Music pointers

KABUKI (JAPAN)
Kabuki is a Japanese traditional theatre art that is performed in a stylized manner which combines acting,
singing and dancing. This rich blend of music, mime, dance, costume, and props and has been in existence for
almost four centuries. The term Kabuki in modern Japanese means: ka, song! bu, dance! and ki, skill. "t is
a highly play that actors show their wide range of skills in #isual and #ocal performance.
Kabuki was founded in $%&' by (kuni, a )hinto priestess. )he and her troupe of mostly women performed
dances and comic sketches on a temporary stage set up in the dry ri#erbed of the Komagawa *i#er in Kyoto.
+er troupe gained national recognition and their plays e#ol#ed into kabuki that would later become one of the
three ma,or classical theater of Japan.
PEKING OPERA (CHINA)
-eking opera also known as the .ei,ing opera still follows traditional /hinese arts in stressing meaning, rather
than precise actions. The opera artists0 goal is to make e#ery performance exceptionally beautiful in e#ery
mo#ement they will make. The performer0s #ocal techni1ues as well as rhythms and melodies #ary depending
on his or her thoughts and feelings adhering to basic, strict con#entions that are based on real life experiences
presented in an artistic and symbolic manner.
-erformances are accompanied by music 2 usually played on three types of instruments:
3 wind instruments
3 strin instruments
3 percussion instruments
The main instruments are /hinese in origin:
$. !in"u 2 a two2stringed instrument played with a bow
4. #ue$in 2 a four2stringed instrument that is plucked
'. s%n&i%n 2 a three2stringed instrument which isalso plucked
5. '%riet# o( ons %nd c#m)%*s + creates rhythmic and graceful melodies
The melodies played by the accompaniment fall mainly into three broad categories.
3 The first is the aria. The arias of .ei,ing opera can be further di#ided into those of the Erhuang and Xipi
#arieties. 6n example of an aria is wawadiao, an aria in the Xipi style that is sung by a young )heng to
indicate heightened emotion.
3 The second type of melody heard in .ei,ing opera is the fixed2tune melody, or qupai, These are instrumental
tunes that ser#e a wider range of purposes than arias. 7xamples include the 89ater :ragon Tune8 ;shui long
yin<, which generally denotes the arri#al of an important person, and 8Triple Thrust8;ji san qiang<, which may
signal a feast or ban1uet.
3 The final type of musical accompaniment is the percussion pattern. )uch patterns pro#ide context to the
music in ways similar to the fixed2tune melodies. =or example, there are as many as 5> different percussion
patterns that accompany stage entrances. 7ach one identifies the entering character by his or her indi#idual
rank and personality.
-A.ANG KU/I0 (IN1ONE2IA)
"n wayangkulit the dalang sings the mood songs (suluk< at regular inter#als during performance. Suluk are
ne#er accompanied by the full gamelan ensemble. (ften a single instrument accompanies the singer, ne#er
more than three or four. The ma,or dramatic function of gamelan music is to accompany stage action.
7ntrances, exits, and fight scenes are executed in time to gamelan music.
?amelan ensemble is composed mainly of bronze percussion instruments, augmented by other percussion
instruments, strings, and flute.
G/O22AR.
3 6ria 2 )elf2contained expressi#e melody for one #oice, usually with orchestral accompaniment
3 .onang 2 )et of bronze bowls
3 .u2 :ance
3 :alang 2 -uppeteer and narrator of wayangkulit
3 7rhuang 2 @sed to express the lyric mood, such as mild, placid and gentle
3 ?amelan Ausic 7nsemble 2 .ackground accompaniment in e#ery performance of wayangkulit
3 ?ender 2 .ronze xylophone with resonance chambers beneath
3 ?ong and Kempul 2 +anging gongs
3 Ka B )ong
3 Kabuki 2 /ombination of acting, dancing and music which includes the manifestation of form, color and sound
3 Kata 2 Japanese word describing detailed choreographed patterns of mo#ements practised either solo or in pairs
3 Kendang 2 +orizontal drum beat with the fingers on both ends
3 Kenong and Ketuk 2)ingle in#erted bronze bowl
3 Ki B )kill
3 Aie 2 Aaking a pose and standing still during acting, to express the rising of feelings. This has the effect of ha#ing
a close2up on that person
3 -eking (pera 2 /ombination of music, #ocal, mime, dance and acrobats
3 Cupai 2 =ixed2tune melody
3 *ebab 2 Two2stringed fiddle
3 )aron 2 Dylophone of hea#y bronze bars
3 )heng 2 6 mouth2blown free reed instrument consisting of #ertical pipes
3 )uling B =lute
3 Suluk - Aood songs
3 T,elempung 2 6 zither of thirteen double strings
3 9ayangkulit 2 6raditional theatre art of "ndonenesia.
