8

Music
Southeast Asian Music
 What I Need to Know

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-6)

How to Learn from this Module

To achieve the objectives cited above, you are to do the following:

1. Carefully read all the lessons.

2. Take your time on going thru each lesson.
3. Answer the pretest honestly; the purpose of the pretest is for you to
determine your prior knowledge before going thru the lessons and activities.
4. If you have a hard time understanding the lessons and activities,
please do take a break. Having breaks between lessons and activities will
give you some space where you can absorb the lesson well.
5. You can use the internet if you need more information about the lesson.
6. Contact your subject teacher if you have some questions about the
submission of your output.

i
 Lesson Vocal and Instrumental Music
Of Cambodia, Indonesia,
1 Myanmar and Malaysia

What I Need to Kow

Vocal music is music made specifically for voices. It may be performed with or without instruments
while Instrumental music is made solely for instruments.

What’s New

Activity 1: Play With Me

Direction: Look at each picture and try to identify how it is played. Try to remember the Hornbostel-Sachs
classification of instruments that you learned in Grade 7. Is it an aerophone, chordophone, idiophone,
membranophone, or an electrophone?

Activity 1 shows the different instruments of Southeast Asian counties. In this lesson, it will focus
on the vocal and instrumental music of Southeast Asian countries particularly in Cambodia, Indonesia,
Myanmar and Malaysia. 4
Let’s take a look first in Cambodia!

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.
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 similar to Japanese (membranophone)
1. Samphor – a double-headed drum played with hands (membranophone)
2. Chhing – finger cymbals (idiophone)
3. Oneat – xylophones (idiophone)
4. Kongvong – gong circles (idiophone)

What’s More

Activity 2: Pinpeat Musician

Direction: Visit www.youtube.com and type in the links to watch video clips of Pinpeat. After
watching the performances, answer the questions found on the next page. Write your answers in your
notebook.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tYa-N6cKGY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vx5VzphVxRs

In 3-5 sentences, describe how the Pinpeat musicians play their

instruments.
1. How many instrument players were needed to form the Pinpeat?
2. Are there instruments made of wood or metal?
5
 You can also visit the following web pages for additional reference: 
http://www.istov.de/htmls/cambodia/cambodia_start.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambodian_music
http://www.keosambathmusic.com/index.htm
Activity 3: Listening to Indonesian Music
Direction: Listen/watch to the examples of traditional instrumental of vocal music of Indonesia.
For those who don’t have an access to the internet, you can turn on your radio. Scheduled time of airing
will be announced. Answer the guide questions that follows.
Indonesia: The Gamelan Music of Indonesia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1AiCTJ9t8g&feature=share

Based on the videos, answer the guide question in your activity notebook.
1. What is your impression about the music you have heard?
2. What instruments are used in the music samples? (based your answer in Hombostel-
Sach Classification of Instruments)
3. What mood of feelings does it express?
4. How do the instruments help express the mood of the piece?
5. Is the song fast, slow or does the tempo vary?

In the activity above you have listened the music from a particular country in Southeast Asia.
If Cambodia has the Pinpeat ensemble, do other Southeast Asian countries have their own musical
ensembles? Let’s find out! Let’s continue the ride and explore the beauty of Indonesian music. 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

Gamelan

6
https://www.homages.cae.wisc.edu/~jjordan/images/gamelan3.jpg
 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

What’s More

Activity 4: Compare and Contrast

Direction: Gamelan is very popular in Indonesia. It is quite similar to the kumintang ensembles of
the Philippines. On your activity notebook, make a Venn diagram that can describe both musical ensembles.

