Music of Indonesia

The music of Indonesia is the result of unity in different diverse cultural influences. Indonesia is composed of 13,000 or more islands. Each place has its own cultural variety over the other. Foreign exposure shaped Indonesia's music, but even with these western influence still we can say that Indonesia is successful in preserving its culture by educating their young and fostering nationalism among their people.

The Indonesian Scale

There are Two Indigenous scale system in Indonesian Music

The Slendro Scale 
( 5 tone Scale or Pentatonic)

                                             

Imagine this the pentatonic scale is made up of 5 tones only, the easiest way to find it is by playing all the black keys in any order, in any duration, and in any combination. The pentatonic scale has a 1-2-3-5-6 pattern.

To find the pentatonic key on the white keys is easy. It starts with C-D-E-G-A.

Almost all indigenous music follows the pentatonic scale. Limited yet unique in sound.

The Pelog Scale

( 7 tone system or western scale)

                               

The Pelog scale is the western scale of Indonesia, this is much pleasing to the ear almost unlimited in tones.

Most of today's music are built on these scales. Try playing from C to C then we get the Pelog Scale.

Music: Functions and Uses

Functions and Uses of Music


Music is for worshiping the Almighty.

•  Music has been used in religious and spiritual activities, it transforms the overall person by making him more close to his God. 

 

In this example the Catholic Church through the Gregorian Chant always use this style of music to solemnize their worship.

Music of Korea

Historical Background 

•A.D. 285 – Metal percussion instruments existed in Korea

•Instruments have been used in thanksgiving festivals in autumn harvest and other occasions

Musical Instruments Grouping

•Musical Instruments are grouped based on the material from which the instruments are made and type of music in which they were used.

Passion in their Music

Koreans like the Japanese and Chinese are very passionate about music especially when playing their musical instrument:

1.By playing songs expressively

2.Singing with their heart

•Basically there are 60 korean musical instruments:

•14 chordophones

•17 aerophones

•16 membranophones

•13 idiophones

However 15 are not used anymore because it is outdated and discontinuance of used in the ceremonies 

Musical Instruments of Korea  

Aerophones

P’iri

Cylindrical bamboo similar to an oboe blown through a    double reed mouthpiece

The Classical Period

The Classical Period 

1750-1820

Highlights of this Period

• ·         Benjamin Franklin “discovers” electricity.
• ·          American Revolution
• ·         George Washington inaugurated as the first President of the US
• ·          French Revolution
• ·         Napoleon crowns himself Emperor.
• ·         Middle Class rose to power.
• ·         Democracy was established and the reigning aristocrats and clergy started to decline in power.
• ·         The Rise of Concerts and other musical forms
• ·         Vienna Austria became the music capital of the world

The Classical Period is the known to be the “ Age of Enlightenment”, in which most of the inspiration comes from the aesthetic ideas of Ancient Greece and Rome. It affected the way of thinking of the people during this time from Religion, Science and Government.

Characteristic of the Classical style compared to the baroque style

Characteristic	Baroque	Classical
Mood	Conveys a single emotion	Fluctuation in moods, sometimes it is dramatic, carefree, happy, sad that may lead to a delightful  music
Rhythm	Minimal patterns of rhythmic movement	Classical music is mixed up in terms of rhythm, with unexpected pauses, syncopation, variations of long and short tones. The introduction of ritardando, and accelerandos.
Texture	Polyphonic Texture	Wide use of texture from homophonic usually heard in concertos to polyphonic texture in the symphony orchestra.
Melody	Baroque melodies are hard	Easy to remember and to sing
Dynamic	Used of terraced dynamics Loud and Soft	Wide use of dynamics and Introduction of Crescendo and decrescendo.
Accompaniment	Basso Continuo	Most music was written for amateurs who had not mastered the basso continuo.

Musical Developments

The Rise of Concerts