G%me*%n ensem)*e is comprised mainly by bronze percussion instruments, augmented by other percussion
instruments, strings, and flute. 6 full Ja#anese gamelan ensemble consists of:
a. s%ron 2 xylophone of hea#y bronze bars
b. ender 2 bronze xylophone with resonance chambers beneath
c. )on%n 2 set of bronze bowls
d. on %nd 3empu* B hanging gongs
e. 3enon %nd 3etu3 B single in#erted bronze bowl
f. %m)%n B wooden xylophone
g. re)%) B two2stringed fiddle
h. su*in B flute
i. 3end%n B horizontal drum beat with the fingers on both ends
,. t!e*empun B a zither of thirteen double strings
AR02
A, C"inese Pe3in Oper%4
-eking (pera is a traditional theater art form of /hina.
"t is based on /hinese history, folklore and contemporary life.
The two main melodies used are Dipi and 7rhuang.
The characters performing are )heng BAale role,:an2female role, Jing2painted face male role, and /hou2
male clown.
The performers utilize four main skills such as,song,speech, dance2acting and combat.
The highest aim is to put beauty into e#ery motion, that is why they determined con#entions of mo#ement.
Ausicians are #isible infront of the stage. 9hip, fans, and ore are usually used as props of the play.
B, C"inese 2prin5New .e%r 6esti'%*4
)pring festi#al is known also as /hinese Eew Fear.
"t is the most important traditional /hinese holiday.
/hinese families gather for the annual reunion dinner known as 7#e of -assing Fear and end the night
with firecrackers to dri#e away bad lucks so that good fortunes, happiness, wealth and longe#ity enter their
homes.
The colored dragon dancing on the streets accompanied by playing of the drums are also been part of the
celebration.
C, J%p%n7s K%)u3i4
Kabuki is a traditional Japanese drama with highly stylized song, mime, and dance and performed only by
male actors.
"t was performed in full2day time.
1, J%p%n7s 0%i3o 1rum 6esti'%*4
Kodo is a professional taiko drumming troupe
Ausical pieces are based on traditional rhythm of regional Japan
@chite ,Taiko drummer, can wear loose fitting happi ;short coat<, with an obi
-easant e#ents such as the rice har#ests or dance festi#als were celebrated with drums
E, Indonesi%7s -%#%n Ku*it4
The art of "ndonesia is permeated by a strong +indu2 .uddhist tradition due to the migration of "ndian
/ulture
9ayang Kulit is an ancient "ndonesian art of )hadow play
Gacy shadow images are pro,ected on linen screen with a coconut oil lamp or electric light.
The :alang or shadow artist, manipulates car#ed leather figures between the lamp and the screen to bring
the shadows to life.
)hadow theater in Thailand is sometimes called Eang Fai or Thalung.
The performances are normally accompanied by a combination of songs and chants.
7ach shadow play figure is made from raw cowhide that has been dried and then cut into linen
6, Indonesi%7s B%*i 1%nce 6esti'%*4
.alinese dances are a #ery ancient dance tradition that is a part of the religious and artistic expression
"n .ali there are #arious categories of dance such as the omnipresent Aahabharata and *amayana.
.alinese dance mo#ement is accompanied by the gamelan, a musical ensemble
Aultiple le#els of articulations in the face, eyes, hands, arms, hips, and feet are dominant in .ali dance.
G, 0"%i*%nd7s N%n Puppet 2"ow4
)hadow puppet is one form of public entertainment in the south of Thailand.
The two types of the Eang are Eang Talung and Eang Fai.
The characters, such as: gods and goddesses, kings and 1ueens, magical figures, and comedians.
ha#e a religious theme or be an episode from the *amayana epic
H, 0"%i*%nd7s /%ntern 6esti'%*4 (.i Pen)
Thailand is the only country in 6sia that was not con1uered by western people. "t was formerly called )iam.
Thailand sky lanterns known as 8Fi -eng or Khom =ai is held on a full moon of the 4nd month of the Ganna
calendar.
-eople usually make khom loi from a thin fabric, such as rice paper, to which a candle or fuel cell is
attached.
"t is considered good luck to release a sky lantern, and many Thais belie#e they are symbolic of problems
and worries floating away.
