Music in indonesia

Philippine and Asian Music 1

Music inindonesia


Indonesia is an archipelago in Southeast Asia comprising approximately 17, 500 islands.


With over 238 million, Indonesia is the world’s fourth most populous country and is the fourth biggest nation of the world.


Contemporary MusicToday, the contemporary music

of Indonesia is popular not only in the region but also in the neighboring countries.

Indonesian Music, the music of the peoples of the islands of the Indonesian Archipelago.


Generally, these gong-and-drum ensembles accompany ritual and religious activities.

Throughout the islands, historical and religious epics are sung, and they are often accompanied by a stringed instrument or a flute.

Another common element is the belief that music is a means of communicating with unseen powers.


1. Slendro – has five notes with equal distance per octave.

There are two basic kinds of Indonesian Music Scale


2. Pelog – has seven pitches per octave.



Gamelan music

The GAMELAN MUSIC when heard is POLYPHONIC it’s because they used the common technique in playing the gongs which is interlocking or inter- connecting of sounds.


TEMPO is a very popular Italian term used in music. It means TIME or the timing of the song, the flow, or the beat.

In Indonesia, tempo is called IRAMA.


The Gamelan Orchestra – is the most popular form of music in indonesia. The word gamelan comes from the javanese word gamel, which means a hammer.


• The main instruments in the gamelan orchestra :– Gongs– Bronze Xylophones– Drums– Flutes– Zithers


GONGS


Bronze xylophones


drums


Flutes


zithers


The gamelan performs both in an instrumental role as well as in supportive role for dance and puppet performance.


Vocal Music is usually important with gamelan but its role is for ornamentation purposes only of the gamelan.


Types of vocal music

The most common interpretation of musical composition is SINGING.


1. PEDINDHEN – is a female soloist singer who sings with a gamelan.


2. GERONG – this refers to the unison male chorus that sings with the gamelan.

3. BERONG BECAYAN – this is a mixed chorus.


Three major gamelan styles in indonesia

It is based on :1. Sundanese Culture2. Central Javanese Culture3. Balinese Culture

The BALINESE form, gamelan gong kebyar, has a faster tempo than the others.


Traditional gamelan of bali

The Island of BALI has a long and rich tradition of gamelan music. The gamelan is a large ensemble, consisting up to 40 musicians playing varying sizes of gongs, xylophones, and drums. It performs for traditional occasions and ceremonies.


The Gong Gede – is the oldest and largest of the gamelan orchestras in BALI.

- it was also used to accompany ritual dances and war dances.

Today, nearly every village has at least one gamelan orchestra.


Music in BALI – Culture of the Balinese

The people of Bali hold a special place in their heart for music and traditional Balinese gamelan has won fans around the globe.

The origins of Balinese music are said to be traced back to java around 230 AD. It is said to have been originally developed in Java as a means to summon the gods.


Function of MusicBalinese gamelan is closely associated with the local religious tradition – therefore this music is performed during:

1. Important religious ceremony2. Rituals3. Feasts4. Wedding Ceremony5. Balinese shadow puppet shows (wayang

kulit)


Balinese Gamelan Instruments

1. CENG CENG


2. GONGS


3. GANGSAS


4. KENDANG


5. REYONG


6. TROMPONG


7. REBAB


CLASSICAL GAMELAN OF JAVA


KARAWITAN – is the term used for every kind of gamelan music in Java.


FUNCTIONS OF GAMELAN ORCHESTRAS

1. They are used to accompany dances and Wayang kulit (Puppet shadow).

2. They are believed to possess supernatural powers.

3. Their instruments are considered sacred therefore stepping over the instrument is a sign of disrespect.

4. The musicians take a bow to their instruments before they start playing to show respect.


The chart below shows the difference between Balinese and Javanese Gamelan Orchestra


• ANGKLUNG


BURUNG KAKA TUATraditional folk song of Indonesia – this is an

Indonesian Song about a Parrot.


Prepared By:

Education

Music in indonesia