(Spotlight4787)Traditional Music in Indonesia 03 October, 2011
Voice 1
Hello and welcome to Spotlight.
I'm Christy VanArragon. Voice 2
And I'm Joshua Leo.
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The Republic of Indonesia is made up of more than 17,500 islands.
These islands are a home to more than 225 million people. There are 300 different ethnic groups in Indonesia. That is a lot of different cultures! It is hard to identify one particular style of music with that many different cultures. But there is one style of music that can be considered traditional in Indonesia. Today's Spotlight program is on Gamelan music. Voice 2
Gamelan music is a traditional form of music that is popular in the areas around Java and Bali in Indonesia. Gamelan music is influenced by many other cultures, including China, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and even parts of Europe. Voice 1
Gamelon music is played by groups of musicians – orchestras.
The root of the word gemalen is gamel. This means to hammer or hit with a mallet. Many of the instruments are round metal discs, or flat bars. A musician hits them with a stick - a mallet. Voice 2
Each gamelan orchestra is different from each other.
However they all still have the same organization. Each orchestra organizes the musicians in the same order, based on the kind of instruments. The music from the Javanese gamelan sounds a little different than the music from the Balinese gamelan. The areas of Java and Bali have a different history and culture, and this creates different kinds of music. Voice 1
The earliest evidence of Gamelan music and its many instruments is from about twelve hundred [1,200] years ago. The evidence includes stone pictures of the instruments in the Borobudur Buddhist temple in Java. Many of the instruments in the pictures are not used today. But they still played an important part in the earliest Gamelan music. Voice 2
One instrument that is missing from the pictures is the gong.
The gong is a very popular and important instrument in Gamelan music today. Gongs are usually flat metal discs or circles. A person hits the gong with a mallet. There are often different kinds of gongs. There are gongs that hang in the air. Some gongs sit on an open table. There are even hand held gongs. These different positions help to create many different sounds. Voice 1
Historical documents show that gongs first appeared in Indonesia around the ninth century. At this time, they were only a weapon for battle. The sound made enemies afraid. They did not appear as instruments until the thirteenth [13th] and fourteenth [14th] centuries. Historians date the gongs to this time because of pictures on temple walls. However, gongs probably did not come from Indonesia. There is no evidence of the bronze gongs in Indonesia before the ninth century. But gongs were common in surrounding countries before then. It is likely that these instruments were brought from other countries. Voice 2
During the Majapahit period, all the elements of gamelan music came together. This empire, or kingdom, covered most of Indonesia and some surrounding areas about seven hundred years ago. The music included the influences from China and Southeast Asia. Java became known as the birthplace of gamelan music. Voice 1
The Majapahit empire ended in the fourteenth century.
This led to the rise of the Mataram empire. The remaining Majapahit kingdoms moved to the island of Bali. This led to a cultural divide between Bali and the rest of Indonesia. Voice 2
The music you are listening to is Balinese gamelan music.
This music is still played today. It is very similar to the music of the Majapahit period. The music sounds similar because musicians play many of the same instruments as in the past. But while the instruments have remained similar, the style of music has changed. Each generation has added their own sound to the music. Voice 1
The music you are now hearing is Javanese gamelan music.
The rise of the Mataram empire here changed the music and the instruments in many important ways. Voice 2
For example, bronze metal workers of this period made bronze differently. The new techniques helped to make new bronze instruments, including very large gongs. Today, they are used in both Javanese and Balinese gamelan music. But Mataram bronze first made them possible. Voice 1
The use and purpose for the music also changed.
In the Majapahit period, gamelan music was played in open air temples. People believed that the music invited ancient spirits, and made evil spirits afraid. But the Mataram empire changed the way the people worshipped. The people had been Hindu. Now they were Muslim. Musicians did not play for worship. Instead, they played for important government events. Instead of the open air temples, the music was played inside. People used the music to meditate - to slow and direct their thoughts. Voice 2
The change of environment and purpose changed the sound of the music.
Because the Javanese music was played in buildings, the instruments had to change. The mallets and the gongs needed to be softer. This made the instruments a little more quiet. The softer vibrations made for more pleasing music for the ears. The music also slowed down to take advantage of the sound in the new buildings. Voice 1
Even during the past one hundred years, gamelan music has continued to change. Today, government performing arts schools are the future of gamelan music. Students create new music and dance with the gamelan music. They are influenced by Western music. But the students are also expanding the popularity and knowledge of gamelan music around the world. Voice 2
Gamelan music has been important in Indonesia for hundreds of years.
It is not the same as it was eight hundred years ago. But it continues to be important today. Change in music is something every culture experiences. Each culture changes with each generation. These changes keep culture alive and important to the people. With the interest of the Indonesian people, Gamelan music will continue to live for many centuries more. Voice 1
To hear more gamelan music, visit the links on our website at http://www.radio.english.net.
Voice 2
The writer of this program was Erin Layman.
The producer was Joshua Leo. The voices were from the United States. This program is called 'Traditional Music in Indonesia'. Voice 1
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