8

Music
Southeast Asian Music
 OBJECTIVES
At the end of this module, you should be able to:

1. listen perceptively to music of Southeast Asia (MU8SE-Ia-h-2)

2. analyze musical elements of selected songs and instrumental pieces heard and
performed. (MU8SE-Ib-h-4)
3. explore ways of producing sounds on a variety of sources that would simulate
instruments being studied. MU8SE-Ic-h-5)

What I Need to Know

This part contains learning objectives that are set for you to learn as you go along
the module.
What I know
This is an assessment as to your level of knowledge to the subject matter at hand,
meant specifically to gauge prior related knowledge standing of the concept.
Pre-test
Activity 1: Guess Where I Belong

Direction: From the pictures of instruments of the Southeast Asian countries, identify the
origin of the objects. Write your answers on your activity notebook.

1._____________________ 2. ___________________

3. ____________________________ 4. ___________________
5. ______________________ 6. __________________________

7. ____________________ 8. _________________________

9. _____________________ 10. _____________________

Countries of Southeast Asia

-Philippines -Thailand -Cambodia -Brunei
-Indonesia -Vietnam -Laos -East Timor
-Malaysia -Myanmar -Singapore

Cambodia
Cambodian court music is roughly similar to that of Java, Indonesia. They feature
choruses with large orchestras based on struck keys and gongs.

The Pinpeat is a Cambodian musical ensemble or an orchestra that usually

accompanies ceremonial music of the royal courts and temples. Music is always part
of their court dances, masked plays, shadow plays, and religious ceremonies. This
 group is similar to the Piphat ensemble of Thailand and usually consists of nine or ten
instruments.

Skorthom- two big drums Chhing – finger cymbals Oneat - xylophones

Sampor – a double-headed drum played with hands Kongvong – gong circle

Indonesia

There are two basic kinds of Indonesian music scale: 

 Slendro – five (5) equidistant tones in octave 

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

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

 Polyphonic stratification kind of melody is a result of hocket / Interlock. 

 Interlocking is a common technique used in gong ensembles.

Irama – is an Indonesian term for tempo

 The Gamelan or Gamelan orchestra is the most popular form of music in Indonesia.
There are many types of Gamelan but the famous Javanese and Balinese Gamelan are the
most famous. It contains a variety of instruments such as metallophones, xylophones,
kendang and gongs, bamboo flutes, bowed and plucked strings.

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

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.

REMEMBER:

*Karawitan is the term for every kind of Gamelan music in Java.

*Gamelan orchestras

– are used to accompany dances, songs, and Wayang Kulit

- are believed to possess supernatural powers

- consider their instruments sacred, therefore stepping over the

instrument is a sign of disrespect

- musicians bow before playing the instruments to show respect

Myanmar

The Hsaing Waing is Myanmar’s traditional folk music ensemble. It is made up

mainly of different gongs and drums as well as other instruments depending on the nature of
the performance.
 Myanmar’s musical instruments are categorized into two types, the loud sounding
and soft sounding. The loud sounding instruments are performed in open-air ensembles at
ceremonies and festivals. Most of the Hsaing Waing instruments belong to the loud sounding
category.

Saind wa – bell and clapper

For more formal and classical performances that are performed indoors, the ensemble
may be accompanied by the saung gauk (13string angular harp with soft sound) the national
instrument of Myanmar, the pattala (Burmese xylophone), or the piano and violin, both
introduced during colonial rule.
 Mahagita is an extensive collection of classical songs. These songs are divided into
different types like the oldest repertoires, royal court music, songs of longing, horses’ dance
songs, worship songs for Burmese spirits, and songs of sorrow and music adapted from
Malaysia
Ayutthaya and the Mon people. The saung gauk usually accompanies these songs.

The music of Malaysia may be categorized into two types:

1. Classical and Folk music emerged during the pre-colonial period and still exists in
the form of vocal, dance, and theatrical music.

2. Syncretic or Acculturated music developed during the post Portuguese period

(16th century). It contains elements from both local music and foreign elements of Arabian,
Persian, Indian, Chinese, and Western musical and theatrical sources.

