Global sound Bites - PowerPoint Presentation

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Global sound Bites~ A listening perspective on world cultures ~

BALINESE

GAMELAN

MUSICSlide2

Gamelan – What is it?Traditional Indonesian musical ensemble, mainly in Bali and Java Consists of following instruments: metallophones, xylophones, kendang (drums), gongs, bamboo flutes, bowed and plucked stringsOf special consideration are the metallophones and gongs as highly developed percussion instruments made of bronze / metal are featured prominently in the indigenous music of Southeast AsiaSlide3

Gamelan – What is it?Slide4

Gamelan – How is it notated?Traditionally, no notation and learnt through oral traditionHowever, in modern times kepatihan notation is usedIn this notation, the pitches corresponding to a particular note / “bar” on the metallophones are numberedSlide5

Gamelan – Commonly used pitchesRecall – Major and/or Minor scale in Western MusicMajor pentatonic scale in Chinese Guqin music and minor pentatonic scale in Japanese Shakuhachi musicIn both Balinese and Javanese Gamelan music, the slendro and pelog scales are usedSlide6

Gamelan – Commonly used pitchesSlendro scale, an approximation using Western notation Pelog scale, , an approximation using Western notation Usually, only 5 pitches are used. Slide7

Gamelan Music – Musical EssentialsWestern Music – Focus is on HarmonyRecall 12-bar blues – Bass progression (foundation of Harmony) is the “identity” and “driving force”Gamelan Music – Focus is on interlocking units (melodic motifs) and “adding layers” (“layers” of melodies at “different speeds”) to produce a coherent wholeReflects the societal emphasis on the community rather than the individualBalinese Gamelan musicians relish practising hard to be able to change the tempo (speed) and dynamics suddenly as an ensembleSlide8

Gamelan Music – An example of a notated scoreSlide9
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