Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Region XIII-CARAGA REGION
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF SURIGAO DEL SUR
CARRASCAL NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Nat’l. Highway Gamuton, Carrascal, Surigao del Sur

GRADE LEVEL: Grade – 8 MAPEH DISCIPLINE: MUSICAL THEATER AND FESTIVALS

OF ASIA
SUBJECT AREA: MAPEH – MUSIC TOPIC : KABUKI THEATER
QUARTER: FOURTH WEEK : 1

What is it?
Traditional Asian Theatre Music: “Japanese Theatre”
The traditional form of popular theatre began at the end of the 16th century and soon became the most
successful theatre entertainment in the red light districts of the great cities. Together with N ōh, it is
considered the most important Japanese contribution to World Theatre. Both Nōh and kabuki are unique and
genuine expressions of the Japanese spirit and culture. They mirror, however, taste and ideals of different
social classes, in profoundly different environments and epochs.
Kabuki combines music, drama, and dance. It uses
wild costumes and intense choreography. Until the
1680s, real swords were used in sword fights. Kabuki
grew out of opposition to the staid traditions of Noh
theatre— dramatists wanted to shock the audience with
more lively and timely stories. Tradition has it that
kabuki was first performed by Okunis in 1603. Like
Noh, however, Kabuki also became a stylized,
regimented art form and is still performed in the same
fashion.

Vocal Pattern and Techniques:

1) Ipponchōshi or the continuous pattern - used in speeches building up to an explosive climax in the
aragoto(oversize, supernatural, rough hero) style, it requires an extraordinary breath control that only few
experts succeed in achieving.
2) Nori technique - adapted from the chanting of jōruri, implies a very sensitive capacity of riding the
rhythms of the shamisen (string instrument), declaiming each accompaniment.
3) Yakuharai technique - the subtle delivery of poetical text written in the Japanese
metrical form of alternating seven and five syllables.

Vocal and Instrumental Features

Dances and movements are accompanied by shamisen music which collected and popularized a
number of aspects from all previous forms of Japanese music, from gagaku (classic court music imported
from China during the 18th century), kagura (performed in Shinto shrines), nō (chant derives from shōmyō,
the sophisticated and rich tradition of Buddhist chanting), down to the folk songs and fashionable songs of
the day. The most popular shamisen music was called nagauta (long song) which reached a a golden age in
the
first half of the 19th century as dance music for the henge mono or quick change pieces.
Naugata music is very flexible, can be performed by one shamisen or by an entire orchestra of twenty
musicians, of which ten are shamisen players, while others play flutes (fue taken from the nō) and drums
(small drum-kotsuzumi; waist drum- ōtsuzumi; stick drumtaiko).

SHAMISEN
The shamisen or samisen, also sangen, both words mean ("three strings"), is a
three-stringed traditional Japanese musical instrument derived fromthe Chinese
instrument sanxian. It is played with a plectrum called a bachi.
 FUE
A parallel, bamboo flute (fue) is the only melodic instrument used in noh.
It is played in both congruent and non-congruent rhythmic styles in
entrance music and instrumental dances. ... It also plays in free rhythm
(ashirai) along with the chanted text to heighten or expand emotion.

TAIKO
A Japanese drum that comes in various sizes and is used to play a variety
of musical genres.

KOTSUZUMI and OTSUZUMI

They are used in both noh and kabuki performances. The kotsuzumi is held on the right shoulder and the
player alters the tone by squeezing the laces. The otsuzumi is placed on the left thigh.

Activity 1

Directions: Fill in the blanks with the correct answer. Choose your answer in the box below.

Activity 2
Directions: Fill out the concept map with words that describe Kabuki theatre.
https://restaurants-guide.tokyo/column/traditional-musical-instruments-of-japan/
 What is it
Loi Loi Gratong is an example of a folksong from Thailand. Visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=xpTrxPtLfIQ to watch the video presentation or listen to the sample music provided.
Chan Mali Chan is a widely known folk song attributed to both Malaysia and Singapore. It is a cheeky,
flirtatious love song, which has gained standing as one of the traditional “national” songs of both countries. Visit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgbGiZUikvkt to watch the video presentation or listen to the sample music
provided.
Ru Con is a Vietnamese folk song. Visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLv4YmDCNfo to watch the
video presentation or listen to the sample music provided.

