FIRST QUARTER

SOUTHEAST ASIAN MUSIC

School-Year: 2019-2020 Ref: Music and Arts 8 LM, Wikipedia,
Total Number of Meetings: 8 Honing Your Skills through MAPEH 8

CAMBODIA music is a conglomeration of Asian influences. Its musical principles and

elements are basically derived from Chinese music, while its musical
Cambodia is one of the most beautiful countries in Southeast instruments are inspired from the Indian and Indonesian strings and
Asia. It is also known as Kâmpŭchéa. It was the center of the Khmer gong-chimes. The Thais combined and adapted these to their culture
(Cambodian) kingdom of Angkor, a great empire that dominated and created their own unique music.
Southeast Asia for 600 years. Their music gained a world-wide Music is theoretically based on the five-tone or seven-tone
reputation in the 1960s until the dramatic political problems in scale system. It is not only confined to the royal courts but is also used
Cambodia. extensively in dance, theatre, and in ceremonies. Thai folk music
Art music is highly influenced by ancient forms as well as consists of simple songs with simple melodic lines. Its main focus in
Hindu forms. Cambodian court music is roughly similar to that of Java, singing is the articulation of the text rather than the style or technique of
Indonesia. They feature choruses with large orchestras based on struck execution.
keys and gongs. Cambodian people also absorbed and adopted Indian, Songs of Thailand have inherently poetic lyrics which allow a
Chinese, European, and other cultures to suit their own traditions and singer or performer to easily define the melodic lines. It provides the
tastes that resulted in a distinct Cambodian culture. singer the opportunity to improvise song text to suit the given occasion.
The Pinpeat is a Cambodian musical ensemble or an The interpretation of a singer gives meaning to the sacred and spiritual
orchestra that usually accompanies ceremonial music of the royal essence of songs with free rhythm while melodies may either be
courts and temples. Music is always part of their court dances, masked interpreted or written in the high or low register with long or short
plays, shadow plays, and religious ceremonies. This group is similar to durations. Thailand has three primary instrumental ensembles that are
the Piphat ensemble of Thailand and usually consists of nine or ten similar to the other ensembles in Southeast Asia.
instruments.
1. Piphat - It is a mid-sized orchestra that is performed in either outdoor
ONEAT xylophones (idiophone) style with hard mallets or indoor style with padded mallets. This
ensemble has different types but the highly ornate one is traditionally
SAMPHOR a double-headed drum played with hands associated with funerals and cremation ceremonies. Other versions of
membranophone the Piphat ensemble are used to accompany specific forms of traditional
Thai drama such as the large shadow puppet theatre (nang yai) and the
KONGVONG gong circles (idiophone) khon dance drama.
CHING finger cymbals (idiophone) 2. Khrueang Sai – It is an orchestra that combines some of the
percussion and wind instruments of the Piphat with an expanded string
SKORTHOM two big drums similar to Japanese section. This group is primarily used for indoor performances and for
(membranophone) the accompaniment of stick-puppet theater.

3. Mahori – This ensemble is traditionally played by women in the courts

LAOS of Central Thailand and Cambodia. Because of this, instruments for this
This country is an independent state of Southeast Asia and ensemble are historically smaller. However, regular-sized instruments
officially known as Lao People’s Democratic Republic. It is formerly part are used today. A vocalist performing with the Mahori is usually
of the Indochinese Union, also known as French Indochina. Wat Pha accompanied by the so sam sai.
That Luang, Vientiane is one of its famous landmarks.
The classical music and dance of Laos is highly influences by So Sam Sai is a traditional bowed string instrument of
India, Cambodia, and Thailand. Themes are drawn from Hindu Thailand. Its body is made from a coconut that has three
mythology, the Buddhist Jatakatales, and local legends. lobes. The coconut is cut in half vertically and the shape is
The royal entourage of Lao kings traditionally included reminiscent of the silhouette of an elephant’s head.
musicians, and a typical orchestra improvised songs with sets of tuned
gongs, xylophones, a bamboo flute, and other wind instruments. The Loi Loi Krathong
Lao orchestra can be divided into two categories: A traditional folk song of Thailand. Loi / Loy literally means 'to
float,' while krathong refers to the lotus-shaped receptacle which can
float on the water. Originally, the krathong was made of banana leaves
1. Sep Nyai - This is similar to the Piphat of Thailand with instruments or the layers of the trunk of a banana tree or a spider lily plant. The
that are strictly percussive but also integrates the use of an oboe. construction of colorful boats was a way of not only giving thanks for the
abundance of water, but also a way to seek forgiveness for overuse and
2. Sep Noi – This is also known as the Mahori of Thailand. However, it pollution. Today, Loy Krathong is a way for people to make a wish and
incorporates the use of several Khene which is a large bamboo mouth look toward the future.
organ and is the most popular folk music instrument of Laos.

