Gamelan – Lesson 1

Learning Objectives

• Investigate the Gamelan orchestra and its instruments and the scales they use

• Develop understanding of the origins of Gamelan music

Learning Outcomes

• Produce extended writing about the origins of gamelan and the sound of gamelan music

• Produce a labelled set of pictures of gamelan instruments

Homework

Your books will be taken in at the end of this lesson. Homework will be given next lesson.

DO NOT FORGET to give in your book today.

Where to find this powerpoint!

VLE – Music – KS3 – Year 8 – 8T Gamelan Cover 26.11.13

Task OneUnder the title “Gamelan”, copy out the paragraph below into your book.

Gamelan music originates from the two Indonesian

regions of Bali and Java. Indonesian life centres around

their Hindu religion and other mystical beliefs and

practices. The arts are very important in Indonesian

culture and nearly every villager is a musician, dancer,

sculptor, painter or actor. Every aspect of the arts has

spiritual significance and art, religion and social life are

integrated to a very high degree.

Task TwoRead through the information on this slide and, in your book, answer the five questions using full sentences.

The Gamelan orchestra is usually made up of 15-20 players.

The five main instruments in the gamelan orchestra are: the

gong ageng (the main gong, which produces a deep, ringing

sound); the bonnang (which makes a chiming sound); the

gender (a metallophone which plays a supporting melody);

the saron (another metallaphone that plays the main

melody) and the gambang kayu (a type of xylophone).

1. How many players are there in a typical Gamelan orchestra? (1)

2. What are the five main instruments that make up the Gamelan orchestra? Name and describe them. (10)

3. Use the internet to find pictures of the five instruments you’ve described above. Draw and label each of them in your book. (5)

Task Three

Watch and listen to the clip of gamelan music below. After you’ve done this, write a paragraph about the music – discuss how the following elements of music are used:* Tempo * Dynamics *Texture *Pitch *Timbre

Here’s the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldPMifPbngc

Task Four

Make sure that all of your music book is up to date before you hand it in.

Have you responded to all of your feedback?

Have you written out your spellings three times each?

Does every piece of work have a date and title?

Are all your dates and titles underlined?

(Miss Reardon will be giving out detentions to anyone whose books are not pristine and up to date!!)