Musical Ensembles and Types of Performances in Malaysia

1. Agung and Kulintang

This is a gong-based musical ensemble commonly used in funerals and weddings in

East Malaysia. This type of ensemble is similar to the kulintang of the Philippines, Brunei,
and Indonesia.
2. Kertok

This is a musical ensemble from the Malay Peninsula that consists of xylophones
played swiftly and rhythmically in traditional Malay functions

3. Dikir Barat

This is a type of musical form that is important to Malaysia’s national culture. It is

performed by singing in groups and often in a competitive manner usually with percussion
instrumental accompaniment or sometimes without instruments at all.
 4. Silat Melayu

This is a form of martial art that is similar to t’ai chi. It originated in the Malay
Peninsula since the Christian Era and is a mixture of martial arts, dance, and music usually
accompanied by gongs, drums, and Indian oboes.

Thailand
Music is theoretically based on five-tone or seven-tone scale system. It is not only
confined to the royal courts but also used extensively in dance, theatre and ceremonies.

Songs of Thailand have inherently poetic lyrics which allow a singer or

performer to easily define the melodic lines. It provides the singer the opportunity to
improvise song text to suit the given occasion. The interpretation of a singer gives
meaning to the sacred and spiritual essence of songs with free rhythm while melodies
 may either be interpreted or written in the high or low register with long or short
durations.

Musical Ensembles of Thailand

1. Piphat

It is a mid-sized orchestra that is performed in either outdoor style with hard mallets
or indoor style with padded mallets. This ensemble has different types but the highly ornate
one is traditionally associated with funerals and cremation ceremonies. Other versions of the
piphat ensemble are used to accompany specific forms of traditional Thai drama such as the
large shadow puppet theatre (nang yai) and the khon dance drama.

2. Khrueang Sai
It is an orchestra that combines some of the percussion and wind instruments of the
Piphat with an expanded string section. This group is primarily used for indoor performances
and for the accompaniment of stick puppet theater.

3. Mahori

This ensemble is traditionally played by women in the courts of Central Thailand and
Cambodia. Because of this, instruments for this ensemble are historically smaller. However,
regular-sized instruments are used today. A vocalist performing with the Mahori is usually
accompanied by the so sam sai.
 So Sam Sai - traditional "three stringed fiddle" bowed string instrument of Thailand.

Laos
The classical music and dance of Laos is highly influences by India, Cambodia, and
Thailand.

Themes are drawn from Hindu mythology, the Buddhist Jataka tales, and local
legends.

The royal entourage of Lao kings traditionally included musicians, and a

typical orchestra improvised songs with sets of tuned gongs, xylophones, a bamboo
flute, and other wind instruments.

The Lao orchestra can be divided into two categories:

1. Sep Nyai – This is similar to the Piphat of Thailand with instruments that
are strictly percussive but also integrates the use of an oboe.

2. Sep Noi – This is also known as the Mahori of Thailand. However, it

incorporates the use of several khene which is a large bamboo mouth organ and is the
most popular folk music instrument of Laos.

Mor Lam -is a traditional music largely based around the Khene (mouth
organ whose pipes, which are usually made of bamboo connected with a small,
hollowed-out hardwood reservoir into which air is blown).
 Vietnam

Vietnamese music shows signs of Indian influences, noticeable in

improvisation preludes of chamber music (known as rao in the South and dao in the
north) as well as usage of onomatopoeia in drum playing.

Categories of Vietnamese Music

1. Imperial Court Music – The most popular of this kind is the Nha nhac
that was popularly performed during the Tran Dynasty to the Nguyen Dynasty. This
form of classical music is also performed in honor of the gods and scholars in
temples. Other classical music falling into this category includes the Dai Nhac
(“great music”) and the Tieu Nhac (“small music”) which was performed as
chamber music for the king

2. Folk Music – This category is extremely diverse because it includes

music performed both indoors and outdoors. Performers of this category are also
diverse. They may be professional musicians down to the blind artists in the streets
who perform to earn their living. Vietnamese folk music are performed in different
occasions depending on its sub-category. It may be performed in musical theaters,
streets, courtship rituals, and ceremonies for invoking spirits. They are sometimes
also influenced by Western elements. Some Vietnamese music only makes use of
female singers and some have both male and female singers.

