THE MUSIC

OF
INDONESIA
 Overview

Indonesian were the last of

the huge groups of people
who migrated in the
Southeast Asian countries.
Its culture has been
influenced by Shamanism,
Buddhism, Hinduism,
Islamic, and Western
Traditions.
 Trade and Conflicts

Indonesians came into

contact with the Mongols,
Chinese, Arabs,
Portuguese, Dutch, English
Traders and colonizers.
The rich interaction with
other cultures has brought
about a wide range of
musical styles in
Indonesian Music.
 Indonesia

• 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

• Javanese is the largest ethnic group on

the island (about 2/3); common language
and cultural traits
• Sudanese, Language and arts are distinct
from the Javanese

8
The predominant
musical
ensemble in
Indonesia is
gamelan
WHAT IS GAMELAN?
Gamelan literally means, “musical
ensemble”
 12

 Gamelan refers to set of instruments unified by

their tuning, and by decorative carvings and
paintings
 Primarily consists of several kinds of metal slab
instruments and tuned knobbed gongs
 Also normally have at least one drum and may
have other kinds of instruments; vary in size;
some ancient gamelans have small number of
instrument
 Those in central Java usually large with wide
range of instruments
 13

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

Animism – a belief that a spirit or divinity resides

within every object.

 Gamelan is sacred.
 Believed to have supernatural power.

 Gamelan is well-respected.

 Gamelan is a way of linking individuals.

 Gamelan music is formal.
 Traditionally, gamelan is only played at
certain occasion.
 Ritual, ceremony, celebrations, shows etc.
 Gamelan provides livelihood.
 Gamelan used as an accompaniment.
 Polyphonic with nuclear theme.
Two Popular Gamelan

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 music is in cycle. The

music will repeat over and over
until the drummer gives a signal
to end a performance.
 Polyphonic

• 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

• Slendro pathet nem – the lowest

mode
• Slendro pathet songa – medium
high
• Slendro pathet manyura –
highest mode
 Pelog
• This is s seven tone scale
involving half steps.
• Commonly referred to as the
“female” tonal system.
• Notation are different from
slendro.
Notation Tone Solmization
1 Ben ji (siji)
2 Gulu ro (loro)
3 Dhadha lu (telu)
5 Pelog pat (patpat)
4 Lima ma (lima)
6 Nem nem (enem)
7 Barong pi (pitu)
 Three MODES or Pathets

• Pelog pathet lima – the lowest

mode
• Pelog pathet nem – medium
high
• Pelog pathet barong – highest
mode
Characteristics of Indonesian Music

A. Animism in Gamelan
B. Functions of Gamelan
Animism in Gamelan
In traditional thinking, the gamelan is sacred and

believed to have supernatural power.

It is believed that each instrument in the gamelan

is guided by the spirits.

Some gamelans are believed to have supernatural

powers such that playing them may exert power

over nature.
Others may be touched only by persons who are

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.

*The Balinese Gamelan has seen an

increase in tempo, while Javanese
become less grand.

“Kebyas” – style of Balinese musicians

“boning imbal” & “kenbangan” – styles of
Javanese musicians
 1. Characteristics and Style
 Balinese gamelan music has a lot of sudden
changes in tempo and dynamics.
 There are more metallophones than gongs in
Balinese Gamelan.
 The metal keys in Balinese metallophones are
thicker than those in Javanese.
 Balinese metallophones produce very bright
sound.
 There is an extensive use of cymbals in Balinese
Gamelan music.
*cymbals – create fast rattling sounds that usually cannot be found in
Javanese Gamelan music.
a. Interlocking
*kotek – most distinctive characteristics of Balinese music
- It is the sharing of the melody by exchanging notes of
different pitches.
*splitting up a melody into interlocking segments can create
fast tempo.
a. Metallophones
Balinese Gamelan Music
 Like Javanese gamelan music
 A percussion – dominated musical ensemble
 Also known as gong-chime musical ensemble
 More metallophones than gongs
 It consist of :
o bronze gongs
o metallophones
o cymbals
o time – beater
a. Cycle
 Balinese gamelan music is in cycle, or in musical terms
“ostinato”. Usually the music will repeat over and over, until the
drummer gives a signal to end a performance.

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.

