Music of

Indonesia
Lesson #1
Grade 8
Borobudur Temple in Indonesia
Indonesian Culture
• Influenced by the Eastern
traditions like :
• Shamanism
• Buddhism
• Hinduism
• Islam
• Through trade and conflicts, the
Indonesians came into contact with the :
• Chinese
• Indians
• Arabs
• Portuguese
• Dutch
• English traders explorers and colonizers
• This interaction with other cultures has brought about a wide range
of musical styles in Indonesian music.
 Indonesia

• Largest archipelago in the world consisting

of more than 13,000 island.
• It is composed of island groups of Java,
Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Nusa
Tenggara and Indian Barat.
• Ethnically diverse in population with
around 300 ethnic groups speaking 250
languages.
• Bahasa Indonesia is their common
language.
• Indonesian musical culture started as
1000 A.D. When a number of Hindu-
Indonesian flourished.
• During this period, Indian music, literature
and system of government were infused in
the Indonesian culture.
• Music is a means to facilitate their rites
and rituals, to express oneself, to
communicate and to accompany songs,
dances and even theatrical performances
like the Wayang Kulit.
• Music is associated with death, marriage,
birth and religious beliefs.
• It is a way to relieve the boredom of
everyday life as people tend to flock to places
where the Gamelan is featured or played.
• Music is a medium of expression for the
Indonesian artists.
• They bring forth in their music their feelings,
thoughts, ideas and ideals about themselves,
the society, God and their world.
Elements of Traditional
Indonesian Music

• Indonesian music is based on two

kinds of scale patterns:
• Slendro – five-tone scale pattern
• Pelog – seven-tone scale pattern
 The Indonesian scales use the
cipher notation system
• Slendro

number/cipher 1 2 3 5 6
notation
tone Barang Gulu Dhada Lima Nam
titilaras ji ro lu ma nem
(siji) (loro) (telu) (lima) (enem)
• Pelog
number/cipher 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
notation
tone Penunggul Gulu Dhada Pelog Lima Nam Barang
titilaras ji ro lu pat ma nem pitu
(siji) (loro) (telu) (papat) (lima) (enem)
• Indonesian scale patterns also have
modes called pathets

• Slendro
• slendro pathet nem (lowest mode)
• slendro pathet sanga (medium high)
• slendro pathet manyura (highest mode)
• The Pelog also has modes.
• Pelog Pathet Lima (lowest)
• Pelog Pathet Nem (medium high)
• Pelog Pathet Barang (highest)
 Iram
a
• is a musical concept that pertains
to the melodic tempo
• It is determined by the number of
repetitions made into the
balungan or core melody which is
often played on the saron
parenus
 Vocal Music
• Used to ornament the Gamelan music.
• Pesindhen - female soloist are often
compared to the sound of the instrument
called suling or the ribbon flute.
• Gerong – male chorus
• Gerong Bandayan – mixed chorus
• Work as ornamentals of the melody
originating from the 2-stringed instrument
called rebab
 Musical Instruments
• Gamelan
• Is a musical ensemble composed of
gong chimes, bronze gong, drums,
flutes and metallophones.
• It is usually performed in Indonesian
courts and in temples.
• It is used to accompany songs, dances,
and the shadow puppet form called
“Wayang Kulit”
 2 Types of Gamelan in Indonesia

A. Balinese Gamelan
 Composed of mostly gongs and metallophones.
 The manner of playing is characterized by the
sudden change of tempo and dynamics.
 The bright sound of the metallophones makes the
sound of the Balinese Gamelan different from the
Javanese Gamelan.
 Use of fast rattling cymbals.
• B. Javanese Gamelan
is percussion dominated particularly by the
gongs and the metallophones.
Gong ageng is the main spirit of the
Javanese Gamelan
2 Ways of playing the Javanese
Gamelan
Loud style with emphasis on the bronze
instruments
Soft style which is played using the flute,
rebab and the calempung
 Gamelan Musicians

• Observe a deep reverence towards the

different instruments of the
ensemble.
• They believe that Gamelan has
supernatural powers and is therefore
sacred.
• They prepare offerings and burn
incense periodically
• They observed proper etiquette when
the are near the instruments. They do
not step or pass over it.
• They go around them and even bend
low and mumble words of respect and
courtesy when they pass by them.
• They bow down on the instruments
before playing them.
 Instruments in the Gamelan

• Saron
• Bronze metallophone placed over a box
resonator. It is played with a bone
mallet called tabuh
• Gambang Kayu
It is a xylophone made of wood.
This instrument uses a box resonator
like a metallophone. It is played by
striking the wooden keys with padded
mallets.
Gender
The instrument
is made of
thin bronze
keys of fine
alloy that are
hung by
strings over a
tube resonator.
Slenthem
It is made from thin bronze keys of
fine alloy. It
is played by using only 1 stick.
Bonang
These are knobbed gongs placed on ropes
that are attached to a wooden frame.
These are struck with two padded sticks.
It is used to mark the time in gamelan
Gong Ageng
This is the most
prominent knobbed
gongs in the
ensemble. It hangs
at the back of the
ensemble where it
resonates its deep
sound.
THANK YOU..
MAY GOD BLESS YOU!