3. Religious and Ceremonial Music – This is the music performed in

religious rituals or at funerals.

Hornbostel Sachs Classification of Musical Instruments

1. Aerophone is a musical instrument that produces sound primarily by causing a body
of air to vibrate. Example: flute , trumpet
2. Chordophone is a musical instrument that makes sound by way of a vibrating string or
strings stretched between two points. Example: guitar, violin
3. Idiophone is any musical instrument that creates sound primarily by the vibration of the
instrument itself, without the use of air, strings or membranes. Example : cymbals ,xylophones,
4. Membranophone is any musical instrument which produces sound primarily by way of a
vibrating stretched membrane. Example: drums

Vocal music of Southeast Asia

Vocal music - is a genre of music performed by one or more singers, with or without
instrumental accompaniment, in which singing provides the main focus of the piece.

Activity #2
Directions: Watch videos and listen to some traditional songs from Indonesia, Malaysia,
Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand. Listen perceptively to the following musical elements;
meter, tempo, texture, timber and tonality.

Burung Kaka Tua of Indonesia

View this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boUiiuFOCcA

“Burung Kakatua” is a famous folk song of Indonesia; about an old gray-haired grandma
who only has a couple teeth left, she’s sitting near the window, perched like a cockatoo
(kakatua).

Rasa Sayang of Malaysia

View this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQnSM7_kssM
Rasa Sayang” is Malaysian folk song meaning I’ve Got That Loving Feeling. The folk song
are known to all Malaysians, one of the first songs children are taught in schools throughout
the country, is in fact well known and well loved throughout the Malay Archipelago.

Activity #3
Directions: Choose the correct answer. Write the answer on your activity notebook.

1. A 13- string angular harp with soft sound of Myanmar.

A. Samphor C. Irama
B. Saung Gauk D. Chhing
2. A double headed drum played with hands of Cambodia.
A. Samphor C. Irama
B. Saung Gauk D. Chhing
3. It is an Indonesian term for tempo.
A. Samphor C. Irama
B. Saung Gauk D. Chhing
4. A finger cymbals of Cambodia.
A. Samphor C. Irama
B. Saung Gauk D. Chhing
5. An extensive collection of classical songs of Myanmar.
A. Kertok C. Mahagita
B. So Sam Sai D. Pesidhen
6. A female soloist singer who sings with a gamelan.
A. Kertok C. Mahagita
B. So Sam Sai D. Pesidhen
7. A musical ensemble from Malaysia that consists of xylophones.
A. Kertok C. Mahagita
B. So Sam Sai D. Pesidhen
8. Traditional "three stringed fiddle" bowed string instrument of Thailand.
A. Kertok C. Mahagita
B. So Sam Sai D. Pesidhen
9. A classification of musical instrument that produces sound primarily by causing a body of
air to vibrate.
A. Idiophone C. Membranophone
B. Aerophone D. Chordophone
10. A classification of musical instrument which produces sound primarily by way of a vibrating
stretched membrane.
A. Idiophone C. Membranophone
B. Aerophone D. Chordophone
Activity #4
Directions: Supply the missing information. Write your answer on your activity notebook.
Instruments Name of the instruments Classification of instruments
(Hornbostel Sach)
1. 11.

2. 12.

3. 13.

4. 14.

5. 15.

6. 16.

7. 17.

8. 18.

9. 19.

10. 20.

Activity #4
Directions: Locate the 10 countries found in Southeast Asia. Write the answer on your notebook .
 P H I L I P P I N E S

M A H O R B S W E V I

A R C T I R A D T I N

L U A A E U K O I E G

A P M Y A N M A R T A

Y E B L O E E V B N P

S E O A L I Y G H A O

I N D O N E S I A M R

A F I S X U B D I O E

T H A I L A N D S P E

Prepared by:

Maria Consuelo L. De Lazo

May Lanie O. Pamintuan

Kamille C. Pamintuan
Grade 8 MAPEH Teachers

Noted by:

Janet G. Lingad
HT III/ MAPEH

Approved by:

Jesusa A. Agustin
Principal II