Grade 8

1st Quarter: Music of Southeast Asia

Geographical, historical, cultural background

Indonesia
o Gamelan - traditional ensemble music of Java and Bali in Indonesia,
made up predominantly of percussive instruments. The most common
instruments are metallophones played by mallets as well as a set of
hand played drums called kendhang which register the beat.
o Javanese vs Balinese Gamelan - The major difference between
Balinese Gamelan music in regards to Javanese music is that Balinese
music is strictly composed. There is very little space for improvisation,
although there is some at times. Each piece is written and practiced as
such to attain a unified musical expression (Tenzer, 1991). This
possibly gave the opportunity to composers to broaden the orchestral
complexity of their Gamelan music. Balinese musicians rehearse to
perfect their music more than any other large ensembles in the world
(Tenzer, 1991). While Javanese gamelan does not possess these
features, its great complexity comes from the many strands of
performers improvisations.
Thailand
o Piphat - a kind of ensemble in the classical music of Thailand, which
features wind and percussion instruments. It is considered the primary
form of ensemble for the interpretation of the most sacred and "highclass" compositions of the Thai classical repertoire
Cambodia
o Pinpeat - an orchestra of wind and percussion instruments (gongchimes and xylophones being the most important among them);
served as a musical background to rituals, court events and various
performances (drama, dance, shadow puppets)
Myanmar
o Saung Gauk - an arched harp used in traditional Burmese music

2nd Quarter: Music of East Asia (China, Japan, Korea)

Geographical, historical, cultural background

Traditional Instruments
o Idiophones - any musical instrument that creates sound primarily by
the instrument as a whole vibratingwithout the use of strings or
membranes
o Membranophones - any musical instrument which produces sound
primarily by way of a vibrating stretched membrane

Aerophones- any musical instrument that produces sound primarily

by causing a body of air to vibrate, without the use of strings or
membranes, and without the vibration of the instrument itself adding
considerably to the sound.
o Chordophones - a musical instrument that makes sound by way of a
vibrating string or strings stretched between two points
Instrumental Pieces (Solo and Ensemble)
Folk songs and ritual music
Kpop - musical genre originating in South Korea that is characterized by a
wide variety of audiovisual elements. Although it comprises all genres of
"popular music" within South Korea, the term is more often used in a
narrower sense to describe a modern form of South Korean pop music
covering: dance-pop, pop ballad, electronic, rock, metal,[2] hip-hop music
and R&B
Jpop - natively also known simply as pops, is a musical genre that entered
the musical mainstream of Japan in the 1990s
o

3rd Quarter: Music of South Asia and Middle East (India and Israel)

Geographical, historical, cultural background

Traditional instruments
Instrumental Pieces (Solo and Ensemble)
Folk songs and ritual music

4th Quarter: Traditional Asian Theater Music

Wayang Kulit - ancient Indonesian art of shadow play; unique combination

of ritual, lesson, and entertainment. Lacy shadow images are projected on a
taught linen screen with a coconut oil lamp or electric light. The Dalang, or
shadow artist, manipulates carved leather figures between the lamp and the
screen to bring the shadows to life.
Kabuki - traditional Japanese popular drama with singing and dancing
performed in a highly stylized manner. A rich blend of music, dance, mime,
and spectacular staging and costuming, it has been a major theatrical form in
Japan for almost four centuries
Peking Opera - a form of traditional Chinese theatre which combines music,
vocal performance, mime, dance, and acrobatics.