Grade 8 MUSIC | 4th Quarter |

MUSICAL ELEMENTS IN WAYANG KULIT

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The puppeteer is called the dalang. He is chacterized by his being creative, humorous,
And flexible. The dalang manipulates the puppets, sings, and taps out signals to the orchestra.
He also speaks the parts of all the characters. The use of voice interchangeably is the main
ability of a dalang to give more life to different characters.

The Gamelan Orchestra plays a vital accompaniment for wayang kulit performance. The
ensemble is composed mainly by bronze percussion instruments augmented by other
percussion instruments, strings, and a flute. Music supports the all-night performanc, though
the number of instruments that play may vary. Gamelan serves both musical and dramatic
functions -- music sets the mood, interprets, and reinforces various aspects of the dalang’s
narrative. The entrances and exits of particular characters to the stage, journeys, battles,
and narrations are accompanied by musical compositions
of various lengths. At certain junctures of the play, the
dalang chants or sings songs to set the mood of the scene,
which is accompanied by soft- sounding instruments.
The most important for wayang kulit is the gendér. This
metallophone accompanies all narratives and musical
compositions. Because of the importance of this instrument,
it is always positioned directly behind the dalang.
Another essential to wayang performance is the
kendhang, a drum. The kendhang sets the tempo
of the music and the puppets’ dances. Tempo
signifies dramatic action: loud, accelerated music
bolsters the intensity of the drama, whereas soft
music, with a slow tempo, serves as background
music for the dalang’s narration or an important
character’s recitation. Changes in the tempo are led
by the kendhang when the drummer receives a cue
from the dalang. ;

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 Grade 8 MUSIC | 4th Quarter |
MUSICAL ELEMENTS IN WAYANG KULIT
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This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

Aside from kendhang and gender, a full gamelan ensemble consists of saron, a xylophone of heavy
bronze bars; bonang, a set of bronze bowls; gong and kempul, hanging gongs; kenong and ketuk
are single inverted bronze bowls; gambang, a wooden xylophone; rebab, a two-stringed fiddled
instrument; suling, a flute; and tjelempung, a zither of thirteen strings.

Activity No.3.1

1. LADANG is the puppeteer in Wayang kulit performance.

2. DENGER is the most important instrument in wayang performance.
3. MAGELAN musical ensemble that accompanies the wayang kulit performance.
4. HEDSINPEN the female soloist singer in wayang kulit.
5. NGAYAW LITUK Indonesian shadow puppet theater.

Activity 3.2 Supply the missing letters to complete the name of the instrument.

1. ___ _E_ ___ _A ___

2. ___ _L_ _I_ G

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 Grade 8 MUSIC | 4th Quarter |
MUSICAL ELEMENTS IN WAYANG KULIT
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3. E N A G

4. O N A

6. E D E

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 Grade 8 MUSIC | 4th Quarter |
MUSICAL ELEMENTS IN WAYANG KULIT
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Activity 3.3
1. The Gamelan orchestra is important to the Wayang performance because

2. The instruments plays a vital role in Wayang Kulit because

3. Music play an important role in everyones’ life because

Reference:

http://online.internationalfolkart.org/dancingshadows/performance/gamelan. Accessed 27 April 2021.