The Music OF Indonesia
The Music OF Indonesia
The Music OF Indonesia
OF
INDONESIA
Overview
• An archipelago
• Consist of more than 13,000 island.
• Has the most ethnical diverse
population in the world.
• 300 ethnic groups that speak 250
languages.
Despite of the diversity,
they are brought together
by their language
(BAHASA INDONESIA)
and their religion (Muslim).
Two Major Ethnic Groups
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The predominant
musical
ensemble in
Indonesia is
gamelan
WHAT IS GAMELAN?
Gamelan literally means, “musical
ensemble”
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GAMELAN ‘ENSEMBLES’
Gamelan ensembles are kept in many of these
court pavilions
Some old and used for rare ritual occasions
Some newer and used more frequently
Most believed to contain special powers
Are shown respect and given offerings
GAMELAN ORCHESTRA
Gamelan music is the most
popular and important kind
in Indonesia. Gamelan
orchestras accompany all
dances and dramas. Gamel
means ‘to hammer’, and
most of the instruments of a
gamelan orchestra are
struck with wooden mallets,
padded sticks or hammers.
The conductor of a gamelan
orchestra is a drummer who
is part of the orchestra.
Gamelan, originally a court ensemble, also
accompanies puppet plays, dances, feasts, and
ceremonies. Gamelans exist in both Java and Bali.
Most of the gamelan instruments are bronze, tuned
gongs suspended vertically or horizontally, as well as
instruments with tuned bronze keys suspended over
resonators. Other instruments include a two- stringed
fiddle, flute, and drums.
GAMELAN MUSIC
Gamelan music is
complicated. It is an
ancient form of music
and has been handed
down for many
generations, never
written down, but
learned by being played.
Gamelan is an essential
part of Indonesian life. It
is slightly different from
island to island.
ANIMISM IN GAMELAN
Gamelan is sacred.
Believed to have supernatural power.
Gamelan is well-respected.
Javanese Gamelan
Balinese Gamelan
Javanese gamelan is more sedate and
majestic sounding
Javanese Gamelan
Percussion dominated which sometimes
referred to as GONG-CHIMES musical
ensemble.
Gong AGENG is believed to be the main
spirit of Javanese Gamelan.
Composed of bronze gongs and
metallophones, cymbals, a time beater.
A complete
Javanese
gamelan is two
orchestras in
one
The cultural
and historical
significance
of Javanese
gamelan
music goes
back more
than 250
years
The Mataram is the last great
native power in Java
There are
spiritual
aspects to
Javanese
Gamelan music
Wayang Kulit (shadow-plays)
use stories derived from India
The Dhalang is the puppeteer
The
Music
of Bali
In the fifteenth century, Mataram
displaced the Hindu kingdom of
Majapahit
Balinese gamelan music can
accompany opera, support the
royal court, enhance shadow
plays, or represent village pride
Balinese Gamelan
Made up mostly of gongs and more
metallophones.
Basic Characteristics- is the sudden
changed of tempo and dynamics.
It uses fast rattling cymbal.
Produces very bright sound.
Balinese gamelan is
more virtuosic,
mercurial, flashy, and
unpredictable
The Kecak is a
type of dance
drama
accompanied
by a large male
chorus that
chants
rhythmically,
usually
performed for
tourists
Barong is a dance ritual adopted
for tourists
New genres are
being accepted
as “traditional”
culture
Popular Music
in Java
includes
Gambus,
Dangdut,
Kroncong and
Jaipongan
The three
levels of
musical
activity in
gamelan
music are
coordinated
by the
drummer
CHARACTERISTICS
OF INDONESIAN
MUSIC
They are melody, elaboration and
rhythmic punctuation
Indonesian music is generally
based on repeated musical
phrases of varying length
Cycle
• Gamelan is in Polyphonic
Stratification structure.
• Music composed by layers of
melody lines or rhythm patterns.
5 Categories of Polyphonic
• Theme
• Elaboration
• Punctuation
• Counter-Melody
• Rhythm
Indonesian music uses two scales
Musical Scales of Indonesia
Pelog
Slendro
Slendro
• This is a pentatonic scale, without
half steps.
• Commonly referred to as the
“male” tonal system.
• Each notation has its own tone
and solmization.
Notation Tone Solmization
1 Barong ji (siji)
2 Gulu lo (loro)
3 Dhadha lu (telu)
5 Lima ma (lima)
6 Nem nem (enem)
Three MODES or Pathets
A. Animism in Gamelan
B. Functions of Gamelan
Animism in Gamelan
In traditional thinking, the gamelan is sacred and
ritually qualified.
*Gong Ageng – the most important instrument for
it is believed that Gong Ageng is the
main spirit of the entire gamelan.
Functions of Gamelan
1. Gamelan is a way of linking individuals to social groups.
Gamelan music is performed as a group effort, and so
there is no place for an individual show off.
Traditionally, gamelan is only played at certain occasions
such as:
i. Ritual ceremonies
ii. Special community celebrations
iii. Shadow puppet shows and
iv. For royal family
Gamelan is also used to accompany dances in court,
temple and village rituals.
1. Gamelan provides some livelihood for professional
musicians, and for specialized craftsmen who
manufacture gamelan.
*Uses of Gamelan in Modern Days
i. Uses for ritual ceremonies and the royal family
ii. Performed as concert music at social gatherings and
cultural presentations.
iii. Used to accompany traditional and modern dances,
drama, theatrical shows and puppetry
iv. Kept in such places as courts, temples, museums,
schools and even in private collections.
1. Traditional influences
Gamelan is believed to be at least 1200
years old.
a. Polyphonic
Gamelan music is in polyphonic stratification structure. It means
the music is composed by layers of simple melody lines or
rhythm patterns.
*Five Categories
Theme
Elaboration
Punctuation
Counter – Melody
Rhythm
a. Tuning systems
2 tuning systems for Gamelan
Pelog – a seven tone scale, involving half
steps
Slendro – a pentatonic (five tone) scale,
without half steps.
*****
Start from C and tune perfect 5ths all the way
around to B#. You will find that C and B# are not
in tune.
*****
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CENT
702+702+702+702+702+702+702+702+702+702
+702+702= 8424 cents
1200+1200+1200+1200+1200+1200+1200= 8400
cents
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See more information at:
http://home.austin.rr.com/jmjensen/TEMPER/Tem
perament.html
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Present-day gamelans tuned to one of
two scale systems
Gong Ageng
nagas (dragons)
Teakwood stand wearing crowns
Three-piece stand ("dragon king")
flower and leaf pattern
covered in gold leaf
Mallet (tabuh)
with a long
Function: The gong ageng is considered the
handle and
heavy, thick red father or master of the gamelan. This particular
cloth padding gong is treated with great respect, including
on one end the offering of flowers and food during
wrapped in red performances and ceremonies. Music usually
cord.
begins and ends with the gong ageng.
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Gong-chimes
traditional form of
Metallophones
Gamelan Indonesian music
Drums
Generally, a kind of
xylophone with 2 groups:
metal bars
1. Saron
2. Gender
A metallophone used in a
Gamelan - Indonesian Embassy
in Canberra Kulintang a Tiniok: A Philippine
metallophone