Do this!
Activity 1

Directions: Identify ways of producing sounds on a variety of sources that would simulate instruments being
studied?
Characteristics
Chan Mali Chan Ru Con

Activity 2

Directions : After performing, watching the video presentation and listening to the sample music provided by your
teacher to answer the question given below. Write your answers in your notebook.

1. Describe the voice quality.

2. How was the music performed?
3. Is the performance style effective in bringing about the message?
4. How were the varied musical elements used in bringing about the message of the music?

Activity 3
Directions: Write in each box the characteristics that the Chan Mali Chan and Ru Con music can relate South Asian
music to the lives of the people.
Relate South Asian music to the lives of the Relate South Asian music to the lives of the
people. people.
 Gamelan Kulintang
below. Gamelan below. Gamelan

Functions Functions

Tuning Tuning
System System

Religious Religious
Belief Belief

Checked and Reviewed by: Validated by:

Prepared by :
PERFECTO L. ERNO II External Validator
DIA ANGELICA T. YBAÑEZ Subject Coordinator
Subject Teacher

Approved by:

FLUELLEN L.COS, PhD

Principal IV
 Activity 2 :

Direction: In your notebook, write words that describe Southeast Asian music that starts with the letters
spelling out Southeast Asia.

S _____________________________________________________________
O_____________________________________________________________
U_____________________________________________________________
T_____________________________________________________________
H_____________________________________________________________
E_____________________________________________________________
A_____________________________________________________________
S_____________________________________________________________
T_____________________________________________________________

A_____________________________________________________________
S_____________________________________________________________
I_____________________________________________________________
A_____________________________________________________________

Assessment :

Direction: Write in a one whole sheet of paper.

- Give at least 3 musical influences from Southeast Asian music to Filipino culture.
- Write perception about Southeast Asian music to lives of people.
Prepared by : Checked and Reviewed by:
Validated by:
DIA ANGELICA T. YBAÑEZ PERFECTO L. ERNO II
External Validator
Subject Teacher Subject Coordinator

Approved by:

FLUELLEN L.COS, PhD

Principal IV

Cambodia is one of the beautiful countries in Southeast Asia. It

is also known as Kâmpŭchéa. The Pinpeat is a Cambodian musical
Abstraction :
ensemble or an orchestra that usually accompanies ceremonial music
of the royal courts and temples. Music is always part of their court
dances, masked plays, shadow plays, and religious ceremonies.

Indonesia It is an archipelago in Southeast Asia comprising

approximately 17,500 islands. Today the contemporary music of
Indonesia is popular not only in the region but also in the neighboring
countries. Vocal music is used as ornamentation of the Gamelan. It is as
important as gamelan.

The music of Myanmar (or Burma) has similarities with many

other musical traditions in the region, including Chinese music and Thai
music probably because its longest land border is shared with China.
The Hsaing Waing is Myanmar’s traditional folk music ensemble. It is
made up mainly of different gongs and drums as well as other
instruments depending on the nature of the performance.

Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy in Southeast Asia.

Malaysian Musical Instruments:
Agung and Kulintang- used in funerals and weddings in East Malaysia. i
Kertok - xylophones played swiftly and rhythmically in traditional Malay
functions.A musical ensemble from the Malay Peninsula that c
Dikir Barat - It is a type of musical form that is important to Malaysia’s Southeast Asian
national culture. Country
Silat Melayu - This is a form of martial art that is similar to t’ai chi.

Thailand has 3 primary instrumental ensembles that are similar to the

other ensembles in Southeast Asia.
Piphat - It is a mid-sized orchestra that is performed in either outdoor
style with hard mallets or indoor style with padded mallets.
Khrueang Sai – It is an orchestra that combines some of the percussion
and wind instruments of the Piphat with and expanded string section.
Mahori – This ensemble is traditionally played by women in the courts of
Central Thailand and Cambodia.

Laos This country is an independent state of Southeast Asia and

officially known as Lao People’s Democratic Republic. It is formerly part of
the Indochinese Union, also known as French Indochina. Wat Pha That
Luang, Vientiane is one of its famous landmarks. The classical music and
dance of Laos is highly influences by the India, Cambodia, and Thailand.

Vietnam Vietnam is officially known as the Socialist Republic of