CAED109: INDONESIA Group BCAED III – A 2020 – 10 – 25

Cawaling, Jomari Libayan, Irene

Cotelo, Rio Lopez, Rusty
Dacanay, Vince JB Vasay, Eden Gloree

I. HISTORY

Indonesia: History

Indonesia is an archipelago in Southeast Asia comprising approximately 17,500 islands, with

over 238 million people, Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous country and is the fourth
biggest nation of the world.

Through interaction with other cultures such as Indian, Arabic, Chinese and European, a
wide range of musical styles has been developed.

From 1942 to 1945 The Dutch began to colonize Indonesia and in the early 17th century; the
islands were occupied by Japan.

Indonesia declared its independence after Japan’s surrender, but it required four years
before the Netherlands agreed to relinquish its colony.

Homo erectus, ( “Java Man”) Suggests the Indonesian archipelago was inhabited two million
to 500,000 years ago.

Austronesian People arrived in Indonesia around 2000 BCE, and confined the native
Melanesian peoples to the far eastern regions as they expanded Ideal agricultural conditions,
and the mastering of rice cultivation allowed villages, towns, and small kingdoms to flourish by
the first century CE.

Indonesian strategic sea-lane position fostered inter-island and international trade. Trade
has since fundamentally shaped Indonesian history.
Indonesian Kingdoms

[Link] Srivijaya naval kingdom (7th Century CE) flourished as a result of trade and the
influences of Hinduism and Buddhism.

[Link] the eighth and 10th centuries CE, the agricultural Buddhist Sailendra and Hindu
Mataram dynasties thrived and declined in inland Java, leaving grand religious monuments such
as Borobudur and Prambanan.

3. Majapahit kingdom was founded in eastern Java in the late 13th century.

Under Gajah Mada, its influence stretched over much of Indonesia.

Today the contemporary music of Indonesia is popular not only in the region but also in the
neighbouring countries.

II. CULTURE

Food in Daily Life. Indonesian cuisine reflects regional, ethnic, Chinese, Middle Eastern,
Indian, and Western influences, and daily food quality, quantity, and diversity vary greatly by
socioeconomic class, season, and ecological conditions. Rice is a staple element in most
regional cooking and the center of general Indonesian cuisine. Side dishes of meat, fish, eggs,
and vegetables and a variety of condiments and sauces using chili peppers and other spices
accompany rice.

Food Customs at Ceremonial Occasions. The most striking ceremonial occasion is the Muslim
month of fasting, Ramadan. Even less-observant Muslims fast seriously from sunup to sundown
despite the tropical heat. Each night during Ramadan, fine celebratory meals are held. The
month ends with Idul Fitri, a national holiday when family, friends, neighbors, and work
associates visit each other's homes to share food treats.
Symbols of Social Stratification. The aristocratic cultures of Java and the Malay-influenced
coastal principalities were marked by ceremonial isolation of the princes and aristocrats,
tribute by peasants and lesser lords, deference to authority by peasants, sumptuary rules
marking off classes, the maintenance by aristocrats of supernaturally powerful regalia, and high
court artistic and literary cultures.

Marriage. People in Indonesia gain the status of full adults through marriage and parenthood.
In Indonesia, one does not ask, "Is he (or she) married?," but "Is he (or she) married yet?," to
which the correct response is, "Yes" or "Not yet." Even homosexuals are under great family
pressure to marry.

Religious Beliefs. Indonesia has the largest Muslim population of any nation, and in 1990 the
population was reported to be 87 percent Muslim. There is a well-educated and influential
Christian minority (about 9.6 percent of the population in 1990), with about twice as many
Protestants as Catholics. The Balinese still follow a form of Hinduism. Mystical cults are well
established among the Javanese elite and middle class, and members of many ethnic groups still
follow traditional belief systems.