* These two sets of tuning system are played by two

different sets of gamelan metallophones.
 Pythagorean vs. Equal Tempered Tuning

Problem: The Pythagorean Comma

There are several ways to explain the

Pythagorean comma. In a nutshell
you cannot tune a circle of Pythagorean 5ths and
end up where you started.

*****
Start from C and tune perfect 5ths all the way
around to B#. You will find that C and B# are not
in tune.
*****

62
 CENT

• Measuring device for pitch

vibration used to locate the
tone position of the notes of
the Slendro and Pelog in the
diatonic scale.
 A Pythagorean perfect 5th is 702 cents.

702+702+702+702+702+702+702+702+702+702
+702+702= 8424 cents

A half step is divided into 100 cents. There are 12

half steps to an octave. Therefore, an octave is
1200 cents.

1200+1200+1200+1200+1200+1200+1200= 8400
cents

8424 - 8400 = 24 cents = Pythagorean Comma

Result: From the 17th century to the present, the

music of the Western Hemisphere has used
Equal Temperament, created by lowering the
perfect 5th from 702 cents to 700 cents.

64
 See more information at:

http://home.austin.rr.com/jmjensen/TEMPER/Tem
perament.html

65
 Present-day gamelans tuned to one of
two scale systems

• Sléndro = Five-tone system made up of nearly

equidistant intervals; normally notated 1-2-3-5-6 (no
4)
• Pélog = Seven-tone system made up of large and
small intervals; normally notated 1-2-3-4-5-6-7
• Gamelans may consist entirely of one or the other
or may have a full set of instruments for each
system (double ensemble)
• The scale systems are incompatible and rarely
played simultaneously
66
 MUSICAL
INSTRUMENTS
OF
INDONESIA
Gamelan – from the
Javanese “gamel” which
means “hammer”

*Considered as the leader of gamelan is

the biggest gong, the Gong Ageng.
However, the actual leader during the
performance is the drummer.
Functions – according to orchestral
function in the polyphony
1. Main theme 3. Counter- 5. Rhythm
a) Saron Demung Melody a) Bedug
b) Saron Barung a) Rebab b) Kendang Gending
c) Sarong panerus b) Suling c) Gendang Ketipung
c) Human Voice
d) Slentem
2. Melodic 4. Punctuation
Elaboration a) Gong Ageng
a) Bonang Barung b) Kempul
b) Bonang Panerus c) Kempyang
c) Gambang d) Kenong
d) Gender Barung e) Ketuk
e) Gender Panerus
f) Siter
 Large bronze gong

Diameter (backside): 79 cm.

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.
 72

Two major groupings of instruments

• “Loud-playing” are associated with festivals,

processions, and other noisy outdoor
events; strictly instrumental; drums and
louder metal instruments used
• “Soft-playing” are intended for more intimate
gatherings, often indoors; involved singing;
instruments are played softly
 Instruments

 A complete orchestra could have about 40 or more different

instruments. There would be instruments that are struck to
produce sound, such as drums, xylophones (idiophones), and
gongs of various sizes. There would be a wind instrument, a
bamboo flute called a suling, and string instruments such as a
zither or lute. There would be instruments whose sounds are
produced by vibration, such as drums, bells, cymbals and gongs.
 There are also two sets of instruments that are tonal: the slendro
tuned to five tones and the pelog, tuned to seven tones. The
slendro is used to suggest festivity or cheerfulness, and is believed
to have developed in Java in the eighth century. The pelog is used
to express sadness, and is also very ancient in its origins. These
two cannot be played together, but are used according to the
mood of the piece being played. – Tuned to two different scales.
percussion instruments.

Bronze gongs orchestra

Gong-chimes
traditional form of
Metallophones
Gamelan Indonesian music

Drums

One or more flute

Bowed and plucked instruments

*in some villages, Gamelans,
bronze is sometimes replaced
Sometimes singers by iron, wood or bamboo. The
most popular gamelan can be
found in Java and Bali.
Gending is a
piece of
Javanese
music for
gamelan
Gender is a metallophone with
thin bronze slab keys
 A Saron is a metallophone with
thick bronze slab keys lying over a
trough resonator
 A Gong is
suspended
and struck
with a mallet.
Balinese gamelan instruments are
tuned slightly differently, creating
a shimmering or pulsating effect
Gong Ageng
 Metallophones
It usually play
the melody part Any musical instrument
consisting of metal bars and
usually struck to make a sound
called mallet

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