large ensembles in the world” (Tenzer, 1991). While Javanese gamelan does not possess these features, its great complexity comes from the many strands of performers’ improvisations.

Thailando Piphat - a kind of ensemble in the classical music of Thailand, which features wind and

percussion instruments. It is considered the primary form of ensemble for the interpretation of the most sacred and "high-class" compositions of the Thai classical repertoire

Cambodiao Pinpeat - an orchestra of wind and percussion instruments (gong-chimes and

xylophones being the most important among them); served as a musical background to rituals, court events and various performances (drama, dance, shadow puppets)

Myanmaro Saung Gauk - an arched harp used in traditional Burmese music

2nd Quarter: Music of East Asia (China, Japan, Korea)

Geographical, historical, cultural background Traditional Instruments

o Idiophones - any musical instrument that creates sound primarily by the instrument as a whole vibrating—without the use of strings or membranes

o Membranophones - any musical instrument which produces sound primarily by way of a vibrating stretched membrane

o Aerophones- any musical instrument that produces sound primarily by causing a body of air to vibrate, without the use of strings or membranes, and without the vibration of the instrument itself adding considerably to the sound.

o Chordophones - a musical instrument that makes sound by way of a vibrating string or strings stretched between two points

Instrumental Pieces (Solo and Ensemble) Folk songs and ritual music Kpop - musical genre originating in South Korea that is characterized by a wide variety of

audiovisual elements. Although it comprises all genres of "popular music" within South Korea, the term is more often used in a narrower sense to describe a modern form of South Korean pop music covering: dance-pop, pop ballad, electronic, rock, metal,[2] hip-hop music and R&B

Jpop - natively also known simply as pops, is a musical genre that entered the musical mainstream of Japan in the 1990s

3rd Quarter: Music of South Asia and Middle East (India and Israel)

Geographical, historical, cultural background Traditional instruments Instrumental Pieces (Solo and Ensemble) Folk songs and ritual music

4 th Quarter: Traditional Asian Theater Music

Wayang Kulit - ancient Indonesian art of shadow play; unique combination of ritual, lesson, and entertainment. Lacy shadow images are projected on a taught linen screen with a coconut oil lamp or electric light. The Dalang, or shadow artist, manipulates carved leather figures between the lamp and the screen to bring the shadows to life.

Kabuki - traditional Japanese popular drama with singing and dancing performed in a highly stylized manner. A rich blend of music, dance, mime, and spectacular staging and costuming, it has been a major theatrical form in Japan for almost four centuries

Peking Opera - a form of traditional Chinese theatre which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance, and acrobatics.