Support for the Arts. In the past in Java and Bali, royal courts or rich persons were major
patrons of the arts. They continue their support, but other institutions joined them. The Dutch
founded the Batavia Society for the Arts and Sciences in 1778, which established the National
Museum that continues to display artifacts of the national culture. The Dutch-founded National
Archive seeks to preserve the literary heritage, despite poor funding and the hazards of tropical
weather and insects. Regional cultural museums were built using national and provincial
government funding and some foreign aid. Preservation of art and craft traditions and objects,
such as house architecture, batik and tie-dye weaving, wood carving, silver and gold working,
statuary, puppets, and basketry, are under threat from the international arts and crafts market,
local demands for cash, and changing indigenous values

Literature. Indonesia's literary legacy includes centuries-old palm, bamboo, and other fiber
manuscripts from several literate peoples, such as the Malay, Javanese, Balinese, Buginese,
Rejang, and Batak. The fourteenth century Nagarakrtagama is a lengthy poem praising King
Hayam Wuruk and describing the life and social structure of his kingdom, Majapahit. The I La
Galigo of the Bugis, which traces the adventures of their culture hero, Sawerigading, is one of
the world's longest epic poems.

Performance Arts. Performance arts are diverse and include: Javanese and Balinese gong-
chime orchestras (gamelan) and shadow plays (wayang), Sundanese bamboo orchestras
(angklung), Muslim orchestral music at family events or Muslim holiday celebrations, trance
dances (reog) from east Java, the dramatic barong dance or the monkey dances for tourists on
Bali, Batak puppet dances, horse puppet dances of south Sumatra, Rotinese singers
with lontar leaf mandolins, and the dances for ritual and life-cycle events performed by
Indonesia's many outer island ethnic groups. All such arts use indigenously produced costumes
and musical instruments.
 III. INSTRUMENT

Indonesia: Musical History and Culture

Indonesia is deeply culturally and musically diverse. The different extraneous influences on
the Islands especially from the late last century colonization, made their government to foster
national music traditions to embody its slogan Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (‘Unity in Diversity’).

The Javanese and Balinese Gamelan are the certain tradition and became successful in the
context of ethnomusicology and subsequently ‘World Music’.

 Indonesia is home to hundreds of forms of music, and it plays a vital role in their culture.

 Gamelan is the traditional type of music from Central and east Java and Bali.

 Dangdut a very popular style of pop music which is accompanied with by a dance style. The
style first came into being in the 1970’s and became a fixture of political campaign.

 Other forms of music include the Keroncong with its roots in Portugal, soft Sasando music
from West Timor, Degung, Angklung from West Java, which is played with bamboo
instruments.

 Singing plays a big part of their culture. They practiced it after political campaign rallies,
soldiers after eating their dinner, buskers and etc.

 Indonesian music can be found in Javanese and Balinese gong-chime orchestras (gamelan)
and shadow plays (Wayang) Sundanese Bamboo orchestras (Angklung)

Gamelan: Orchestral Ensemble and Music

 Gamelan (thought to derive from the low Javanese word gamel, “to hammer”) refers to both a
gong-based orchestral ensemble and to the musical styles associated with such ensemble.

 Regionally, gamelan style is highly diverse and gamelan orchestras themselves differ in size,
tunings, timbres, and combinations to the extent each gamelan constitutes a unique set.

 All gamelan comprise three core instrumental groups: (1) melodic tunes percussion which are
metallophones and smaller kettle-gongs struck with mallets, (2) structural tuned percussion are
larger kettle-gongs and hanging gongs struck with mallets, and (3) rhythmic un tuned
percussion that are membranophones or instruments struck with hands and stick.
  In Central Javanese tradition, gamelan is usually includes some
combinations of :

A. Gender - metallophones of thin bronze keys suspended over

resonator tubs in three sizes: slenthem (large), barung
(medium) and panerus (small).

B. Saron - metallophones of thick bronze key suspended over a hanging resonator in

three sizes: denum (large), barung (medium), and peking (small).

C. Bonang - a wooden rack of smaller kettle-gongs of various sizes.

 Gamelan is an oral tradition where its compositions are created for the community and where
such compositions and musical techniques are transmitted orally, learned and internalized
orally and performed from memory.