Traditional music, called Mor lam, is largely based around the khene MALAYSIA
Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy in Southeast Asia. It is
divided into two regions:
THAILAND
Formerly known as Siam, Thailand is known for being the sole 1. West Malaysia – also known as Peninsular Malaysia
nation in Southeast Asia that has never been ruled by a Western power. 2. East Malaysia consists of thirteen states and three federal territories.
It is for this reason that the country is also called “Muang Thai,” which Chinese and Indian cultural influences made their mark when trade
means “Land of the Free.” History and geography indicates that Thai

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began in the country. Trading also increased when immigrants flocked unknown to the Maluku Islands. Some of the Indonesians and
to Malaysia. Malaysians have once fought because of this.
Controversy over the song's provenance came to a head in
The country is multi-ethnic and multi-cultural, which plays a 2007 when the Malaysian Tourism Board released the Rasa Sayang
large role in developing their culture. The constitution declares Islam the Commercial, an advertisement used as part of Malaysia's "Truly Asia"
state religion while protecting freedom of religion. tourism campaign. Some Indonesians have accused Malaysia of
heritage theft. Malaysia in return claimed that the song belongs to
Multi-racial groups that influenced Malaysia’s music genre: people of Maritime Southeast Asia, Malaysians and Indonesians alike.
Malaysian Tourism Minister Adnan Mansor stated, "It is a folk song from
1. Malay 5. Dayak the Nusantara and we are part of the Nusantara."
2. Chinese 6. Kadazandusun Nusantara is the Malay/Indonesian name of Maritime
3. Indian 7. Eurasians Southeast Asia. It is a Javanese term which literally means
4. Iban "archipelago" in Old Javanese. In Indonesia it is generally taken to
mean the Indonesian archipelago, while in Malaysia the term has been
Malaysian music is largely based around percussion adopted to mean the Malay Archipelago.
instruments. It has multi-cultural influence and is believed to have
originated in the Kelantan-Pattani region with a mixture of Indian,
Chinese, Thai, and Indonesian influences.
INDONESIA
Indonesia is an archipelago in Southeast Asia comprising
approximately 17,500 islands. With over 238 million people, Indonesia
The music of Malaysia may be categorized into two types: is the world's fourth most populous country and is the fourth biggest
1. Classical and Folk music emerged during the pre-colonial period and nation of the world. Through interaction with other cultures such as
still exists in the form of vocal, dance, and theatrical music. Indian, Arabic, Chinese and European, a wide range of musical styles
has been developed. Today the contemporary music of Indonesia is
2. Syncretic or Acculturated music developed during the post- popular not only in the region but also in the neighboring countries.
Portuguese period (16th century). It contains elements from both local Traditional Javanese legends tells that music began when the
music and foreign elements of Arabian, Persian, Indian, Chinese, and Hindu god Shiva ordered the making of genta keleng, form of gongs, to
Western musical and theatrical sources. be used as signaling instruments. This led to the creation of an
ensemble of meal percussion instruments known as the Javanese
