Week 8: Follow-Up

Putting the musical examples into cultural context

Due: March 24

CH 6. Southeast Asia: Indonesia

1. What is a gamelan? (answer both the basics of what comprises one, in terms of
instruments as well as a general characterization of its sound).

- ensemble comprising idiophones (or metallophones) made of bronze or iron with a

variety of hanging gongs, rack gongs, and metal-keyed instruments

- interlocking rhythms in a cyclical structure

- other instruments, flutes, zithers, drums, fiddle called a rebab, vocalists

- two basic styles, “soft”and “strong”

2. What is the basis of gamelan based on in terms of how the musical sound is organized?
Include the various classification of instruments and their functions that make up this
particular rhythmic structure (discussed in the section is on Javanese gamelan, though it
applies to Balinese gamelan as well).

- colotomic structure, i.e., organized into cycles defined by period punctation by a

specific instrument, usually hanging gongs
o principle melody by voices or “melodic” instruments usually the rack gongs
(bonang)the, or the fiddle or bamboo flute
o other rack gongs, metallophones, “embellish the melody” filling in the aural
space and creates its “misty” quality
o the start/stop point of the cucle marked by the largest and deepest pitched
hanging gong (gong ageng)
3. What are the two basic styles of Javanese gamelan? Listen to the “Javanese Court
Gamelan” example in the chapter (CD 1.14). What kind of style(s) are rendered in this
example? How would the listener know which style(s) is/are being performed (as
demonstrated in this audio recording?)
- Characteristically calm, slow-moving choreography as well; soft-style signaled by the
drums; tempo is relatively slow, lots of focus on “quiet” instruments (though there are
“strong” sections too but a lot of focus given to slow and “soft” sections)

4. Listen to the “Balinese Gamelan Gong Kebyar” example (CD 1. 15). Based on your
listening to both traditions, compare Javanese Court Gamelan and Balinese Gamelan,
otherwise known as gamelan gong kebyar. What are some notable differences between
the two traditions, both in terms of cultural and sonic or musical aspects? Be sure to
discuss what is kotekan, the “shimmer effect” of gamelan gong kebyar, and what
“kebyar” means.

- Characteristically has “super-thick” rhythmic density

- Be sure to note that kotekan is not only interlocking melodies but when two players
play the kettle bonang metallaphones to create a rapid, intricate texture that sounds
like the tempo is rendered at a “superhuman speed”
 - “shimmery” effect is not due to kotekan per se, it has more to do with all the paired
metallophones are slightly tuned differently or “off” from one another while playing
identical parts that elaborate on melodies that creates illusion or hypnotic sounds

- “keybar” to “flare up” and “sparkle” due to the eruptive and explosive sounds of this
style compared to Javanese

a. This is an example of Balinese gamelan, extra material:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEWCCSuHsuQ

5. Watch these two video examples of theatrical performances of the Ramayana

accompanied by Balinese gamelan/ gamelan gong kebyar. What is the basic story of the
Ramayana? What are your impressions of the performance, the music and dancing (be
sure to apply your knowledge of techniques of kotekan and shimmer effects)? What is the
character in the first performance called?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5O8gnQh5Po

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGJKpgspI0w

Also, note that the Ramayana/Ramakien is also about the feats of Sita--Rama's wife who
gets kidnapped by Ravana and his entourage. Then there is Hanuman and his army on the
side of Siva who helps Rama and his brother rescue her. But then there is a situation in
which Rama doesn't know if Sita's virtue has been kept pure while she was kidnapped
and she shows her true devotion by self-immolation. Quite the story, indeed. And there
are different endings to the story depending on which region is referred, i.e., Indian
version Sita is not able to return due to the need to protect the status and purity of the
kingdom due to rumors of her defilement; Indonesian version Sita returns

6. What is wayang kulit? Watch these two short videos of wayang kulit performances. Who
is the dalang? Describe three distinctive features of the art form in terms of musical and
visual art.