GAMELAN in
Indonesia KUMINTANG in
the Philippines
BOTH

7
 What’s New

Activity 5: Listening to Myanmar Music

Direction: Listen/watch to the examples of traditional instrumental of vocal music of Myanmar.
For those who don’t have an access to the internet, you can turn on your radio. Scheduled time of airing
will be announced. Answer the guide questions that follows.
Myanmar: ““Full Moon Night - Burmese Harp””

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpoUHOCPaNw&f-
eature=share

Based on the videos, answer the guide question in your activity notebook.
6. What is your impression about the music you have heard?
7. What instruments are used in the music samples? (based your answer in Hombostel-
Sach Classification of Instruments)
8. What mood of feelings does it express?
9. How do the instruments help express the mood of the piece?
10. Is the song fast, slow or does the tempo vary?

What Is It

In the activity above you have listened the music from a particular country in Southeast Asia.
So, Cambodia has the Pinpeat ensemble while Indonesia has the Javanese and Balinese Gamelans.
However, the Indonesian Gamelans have singers performing with them. Do other Southeast Asian
countries have singers as well as their musical ensembles? Let’s read on.

Myanmar
https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/b/shwedagon-pagoda-located-yangon-myanmar-91740190.jpg

Myanmar was known as Burma until 1989. The

country’s name was officially changed by the military
government that took over in 1988. Early civilization in
Myanmar dates back to the 1st century with archaeological
evidences of the Pyu Kingdoms of Thayekhittaya (Sri Ksetra),
Beithano (Visnu), and Hanlin.
The music of Myanmar (or Burma) has similarities
with many other musical traditions in the region, including
Chinese music and Thai music, probably because its longest
land border is shared with China.

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 depending8on 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.

Other instruments in the Hsaing Waing are the:

1. Hne 2. Chauk Ion Pat

-a double reed pipe -a set of 8 tuned drums

2. Maung Hsaing 4. Pat Waing

-larger bronze gongs in a -a set of 21 drums in a circle

rectangular frame

5. Kyi Waing
6. Siand Wa
-small bronze gongs in a circular
-bell and clapper
frame

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.

9
 Myanmar not only has musical ensembles but also an extensive collection of classical songs called the
Mahagita. 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
Ayutthaya and the Mon people. The saung gauk usually accompanies these songs.

What’s New

Activity 6: Listening to Malaysian Music

Direction: Listen/watch to the examples of traditional instrumental of vocal music of Malaysia.
For those who don’t have an access to the internet, you can turn on your radio. Scheduled time of airing
will be announced. Answer the guide questions that follows.
Malaysia: “TRADITIONAL Malay Music - Malay Jungle”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj2Ehv21VGQ&feature=share

Based on the videos, answer the guide question in your activity notebook.
1. What is your impression about the music you have heard?
2. What instruments are used in the music samples? (based your answer in Hombostel-
Sach Classification of Instruments)
3. What mood of feelings does it express?
4. How do the instruments help express the mood of the piece?
10
 5. Is the song fast, slow or does the tempo vary?

What Is It

You have listened the music from a particular country in Southeast Asia form the previous
activity. This time, I will take you to another destination where you are about to witness a country
which is rich in culture.

Malaysia
Pahang State Mosque

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/77/75/6d/77756dc1c4ed6635f6a4ba2435533f46.jpg

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

1. West Malaysia – also known as Peninsular Malaysia
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.
Malaysian music is largely based around percussion instruments. It has multi-cultural influence and is
believed to have originated in the KelantanPattani 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 postPortuguese 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.

11
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.

themalaysiantimes.com

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

pelancongan-terengganu.blogspot.com
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.
agefotostock.com

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.

Activity 7: Song Analysis

Direction: Describe how the musical elements reflect the culture of
Malaysia. Copy the table below in your activity notebook. You may refer
the song from Activity 6.

Musical Elements Description that reflects Indonesian culture

TIMBRE
12
 DYNAMICS

RHYTHM

MELODY

FORM

Activity 8: Concept Map

Direction: Create a concept map that shows the vocal and/or instrumental music of a given country
specified in this lesson (Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar and Malaysia). You need to create four
concept maps (one concept map per country). Use the concept map below as your guide.

