TRADITIONAL ASIAN

THEATER MUSIC
A compilation of different Asian
theater music

WAYANG KULIT

- is one of the most distinctive shadow plays

among Asian dramas which has evolved and
grown most fullyin Java and Bali. It makes us
of flat puppets that are cutted- designed
with intricate patterns

Distinguishing characters of Wayang Kulit

1. The Puppets
2. The Characters
3. The Dalang

INSTRUMENTS OF WAYANG
KULIT

The Gamelan- this ensemble is the heart of

art music of Indonesian because it performs a
vital part in establishing the moods and
emphasizing the action of the plays.

Each of the instrumentalists of NIYAGA who

are the gamelan musicians will sit behind of
the DALANG which serves as the musical
accompaniment for the Wlang Kulit Play

INSTRUMENTS OF GAMELAN

SARON- is the basic melodic instrument, an old

idiophone instrument consisting of bronze keys
and played with a wooden mallet. ( The saron
comes in three sizes, saron panerus-highest, saron
barung- middle , and saron demung- lowest.

REBAB- is a two-stringed bowed and a blown

suling flute that enhances the melody

GENDER PANERUS- the highest pitch in gender

family in gamelan

KABUKI

Kabuki compromises of these Japanese

characters where KA means songs, BU
means dance, KI means skill.

Kabuki play is more entertaining because of

its colorful and amazing make-ups,
movements, skills, and other spectacular
effects and to its unrevealing characters on
stage.

CHARACTERISTICS OF KABUKI

Dance
Costume
Make-up
Music

INSTRUMENTS THAT
ACCOMPANY THE KABUKI

1. Hyoshigi- also known as ki and

tanniki, this wooden clapper is used in
ceremonial music in kabuki play to signal
the beginning and end of the performance
in the kabuki.

INSTRUMENTS THAT
ACCOMPANY THE KABUKI

2. Hayashi musical ensemble for kabuki

theater which is a live performance of the
shamisen players.

Debayashi is the onstage segment of this

ensemble located on a place of the stage
right behind the geza.

INSTRUMENTS THAT
ACCOMPANY THE KABUKI

3. Debayashi- this is an onstage music

performance in full view of the audience.

Debayashi is divided into two consisting

of a song or chant and with highly
dramatic recitation with shamisen as
musical accompaniment.

DEBAYASHI

A. Nagauta it is performed on a tiered

platform at backstage.

The instruments used are: shamisen, drums,

flute, and singers

B. Jouri - they are located at the left side of

the stage.

INSTRUMENTS THAT
ACCOMPANY THE KABUKI

4. Hyudorodoro it is used to mark

the appearance of the ghost play by
the instruments of flute and drum.

INSTRUMENTS THAT
ACCOMPANY THE KABUKI

5. Geza This music is used for some special

effects in kabuki, the musicians are4
invisible and the audience are (kagebayash
hidden musicians) seated at the lower seats
of the stage.

The style of music is enhanced through the

use of special drums, gongs, bells and
cymbals.

THE PERKING OPERA OF CHINA

It is believed that after the four Anhui opera

troupes came to Beijing, Chinese Peking
Opera had grown fast to its development
because of the Emperor Qianlog.

During the ancient times, Peking Opera is

performed with the orchestra and percussion
bands.

INSTRUMENTS AND MUSIC THAT

ACCOMPANY PEKING OPERA
SOLO SONG

Arias is an example of a solo music or a song

that portrays one of the characters.

MUSICAL SPEECH
The musical speech is where the actors are
speaking through music.

INSTRUMENTS AND MUSIC THAT

ACCOMPANY PEKING OPERA
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

1. Wuchang which is a military

instrumentation, most of the instruments are
percussion

2. Wechang which means a civic

instrumentation.