/oi Kr%t"on
Goi literally means to float while krathong refers to the lotus2shaped receptacle which can float on water.
The festi#als is belie#ed to originate in an ancient practice of paying respect to the spirit of the waters.
G*oss%r#4
Acro)%tics 2 the performance of extraordinary feats of balance, agility, and motor coordination
Ari% 2 a melodic scheme ;motif< or pattern for singing a poetic pattern with accompaniment
Auspicious + of good omen, propitious, successful, prosperous, fortunate
A'%nt8%rde 2 from =rench, 8ad#ance guard8 or 8#anguard8 , a =rench term used in 7nglish as a noun or
ad,ecti#e to refer to people or works that are experimental or inno#ati#e
B%*i 8 a pro#ince in the country of "ndonesia. The island is located in the westernmost end of the Gesser )unda
"slands, lying between Ja#a to the west and Gombok to the east
Bi99%re B unusual
Budd"ism2 a world religion or philosophy based on the teaching of the .uddha and holding that a state of
enlightenment can be attained by suppressing worldly desires
Con'ention 2 an agreement in international law
Coup*et 2 a pair of lines of meter in poetry, usually consists of two lines that rhyme and ha#e the same meter
Cow"ide 2 the natural, unbleached skin and hair of a cow.
1%*%n5 1"%*%n B a puppeteer of 9ayang Kulit of "ndenesia
Epic 2 poem in ele#ated language celebrating the ad#entures and achie#ements of a legendary or traditional
hero
Epitome B a typical example Et#mo*o# 2 the study of the history of words, their origins, and how their form
and meaning ha#e changed o#er time
G%me*%n 2 a traditional "ndonesian orchestra
Hinduism 2 a ma,or religion and religious tradition of )outh 6sia, the oldest worldwide religion, characterized
by a belief in reincarnation and a large pantheon of gods and goddesses
J%'% 2 ;"ndonesian: Jawa< is an island of "ndonesia. 9ith a population of $'H million ;excluding the '.% million
on the island of Aadura which is administered as part of the pro#inces of Ja#a<, Ja#a is the worldIs most
populous island
K%rm% + in +indu and .uddhist philosophy that all actions ha#e e1ual reactions
Kr%t"on B refers to the lotus2shaped receptacle which can float on the water.
/oi B means to float
Met%p"or 2 a literary figure of speech that describes a sub,ect by asserting that it is, on some point of
comparison, the same as another otherwise unrelated ob,ect
Midri(( + the diaphragm
Mime (P%ntomime) B the acting out a story through body motions without use of speech
Mudr%s B a symbolic position in which the hands are held in +indu dancing and ritual
M#t" 2 a sacred narrati#e usually explaining how the world or humankind came to be in its present form
O)i 2 a sash for traditional Japanese dress
Oper%2 an art form in which singers and musicians perform dramatic work combining text and musical score
Pe3in2 the capital of the -eople0s *epublic of /hina
Percussion Instrument 2 a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a beater , or
struck, scraped or rubbed by hand, or struck against another similar instrument
R%m%#%n% %nd M%"%)"%r%t% B +indu epics
R%tt%n 2 the name for the roughly %&& species of palms in the tribe /alameae, nati#e to tropical regions of
6frica, 6sia and 6ustralasia.
Repertoire ;J r pK tw rJ or J r pK tw J<2 refers to a list or set of dramas, operas, musical compositions or
roles which a company or person is prepared to perform
2oundsc%pe 2 a sound or combination of sounds that forms or arises from an immersi#e en#ironment
2t#*i9%tion2 design in or cause to conform to a particular style, as of representation or treatment in art
0%)*e%u2 performers pose and do not mo#e or talk to display a certain situation or scene
0%i3o 2 means 8drum8 in Japanese ,etymologically 8great8 or 8wide drum8
0rousers 2an item of clothing worn from the waist to the ankles, co#ering both legs separately ;pants<
:i'%cit#2 li#eliness
-7
The following dance terms and dance steps are basically used in .inislakan, )akuting, )ua2Ku2
)ua, -angalay and Tiklos. Fou are to master all these dance steps which will be used later in your
performance test. )tudy them carefully and demonstrate the dance steps.
Padyak 2 to stamp or tap with one foot and the weight of
the body is on the other foot
Saludo 2 it means to bow
Arms in Lateral Position 2 both arms are in one side at shoulder le#el,
either right or left
Set 2 a dance formation of two or more couples
Bend 2 to mo#e the body or part of the body around wide axis
Leap 2 to spring one foot and land on the other foot