- shadow puppetry, dalang is the shadow puppet master who orates the story, sings,
directs others in the live performance

- accompanied by gamelan ensemble

- usually depicts Hindu epics such as Ramayana; way for communities, especially
illiterate to learn about morality, truth claims, cultural beliefs

- materials are hand-crafted, carvings made of raw hide, painted, but only see the
shadow and not the painted objects
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfydro4X2t0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kAN03LmM2o

7. Indonesia has one of the most active punk rock scenes in the world. Watch at least half of
this documentary. What are three things that you learned about Indonesian punk rock
music depicted in this documentary?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTltWgqC7VU

8. Voice of Baceprot, or VoB, is a popular heavy metal all-female band of Indonesia that is
receiving international recognition (such as the world’s most prestigious metal festival
competition, Wacken in Germany). Choose one of their tracks and describe your
impressions of their music:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aZX-C8HKJc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjmcZfOlopU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB4jWt46DtE

9. Dangdut is popular music genre of Indonesia (see Supplemental Readings for more on
dangdut and nationalism/ national populism). Middle and higher-class Indonesians have
criticized dangdut and lewd lower-class crass music but it also has become the “People’s
Music” of Indonesia.

Listen to these examples. (Rhoma Irama is a legendary musician; one example includes
one of his recent recordings) What instruments do you hear that are quintessential in
dangdut today (the chapter I posted on Blackboard provides information regarding
instruments)? What are some of your impressions (don’t need to write about each one;
your overall impression)?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8Q0uCfAvh0&list=PL6huJ3NiCUtfc-
ECne_EUOz8mLjCXWLmR&index=3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvMwoRFM8_E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSQYbjCeO5I

(see lyrics below for this track above, “Sakit Gigi” to get an idea of typical dangdut
lyrics, which are according to ethnomusicologist Jeremy Wallach “while not exactly
mirroring colloquial Indonesian speech patterns, are written in concise, direct language that
 frequently incorporates well-known sayings, proverbs, and clichés to poignant or humorous
effect, not unlike the lyrics of many American country and western songs” (2014: 274)
“Sakit Gigi”

LYRICS:

My love has broken up again

Putus lagi cintaku

Broken love relationship again

Putus lagi jalinan kasih

I love him
Sayangku dengannya

Just because of the rupiah

Cuma kar'na rupiah

Then you turn your face away

Lalu engkau berpaling muka

Don't want to look anymore

Tak mau menatap lagi
Disappointed, disappointed in my heart
Kecewa, kecewa hatiku

Wounded by love
Terluka karena cinta
If it catches fire
Kalau terbakar api

If it gets pricked by a thorn, maybe

Kalau tertusuk duri mungkin

I can still bear it

Masih dapat kutahan

But this hurts, it hurts more

Tapi ini sakit, lebih sakit

Disappointed in love
Kecewa karena cinta
Never mind me
Jangankan diriku

Even ants are angry

Semut pun 'kan marah

When it hurts too much like this

Bila terlalu sakit begini
Rather than heartache
Daripada sakit hati

It's better to have this toothache

Lebih baik sakit gigi ini

Come on, it's okay

Biar, tak mengapa

Willing, willing, willing, I'm willing

Rela, rela, rela, aku relakan

Willing, willing, willing, I'm willing

Rela, rela, rela, aku rela
If it catches fire
Kalau terbakar api

If it gets pricked by a thorn, maybe

Kalau tertusuk duri mungkin

I can still bear it

Masih dapat kutahan

But this hurts, it hurts more

Tapi ini sakit, lebih sakit

Disappointed in love
Kecewa karena cinta
Never mind me
Jangankan diriku

Even ants are angry

Semut pun 'kan marah

When it hurts too much like this

Bila terlalu sakit begini
Rather than heartache
Daripada sakit hati

It's better to have this toothache

Lebih baik sakit gigi ini
Come on, it's okay
Biar, tak mengapa

Willing, willing, willing, I'm willing

Rela, rela, rela, aku relakan

Willing, willing, willing, I'm willing

Rela, rela, rela, aku rela
If it catches fire
Kalau terbakar api

If it gets pricked by a thorn, maybe

Kalau tertusuk duri mungkin

I can still bear it

Masih dapat kutahan

But this hurts, it hurts more

Tapi ini sakit, lebih sakit

Disappointed in love
Kecewa karena cinta
Disappointed in love
Kecewa karena cinta

Disappointed in love
Kecewa karena cinta

10. What is kecak? And what are your impressions of this video example of it (do aspects
remind you of gamelan? If so which aspects?

- “monkey chant” that is often performed for tourists in Bali, depicting scenes from the
Ramayana of the monkey soldiers who fight alongside their leader Hanuman in a
battle of good versus evil, to assist Rama, his brother, to rescue Sita. And “kecak” is
an onomatopoeia for the sounds the performers make in their interlocking chants,
rhythmically interlocking as in gamelan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjd78XHZazY