Malaysian Musical Instruments Gamelan.
Musical instruments of Malaysia are greatly associated with their culture
and roots. Due to colonization, the stages of development of Malaysian Gamelan orchestras - are used to accompany dances, songs, and
instruments are great. They share some common features with Indian Wayang Kulit ; are believed to possess supernatural powers; consider
musical instruments. After the colonization of Malaysia by the British, their instruments sacred, therefore stepping over the instrument is a
the musical development was influenced by Western music. sign of disrespect; musicians bow before playing the instruments to
show respect .
Musical ensembles and types of performances in Malaysia:
There are two basic kinds of Indonesian music scale:
1. Agung and Kulintang
This is a gong-based musical ensemble commonly used in Slendro – five (5) equidistant tones in octave.
funerals and weddings in East Malaysia. This type of ensemble is Pelog – heptatonic (7) tone scale with semi tone
similar to the kulintang of the Philippines, Brunei, and Indonesia.
Both vocal and instrumental music in Indonesia use slendro
2. Kertok and peloq scales. Polyphonic stratification kind of melody is a result of
This is a musical ensemble from the Malay Peninsula that hocket/Interlock. Interlocking is a common technique used in gong
consists of xylophones played swiftly and rhythmically in traditional ensembles.
Malay functions.
Irama – is an Indonesian term for tempo.
3. Dikir Barat
This is a type of musical form that is important to Malaysia’s The Gamelan or Gamelan orchestra is the most popular form
national culture. It is performed by singing in groups and often in a of music in Indonesia. There are many types of Gamelan but the famous
competitive manner usually with percussion instrumental Javanese and Balinese Gamelan are the most famous. It contains a
accompaniment or sometimes without instruments at all. variety of instruments such as metallophones, xylophones, kendang
and gongs; bamboo flutes, bowed and plucked strings.
4. Silat Melayu
This is a form of martial art that is similar to t’ai chi. It Vocal music is used as ornamentation of the Gamelan. It is
originated in the Malay Peninsula since the Christian Era and is a as important as gamelan.
mixture of martial arts, dance, and music usually accompanied by
gongs, drums, and Indian oboes. 1. Pesindhen is a female soloist singer who sings with a Gamelan
2. Gerong refers to the unison male chorus that sings with the gamelan
"Rasa Sayang"
(literally "loving feeling") or "Rasa Sayange" (in Indonesia) is Remember:
a Malay folk song popular in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. The Karawitan is the term for every kind of gamelan music in Java.
basis of "Rasa Sayang" is similar to Dondang Sayang and other Malay
folk songs, which take their form from the pantun, a traditional ethnic Burung Kakatua or Burung kakak tua (the cockatoo)
Malay poetic form. A traditional Indonesian children's song. It comes from Ambon
Some people in Indonesia have claimed that the song in the Moluccas, but has found spread in the other parts of the
originated in the Maluku Islands, but such claims are disputed, as the Indonesian Archipelago, but also beyond. The language is therefore
standard Malay language itself and the tradition of pantun exchange are Malay, the official language on all the islands in question.

