9

MUSIC STUDY NOTES GRADE 8

First Quarter
Lesson 1: The Music of Indonesia

Objectives
The learner will be able to:
1. Explain how the music of Indonesia relates to its geography and culture
2. Listen perceptively to the music of Indonesia
3. Explore ways of producing sounds on a variety of sources that would simulate instruments being
studied.
Indonesia is located along the equator , Southwest of the Philippines. Like the Philippines, Indonesia is
an archipelago with thousands of island serving as home to different indigenous communities.
• Is also a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) Indonesia has a rich
culture that is greatly influenced by religion.
• The dance dramas of the Java and Bali are taken from Hindu mythology and epics such as The
Ramayana and Mahabharata. These dance dramas are accompanied by a musical ensemble called
the Gamelan.
The rich culture of Mahabharata and Ramayana
he Mahabharata is an ancient Indian epic where the main story revolves around two branches of a family - the
Pandavas and Kauravas - who, in the Kurukshetra War, battle for the throne of Hastinapura.
Born during an age when the demon Ravana terrorized the world, Rama is the virtuous, wise, and powerful
prince of Ayohya. As a young man, he is able to accomplish what no other man has ever done: he lifts and
strings the bow of Siva, and by doing so he earns the right to marry the beautiful Sita.

Borobudur located in java Indonesia

It is the world largest buddhist temple The Temple of Borobudur or sometimes "Barabudur" is a Mahayana
Buddhist temple located close to Muntilan on the island of Java in Indonesia.

Wayang Kulit Discuss the rich culture of Indonesian theater arts

Wayang Kulit is Indonesian shadow puppets. Wayang means puppet and kulit means leather.

Vertical hanging gong This set of the gong is one of the fundamental units of the ensemble. These gongs
are used to mark the beginning and the end of a certain piece
 The instruments of Balinese gamelan

Gong ageng

• This set is the largest among the hanging gongs. It creates a low pitch, very deep sound.
Gong siyem

(also called gong suwukan) These are the medium-sized hanging gongs they have a higher pitch than the
gong ageng.

Kempul
these are small hanging gongs with a set of pitch depending on the scale used.

Kenong
Is there similarities and differences between the Kempul and kenong on how it produced the sounds.
The kettle gongs
• These gongs subdivide the melody into several musical phrases.

Kenong- This is a small, deep-tuned gong used as a punctuating instrument. These gongs are placed on
racks suspended by cords. The musician sits in the middle of the gongs, which contain all the pitches of the
two scales.

Kethuk & Kempyang

Kethuk

This is a single kettle gong played in different ways depending on the speed of the music. Unlike the other
gongs, it does not resonate, instead, it gives out a “thuk” sound, hence its name.

Kempyang
This is a set of two kettle gongs set to a higher pitch than that of the kethuk. Unlike the kethuk, however, the
kempyang is allowed to ring, thus producing a “pyang” sound.

Bonang panerus

• It is the higher octave set of bonang barung. It plays a fast melodic pattern based on the melody that
the bonang barung plays.

Saron demung

This is the biggest and the lowest sounding member of the saron family of instruments. It has six or seven
thick metallic keys resting over a resonator.
The metallophones

• These instruments help in playing the melodic parts of the gamelan.

a resonator.
Gender Slenthem

It is encased in a wooden frame, and it has six or seven wide and thin metal keys suspended by a string over
tuned bamboo or metal tubes, which function as resonators.

Gender Barung
• It has 12-14 narrow and thin metal keys. It plays a pitch which is an octave higher than the gender
slenthem.

Gambang kayu

This is a xylophone with 17-23 keys resting on a wooden resonator.

Zithers- These are the class of stringed instruments in the gamelan. Like the metallophones, they
enhance the melody of the ensemble.
Zithers

These are the class of stringed instruments in the gamelan. Like the metallophones, they enhance the melody of
the ensemble.
Siter

• It is a small zither also angled and resting on the floor. It has 10-26 metal strings. It complements the
celempung.

Rebab
• It is classified as a spike fiddle with two strings. One string is wrapped around a peg at the lower
end, providing two playing filaments tuned a fifth apart, with a small wooden resonator covered by
a membrane. Rebab is played vertically.

Aerophones
• It is an end-blown bamboo flute. It is similar to the suling of Maguindanao. The suling is usually
played freely, but it is often played at the end of each melodic phrase.

Percussion instruments
• These instruments usually set the timing or pace of the melody.

Kendhang gendhing
• it is the largest hand played drum with two heads placed on opposite ends of a barrel-shaped shell.

Kendhang ciblon
• It is a middle-sized barrel-shaped drum. Used to accentuate the movements of the dancer, the ciblon is
where the most complex drum patterns in the ensemble are played.
• It is the smallest barrel-shaped drum. It is played along with the kendhang gendhing.
Bedhug
• It is a large stick-beaten barrel drum, with heads placed on the cylindrical body suspended in a
wooden frame. The bed hug is occasionally played with other drums to accompany a dance. It is also
played to welcome guests.

Javanese gamelan instruments

2 most popular gamelan musical styles

• Javanese gamelan- is said to be more refined, mellow, soft, and connected. Because of this, the
Javanese gamelan is more traditional and is the style often played in palaces and temples.
2 basic styles of Javanese gamelan

• Soft- it has a mellow and tranquil quality

• Strong type has a bold quality to it.

The Balinese gamelan

Balinese gamelan
• It is very rhythmic and vigorous in style. The gongs used in this style sound bright and are very
percussive. It gives the Balinese gamelan it is more contemporary feel, Also, Balinese gamelan music
produces a “shimmering effect,” Which is produced by using identical instruments that are slightly tuned
apart
• The melody of the Balinese gamelan does not repeat throughout a continuous cycle.

Gamelan tuning
• Slendro- five tones with near equidistant intervals, notated as 1,2,3,5,6
• Pelog- seven tones consisting of large and small intervals notated as 1,2,3,4,5,6,7

Prepared by: Sylvia P. Samson