 Gamelan orchestras - are used to accompany dances, songs, and Wayang Kulit. Gamelan
orchestra:

i. are believed to ‘possess supernatural powers ‘

ii. consider their instruments ‘sacred’, therefore stepping over the instrument
is a sign of disrespect
iii. musicians bow before playing the instruments to ‘show respect ‘

Indonesian Instruments:

Gamelan - this is an instrumental ensemble from Indonesia and generally it consists of

bronze percussion instruments. Each gamelan has different sound and tuning to prevent it
being interchanged one to another. Gamelan is played in traditional way but it is very
popular in foreign countries, even gamelan is added to the curriculum.
 Angklung - is a traditional music instrument which often being performed
world concert or world music performances. It is made of some bamboo
tubes which attached to a bamboo frame. Those tubes are carved so that
they will have resonant pitch. One hand is to hold the frame meanwhile
another hand shakes the instrument. Angklung belongs to Sundanese people
and is originated from West Java. Not only functioned as the traditional
instrument, angklung becomes the cultural identity for Sundanese
communities.

Kolintang - this traditional music instrument comes from Minahasa, North

Sulawesi. Kolintang is made of local woods which placed horizontally. The
name kolintang itself is taken from local language in Minahasa; Tong (vat),
Ting, Tang (pliers). The local people used to say ‘Let us do TONG TING
TANG’ or ‘Mangemo kumolintang’ so that kolintang is the simplification of
those sayings. Kolintang music can be performed at many ocassions such as
social enterntainment as festival, harvest ceremony, parades, wedding
ceremony, religious rituals, and even informal events.

Gambus - is a stringed instrument comes from Riau. This music instrument is pretty similar
with Kordofun. It is played like guitar, you pluck it with fingers. Gambus is related closely
with Islam, it is said that this music instrument is used as a way to
spread Islam in the past. This musical instrument is an
accompaniment of singing in wedding occasion or any celebratory
events, the songs that are played is usually identically with Islam. To
make the rhythm more beautiful, this musical instrument is
accompanied by marwas (another musical instrument). It has a
unique shape which is a squash or water gourd so you can recognize
it easily.

Gendang Melayu – considered as a complementary musical instrument but

its popularity is no joke. There are no specific way to play gendang, you
only have to hit it with your palm therefore each gendang player has his/hr
own characteristics in playing this musical instrument. Gendang nowadays
is used as a magic touch in dangdut music. The gendang’s surface itself
usually made of animal’s skin such as cow skin. It can be found in many
places in Indonesia.

Sasando - This musical instrument is quite unique and it is originated from

Indonesia. Its artistic appearance is the main attraction, so people are
attracted not only towards its melodious voice but also to its unique shape.
On the other hand, The color of sasando is white and it use woods to strap
the stretch. This musical instrument is played by plucking way.
Gong - is also included as one instrument in gamelan. The shape is rounded big and it has bulge in
the middle part. Gong is a traditional musical instrument from Central Java. Now, gong is not only
used for gamelan performance but also as the symbol of inauguration in several ceremony or
events.

Others Instruments

 Calung : This is almost similar with angklung but calung has different technique with
angklung. You need to hit the bamboos in calung to make it sounds however for angklung you
only need to shake the bamboos.

 Kecapi : This is a stringed musical instrument that has a distinctive sound. You need to pick
the string to make sounds when playing kecapi. This musical instrument produces a beautiful
and pleasant sound for you to enjoy.

 Tifa : Originated from Papua this musical instrument has a shape like
a small drum and has a long size. You need to hit it by your hand to
play tifa.

 Saluang : This musical instrument comes from Minangkabau, made of

bamboo and has aerophonic music type. This is pretty similar with
flute but it only has 4 holes in the middle.

