MUSIC

OF
INDONESIA
Prepared By:
MS. TRICIA VIDUYA CAVANES
MUSIC OF INDONESIA
 The Republic of Indonesia is a country in Southeast Asia
and Oceania.
 Indonesia is an archipelago in Southeast Asia.
 Comprised approximately of 17, 500 islands.
 The nation’s capital is Jakarta.
 Indonesia is the nearest to our country among the Asian
nations, thus there are similarities in words and culture.
 The most famous of Indonesia’s islands is the exotic Bali,
known for its captivating art and temples.
 The name Indonesia is derived from the Latin and Greek
Indus, and the Greek nesos, meaning “island”.
VOCAL MUSIC OF INDONESIA
Vocal music is used as ornamentation of the
gamelan.
These are singers who accompany gamelan.
Terms are used to distinguish the singers.
Pasidhen is a female soloist and Gerong is a
group of male chorus.
Both vocals and gamelan have the same
importance in the Indonesia cultures and
traditions.
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
 The Indonesians have very rich form of
music and functioning in varied means of
their lives.
 Their music is one of the most ancient in
Asia and is divided into two major parts, the
Javanese and the Balinese music.
 These two divisions have their own musical
identity, but some are similar in some ways.
 One of these similarities is their
instrumental ensemble of gamelan.
One of these similarities is their
instrumental ensemble of
gamelan.
Metallophones are tuned metal
bars.
Membranophones are drums
covered with animal skin.
 The gamelan is the Indonesians’ most
popular and well-known form of music.
 It is their traditional orchestra.
 It is the largest and most varied gong
ensemble.
 The word “gamelan” came from the
Javanese words gamel (hammer) and
Balinese gambeli (to play musically).
 The Javanese and Balinese both have their own
musical characteristics and functions.
 In Java, music is usually used for court
ceremonies; it is more on percussion instruments
that produce solemn characteristics.
 In Bali, sacred music is used; percussion
instruments are more on metallophones and gongs
with some auxiliary instruments like cymbals
producing very brilliant sounds with a variety of
expressive music elements.
 Java and Bali have almost the same gongs but
vary only in the physical designs of the marker
 This traditional orchestra consists of
pitched percussion instruments of
metallophones, membranophones,
gongs, and spike fiddles.
 It also includes bamboo flutes.
 The number of players ranges from 30
to 50 members.
 The players sit on the floor barefoot
when playing the instruments.
 The major function of gamelan is to accompany
songs, dances, and shadow plays.
 It is usually performed in courts and temples
during rituals and festivities.
 The gamelan orchestra is believed to be sacred
and has supernatural powers.
 The musicians give respect to the instruments by
bowing before playing.
 Stepping over the instruments is considered a sign
of disrespect.
Tuning System The
gamelan instruments are
tuned either in the
slendro (five tones) or the
pelog (seven tones)
scales
INDONESIAN GAMELAN
TUNING SCALE
 SLENDRO – a five
equidistant tones in
octave.
PELOG – a heptatonic
tone scale with semi-
tone.
 POLYPHONIC
STRATIFICATION – is a
kind of melody is a
result of Hocket or
Interlock
 HOCKET – is the
rhythmic linear
technique using the
alternation of notes,
pitches, or chords.
 IRAMA – is an
Indonesian Term for
Tempo.
THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING 
(any question?)
Loving God, thank you
for the joys that today’s
lesson brought to us.
May You bless us, as we
return our studies,
inspire us to take on a
new interest in new
classes and new topics.
Be with us as we
discover old friendships
and start new ones.
amen.