CAMBODIA

Cambodia is one of the most beautiful countries in Southeast Asia. It is also known as Kâmpŭchéa. It was
the center of the Khmer (Cambodian) kingdom of Angkor, a great empire that dominated Southeast Asia for
600 years. Their music gained a world-wide reputation in the 1960s until the dramatic political problems in
Cambodia.

Art music is highly influenced by ancient forms as well as Hindu forms.

Cambodian court music is roughly similar to that of Java, Indonesia. They feature choruses with large
orchestras based on struck keys and gongs. Cambodian people also absorbed and adopted Indian,
Chinese, European, and other cultures to suit their own traditions and tastes that resulted in a distinct
Cambodian culture.

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.

INDONESIA

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

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.

Pesindhen is a female soloist singer who sings with a Gamelan.

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

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

• 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

Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy in Southeast Asia. It is divided into two regions:

2. East Malaysia – consists of thirteen states and three federal territories. Chinese and Indian cultural
influences made their mark when trade began in the country. Trading also increased when immigrants flocked
to Malaysia.

The country is multi-ethnic and multi-cultural, which plays a large role in developing their culture.
The constitution declares Islam the state religion while protecting freedom of religion.

Multi-racial groups that influenced Malaysia’s music genre include the following:

1. Malay

2. Chinese

3. Indian

4. Iban

5. Dayak

6. Kadazandusun

7. Eurasians

Malaysian music is largely based around percussion 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.

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.

Malaysian Musical Instruments

Musical instruments of Malaysia are greatly associated with their culture and roots. Due to colonization, the
stages of development of Malaysian instruments are great. They share some common features with Indian
musical instruments. After the colonization of Malaysia by the British, the musical development was influenced
by Western music.

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

Formerly known as Siam, Thailand is known for being the sole nation in Southeast Asia that has never been
ruled by a Western power. It is for this reason that the country is also called “Muang Thai,” which means
“Land of the Free.” History and geography indicate that Thai music is a conglomeration of Asian influences.
Its musical principles and elements are basically derived from Chinese music, while its Musical instruments
are inspired from the Indian and Indonesian strings and gong-chimes. The Thais combined and adapted
these to their culture and created their own unique music.

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

Thai folk music consists of simple songs with simple melodic lines. Its main focus in singing is the
articulation of the text rather than the style or technique of execution.

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.

Thailand has three primary instrumental ensembles that are similar to the other ensembles in
Southeast Asia.

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-sixed instruments are
used today. A vocalist performing with the Mahori is usually accompanied by the so sam sai.