🎭Music and Theater in Southeast Asia Unit 2 – Music and Theater in Indonesia

Key Concepts and Terminology

• Gamelan: Traditional Indonesian ensemble consisting of percussion instruments such as metallophones, xylophones, drums, and gongs
  • Instruments are tuned to either slendro (five-tone scale) or pelog (seven-tone scale) tuning systems
• Wayang: Javanese term for traditional puppet theater, encompassing shadow puppetry (wayang kulit) and three-dimensional wooden puppets (wayang golek)
• Dalang: Puppet master who narrates the story, manipulates the puppets, and directs the gamelan orchestra during wayang performances
• Kecak: Balinese musical drama featuring a large chorus of men chanting "cak" in interlocking rhythmic patterns
• Keroncong: Popular Indonesian musical genre that originated from Portuguese-influenced music and features a small ensemble with guitars, violins, flutes, and vocals
• Dangdut: Indonesian popular music genre that emerged in the 1970s, blending Indian, Middle Eastern, and Western influences with Indonesian folk music
• Randai: Minangkabau folk theater from West Sumatra that combines music, singing, dance, and martial arts

Historical Background

• Indonesian music and theater have roots in ancient Hindu-Buddhist traditions that spread to the archipelago through trade and cultural exchange
• Influence of Indian epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata on Indonesian performing arts, particularly in the development of wayang
• Arrival of Islam in the 13th century introduced new musical and theatrical forms, such as terbangan (Islamic frame drum music) and Islamic-themed wayang stories
• European colonization, particularly by the Dutch, brought Western musical influences and instruments (guitars, violins) that were incorporated into local music
• Post-independence era saw the rise of nationalist sentiments and efforts to preserve and promote traditional Indonesian music and theater
  • Government-sponsored cultural programs and festivals helped to revitalize and popularize traditional art forms

Traditional Music Forms

• Gamelan music: Ensemble music featuring percussion instruments, often accompanying dance and theater performances
  • Central Javanese gamelan: Known for its refined and contemplative style, associated with the royal courts of Surakarta and Yogyakarta
  • Balinese gamelan: Characterized by faster tempos, more dynamic changes, and the use of unique instruments like the reyong and ceng-ceng
• Tembang Sunda: Sundanese vocal music from West Java, accompanied by zithers (kacapi) and bamboo flutes (suling)
• Kroncong: Popular music genre featuring a small ensemble with guitars, violins, flutes, and vocals, known for its romantic and nostalgic themes
• Angklung: Sundanese musical instrument made of bamboo tubes attached to a frame, played by shaking to produce interlocking patterns
• Kulintang: Melodic percussion instrument from Eastern Indonesia, consisting of a row of small gongs played with two wooden beaters

Theatrical Traditions

• Wayang kulit: Shadow puppet theater using flat leather puppets projected onto a white screen, accompanied by gamelan music
  • Stories often depict episodes from the Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, as well as local folktales and Islamic legends
• Wayang golek: Puppet theater using three-dimensional wooden puppets, popular in West Java and featuring more humorous and satirical stories
• Wayang wong: Javanese dance drama in which human actors portray characters from the wayang stories, accompanied by gamelan music and narration
• Topeng: Balinese mask dance theater featuring solo dancers wearing elaborate masks and costumes, enacting stories from mythology and folklore
• Ludruk: East Javanese popular theater that combines comedy, social commentary, and music, often addressing contemporary issues and featuring cross-gender acting

Instruments and Performance Practices

• Gamelan instruments:
  • Metallophones: Saron, demung, slenthem, and gender
  • Xylophones: Gambang
  • Gongs: Gong ageng, kempul, and bonang
  • Drums: Kendhang and bedug
• Gamelan performance practices:
  • Interlocking patterns (kotekan) played by paired instruments
  • Cyclical structure with colotomic punctuation provided by gongs
  • Improvisation within the framework of the composition
• Vocal music:
  • Sindhenan: Female solo singing in Javanese gamelan
  • Gerong: Male choral singing in Javanese gamelan
  • Macapat: Sung poetry in free meter, used in wayang and dance performances
• Dance:
  • Stylized movements and gestures conveying emotions and character
  • Intricate hand, foot, and eye movements
  • Coordination with gamelan music and dramatic storytelling

Cultural and Religious Influences

• Influence of Hinduism and Buddhism on early Indonesian music and theater, particularly in the adaptation of Indian epics and mythological stories
• Integration of Islamic elements into wayang stories and the development of Islamic-themed performances (wayang sadat)
• Javanese concept of alus (refinement) and kasar (coarseness) in music and theater, reflecting social hierarchies and philosophical ideals
  • Alus associated with the royal courts, characterized by slow tempos, soft dynamics, and restrained expressions
  • Kasar associated with the common people, characterized by fast tempos, loud dynamics, and exaggerated expressions
• Balinese Hindu philosophy of Tri Hita Karana (three causes of well-being) reflected in the balance and harmony of gamelan music and dance
• Role of music and theater in ritual ceremonies, such as life-cycle events (weddings, funerals) and religious festivals (Galungan, Nyepi)

Contemporary Developments

• Emergence of new compositions and experimental works that push the boundaries of traditional music and theater
  • Composers like I Wayan Sadra and Rahayu Supanggah incorporate Western musical elements and contemporary themes into gamelan compositions
• Cross-cultural collaborations between Indonesian and foreign artists, leading to the creation of innovative hybrid forms
• Rise of popular music genres like dangdut and Indonesian rock that blend traditional and modern influences
• Impact of technology and globalization on the dissemination and consumption of Indonesian music and theater
  • Digital platforms and social media enabling wider access and exposure to traditional art forms
• Efforts to preserve and promote traditional music and theater through education, documentation, and cultural policies
  • Establishment of cultural institutions and schools dedicated to the transmission of traditional arts

Regional Variations and Styles

• Sundanese music and theater from West Java:
  • Degung: Sundanese gamelan ensemble featuring xylophones, flutes, and drums
  • Jaipongan: Modern Sundanese dance style that originated in the 1970s, characterized by fast, energetic movements and sensual gestures
• Balinese music and theater:
  • Gong Kebyar: Modern Balinese gamelan style known for its virtuosic and dynamic performances
  • Legong: Classical Balinese dance featuring young female dancers in elaborate costumes, accompanied by gamelan music
• Javanese music and theater:
  • Surakarta style: Refined and contemplative, associated with the royal court of Surakarta
  • Yogyakarta style: More dynamic and expressive, associated with the royal court of Yogyakarta
• Malay music and theater from Sumatra:
  • Makyong: Traditional Malay dance drama that combines acting, singing, and instrumental music
  • Zapin: Malay dance genre influenced by Islamic and Arabic culture, featuring fast footwork and rhythmic patterns
• Papuan music and theater from Eastern Indonesia:
  • Tifa: Papuan drum made from hollowed tree trunks and lizard skin, used in ritual ceremonies and dances
  • Sajojo: Papuan dance performed in a circular formation, accompanied by tifa drums and singing