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 The song is also known in Malaysia. After all, Malay was and On the other hand, other influences can be seen with the
is also spoken in that area, and the song could find its way without ethnic minorities, such as the Chàm or Montagnard peoples. This is
adaptations. possibly due to interaction with the other countries of Southeast Asia.
Vietnamese music shows signs of Indian influences, noticeable in
improvisation preludes of chamber music (known as rao in the South
MYANMAR and dao in the north) as well as usage of onomatopoeia (the process of
creating a word that phonetically imitates, resembles, or suggests the
Myanmar was known as Burma until 1989. When the sound that it describes) in drum playing.
country’s name was officially changed by the military government that
took over in 1988. Early civilization in Myanmar dates back to the 1st Traditional and Folk Music
century with archaeological evidences of the Pyu Kingdoms of Vietnamese traditional music can be separated into a few
Thayekhittaya (Sri Ksetra), Beithano (Visnu), and Hanlin. major categories, divided predominantly by the way in which were used
The music of Myanmar (or Burma) has similarities with many in the people's cultural lives.
other musical traditions in the region, including Chinese music and Thai
music, probably because its longest land border is shared with China Categories of Vietnamese Music:
mainly of different gongs and drums as well as other instruments
depending on the nature of the performance. 1. Imperial court music
Myanmar’s musical instruments are categorized into 2 types, The most popular of this kind is the Nha nhac that was
the loud sounding and soft sounding. The loud sounding instruments popularly performed during the Tran Dynasty to the Nguyen Dynasty.
are performed in open-air ensembles at ceremonies and festivals. Most This form of classical music is also performed in honour of the gods and
of the Hsaing Waing instruments belong to the loud sounding category. scholars in temples. Other classical music falling into this category
include the Dai Nhac (“great music”) and the Tieu Nhac (“small music”)
HSAING WAING which was performed as chamber music for the king.
A traditional Burmese folk musical ensemble, consisting of a
number of different gongs and drums, as well as other instruments, 2. Folk music
depending on the nature of the performance. This category is extremely diverse because it includes music
performed both indoors and outdoors. Performers of this category are
Other instruments in the Hsaing Waing are the: also diverse. They may be professional musicians down to the blind
artists in the streets who perform to earn their living. Vietnamese folk
Maung Hsaing (larger bronze gongs in a rectangular frame) music are performed in different occasions depending on its sub-
category. It may be performed in musical theaters, streets, courtship
Chauk Lon Pat (a set of 8 tuned drums) rituals, and ceremonies for invoking spirits. They are sometimes also
influenced by Western elements. Some Vietnamese music only makes
Hne (a double reed pipe) use of female singers and some have both male and female singers.
Pat Waing (a set of 21 drums in a circle) 3. Religious and Ceremonial music
This is music performed in religious rituals or at funerals
Siand Wa (bell and clapper. .
For more formal and classical performances that are
performed indoors, the ensemble may be accompanied by the saung SINGAPORE
gauk the national instrument of (13-string angular harp with soft sound) The Republic of Singapore is an independent republic in
Myanmar, the pattala (Burmese xylophone), or the piano and violin, Southeast Asia, comprised of one main island and about 50 small
both introduced during colonial rule. adjacent islands off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. About
The body of the saung gauk is made of padauk, the famous three-fourths of the people of Singapore, known as Singaporeans, are
Myanmar mahogany, the flat bar is made of cutch wood, it is covered Chinese, but there are significant Malay and Indian minorities.
with the leather of a female deer and the strings are made of silk. Singapore’s cultural life reflects its colonization by the British
Myanmar not only has musical ensembles but also an Empire and its diverse population. Being the melting pot of different
extensive collection of classical songs called the Mahagita. These cultures in Asia, folk music of this country reflects the culture and
songs are divided into different types like the oldest repertoires, royal traditions of specific groups.
court music, songs of longing, horses’ dance songs, worship songs for The ethnic groups which made a prominent place in the musical world
Burmese spirits, and songs of sorrow and music adapted from of Singapore have been Chinese, Indian Malays, and Tamils. Other
Ayutthaya and the Mon people. The saung gauk usually accompanies minority Asian ethnic groups which have also made a mark in the folk
these songs. culture of Singapore are the Cantonese, Hokkien, and Malay
Bangwasan.
Through the years, the music industry in Singapore grew
VIETNAM having Western-influenced performances by the Singapore Symphony
Orchestra as well as ethnic music performances mainly by the
Vietnam is officially known as the Socialist Republic of Singapore Chinese Orchestra. Other performing groups with Malay and
Vietnam. This country is located on the eastern coast of the Indochinese Indian influence are still prevalent until today.
Peninsula. Vietnamese music (nhạc Việt Nam) refers to the ethnic
music that originated from the "Kinh" people of Vietnam. This term is Chan Mali Chan is a widely known folk song attributed to both
also used to address the music of any of the numerous ethnic minorities Malaysia and Singapore. It is a cheeky, flirtatious love song, which has
including the Montagnard, Degar, Tay, Cham, and others. gained standing as one of the traditional “national” songs of both
Although Vietnam is geographically part of Southeast Asia, countries.
ten centuries of rule by the Chinese to the north have made the culture
much closer to Far East than to its Southeast Asian neighbors. Thus,
early music theory was either based upon or adapted to the prevailing
Chinese theory, and the majority of instruments used in the royal court
were of Chinese origin.

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