CAMBODIA

Activity 9: Mr. and Ms. Southeast Asia 2020

Direction: Assuming that you are one of the Top 3 finalists of Mr. and Ms. Southeast Asia 2020. You
will be given a final question. Write your answer in your activity notebook.

Assessment: (Post-Test)

Direction: Choose the correct answer. Write only the letter of your answer.
13
 1. What is the most popular form f music in Indonesia?
a. Gamelan c. Pesidhen
b. Gerong d. Kertok
2. What Cambodian musical ensemble or an orchestra that usually accompanies
ceremonial music of the royal courts and temples?
a. Gamelan b. Piphat
b. Pinpeat d. Samphor
3. How the musical instruments categorized in Myanmar?
a. Through sounds c. through performance
b. Through classification d. through prayers
4. What type of musical ensembles of Malaysia is similar to the kulintang of the Philippines, Brunei
and Indonesia?
a. Piphat c. Gamelan
b. Samphor d. Agung
5. What kind of orchestra is Piphat?
a. Combines of percussion and qind instrument
b. traditionally played by women in the court
c. performed in outdoor style with hard mallets or indoor style of podded
mallets
d. performed by singing in group
6. What country of Southeast Asia officially known as Lao Peoples’ Democratic Republic?
a. Cambodia c. Laos
b. Malaysia d. Singapore
7. What classification of music in Vietnam performed in religion and ceremonial
music?
a. Religions and Ceremonial Music
b. Imperial Court Music
c. Folk Music
d. Dai Nhac
8. Which of the following has 5 equidistant tones in octave?
a. Pelog c. Pasidhen
b. Slendro d. Gerong
9. What do you called a female soloist singer who sings with a Gamelan?
a. Pesidhen c. Gerong
b. Karawitan d. Slendro
10. Which of the following pinpeat ensemble instrument double headed drum played with hand?
a. Oneat c. Chhing
b. Kongvong d. Samphor

14
References

Centerforworldmusic.org, “Khrueang Sai Pii Chawaa at Chula”, Acessed June 20, 2020,
https://centerforworldmusic.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/khrueangsai-pii-chawaa-at-Chula.jpg

Galatourist.asia, “Khaen” Accessed June 20, 2020,

https://www.galatourist.asia/media/news/2006_khaen.jpg

Hubpages.com, “Khene The Mouth Organ of Laos” Acessed June 20, 2020,
https://hubpages.com/entertainment/Khene-The-Mouth-Organ-of-Laos

Indochina.tours, “Myanmar National Dress”, Acessed June 20, 2020, https://www.indochina.tours/wp-

content/uploads/2017/10/Myanmar-national-dress.jpg

Indonesia-tourism.com, “Borobudur Temple Sunrise”, Accessed June 20, 2020, https://www.indonesia-

tourism.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Borobudur-Temple-Sunrise-e1553916223163.jpg

Keosambathmusic.com, “Vietnamese Stringed Instrument Dan Day, Acessed June 20, 2020,
https://www.vietvisiontravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Vietnamese-Stringed-Instrument-Dan-
Day.jpg

Seasite.niu.edu, “Mahori Ensemble”, Acessed June 20, 2020,

http://www.seasite.niu.edu/thai/music/classical/thaiensemble/mahori_ensemble.htm

Sirinyas, “White Elephant of Thailand”, Accessed June 20, 2020, https://www.sirinyas-thailand.de/wp-

content/uploads/2017/05/White_Elephant_of_Thailand_Dressed-credit-Sodacan-wikimedia.org_.png

Vietnamdiscovery.com, “Thien Mu Oagoda in Hue”, AcessedJune 20, 2020,

https://vietnamdiscovery.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Thien-Mu-pagoda-in-Hue-
huedaytour.com_.jpg

Wikipedia.org, “Cambodian Music”, Accessed June 20, 2020,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambodian_music

Wikipedia.org, “Music of Cambodia”, Accessed June 21, 2020,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Cambodia

Wikipedia.com, “Music of Myanmar”, Acessed June 21, 2020,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Myanmar