 Tehyan : Tehyan is made of traditional strings that are neatly arranged. People said that
Tehyan is quite similar with violin but it has simpler string. Comes from DKI Jakarta and the
way to play this is similar with the way you play violin

IV. MUSIC

Brief History of Indonesian Music

 Pre-historic period (2500 – 1500 BC)

The movement from Central Asia to Southeast Asia brought the bamboo culture and lading
processing techniques. Especially in Annam (South China) wherein they introduced a kind of rhyme
song where the boys and girls sang in reply, using a blown instrument called Khen (an instrument
made of 6 bamboo sticks blown together in groups of 3 tones).

They discovered the beauty of music by the number of different bamboo stems which are
planted on the grounds of Central and South East Asia. The wind blows produces the beautiful
sound that also exists in Bali up to now. Other bamboo musical instruments such as flute and
angklung have experienced a process of development until today.

 The period when Hindus-Buddhist came to Java

 The history of Indonesian music continued when Hindus came to Java, they found a variety of
musical instruments. In the reliefs on Borobudur there are local musical instruments or musical
instruments imported from India such as drums, including drums from the ground with the skin on
one side only, kledi, flute, angklung, blown instrument (some hobo), xylofon (half gambang, half
calung), sapeq, sitar and harp with 10 strings, bronze bells in various sizes, gongs, sarons, bonangs.
It is undeniable that this instrument was first played according to Indian custom. However, some
other said this was originated from Gamelan.
 The Islamic Kingdom era In Java there was born the kingdom of Demak, the Islamic Kingdom
(1500-1546).

The Demak Sultanate controlled all the area of Java and most of the islands outside Java.
Along with the entry of Islam into Indonesia also entered the Arab musical instruments such as
tambourine, rebab and gambus. Then this musical instrument developed in Indonesia, with
different forms of how to play rebab. In Java, Bali, South Sulawesi, Sumba (in Sumba rebab it is
called ‘dunggak roro’) with two strings whereas in Sumatra, Kalimantan, North Sulawesi and Maluku
with one string. They also brought the system of solemization in various works of songs. At this
time Indonesia experienced the development of modern music.

At this time the musicians of Indonesia created a music presentation in the form of a
combination of western music with Indonesian music.

Music dish was later known as keroncong music.

Two (2) basic kinds of Indonesian music scale:

 Peloq – heptatonic (7) tone scale with semi tone

 Slendro – five (5) equidistant tones in octave

Both vocal and instrumental music in Indonesia use slendro and peloq scales.

Vocal Music: Pesindhen & Gerong

 Vocal music is used as ornamentation of the Gamelan. It is as important as gamelan.

 Pesindhen is a ‘female soloist singer’ who sings with a Gamelan.

 Gerong refers to the ‘unison male chorus’ that sings with the Gamelan.

Kinds of Traditional Indonesian Music

 Siteran - are small street ensembles that play the same musical pieces played by gamelans.
They usually include a zither, singers, drum and a large end-blown bamboo tube that is used
like a gong.

 Tandak Gerok - a style of performance practiced in eastern Lombok. It combines music,

dance and theatre.

 Sundanese ‘kecapi’ - are mournful music whose origins which can be traced back to the early
civilizations that lived in this part of Java, the music is named after a lute-liked instrument
called the Kecap, which has a very unusual sound. Other traditional Sundanese instruments
include the Suling, a soft-tines bamboo flute, and the Angklung, a cross between a
xylophone and made from bamboo.

 Monkey Chants - ning-nong bamboo orchestras and rapid fire choruses.

 Degung - a calm, atmospheric style of music that with songs about love and nature set to
gamelan instruments and bamboo flutes

TRIVIA: Irama – is an Indonesian term for tempo

Javanese & Balinese Music

Javanese Balinese
1. Used for sacred music 1. Used for courtship
2. Percussion dominated 2. Consists of metalllophone
3. Styles of playing by solemn character 3. Sudden change of tempo
4. Dynamics are emphasized
5. Sounds are very bright and brilliant
6. The use of fast and rattling sound of
cymbals give a distinct character
Javanese and Balinese instruments are almost the same by their appearance. They just differ on
its name.