ACIC MEP 9753 Music of Troditionol Moloy Donce Lecture

Notes_ Students (t7)

Chapter 4: Traditional Malay Musical Instruments

In this chapter, we will:

1. visually and aurally identify the various Malay musleal instruments that are used in the traditional malay
dance music
learn how they are constructed
look into the various instrumental techniques of these instruments
4 look into the functions of these instrumentsin the ensemble

4.1 Role/ Function

Most traditional Malay ensembles include at least.
one melodic instrument
one instrument to provide rhythmic accompaniment
When more than one melodle instrument is present, the focus is usually on a melodic line, accompanied by
countermelodies based on it, resulting in a heterophonic texture.

Key terms to know for the classification of instruments:

their sound by settin8 up

1) Aerophone This is a general term for musical instruments that produce
vibrations in a body of air.

term tor musical instruments that produce their sound by settinB up

2)Chordophone: This general
is a

vibrations in a stretched string

sound by settinB up
This is a general term for musical instruments that produce their
3) ldiophone
vibrations in the substance of the instrument itself

term for musical instruments that produce their sound by setting up

4) Membranophone: This is a general
vibrations in a stretched membrane

lnstrumentation varies from one

standard instrumentation in traditional Malay ensemble
There isn't a

Below are the most common instruments, but exceptions

region to another and from one era to another.
and variations may occur.

Instrumentsthat play a melodic function Classification: Chordechan

1. Biola
fiddle, which was brought into Malaya by
the Portugese in the 16
This malay word refers to the folk
musicians in the same m a n n e r as the violin
from the European tradition.
centry. It is held by Malaysian

Taken from Grove Music Online. 'instruments, classification of

in
and Sachs ànd published by them in fur Ethnoiogie
Zets chrft
This hierarchical clasification was
devised by E.M von Hornbostel C. London, 1992, pp 444-61|
in Ethnomusicology
o n Introduction, ed H Myers,
1914 trans inGs/, xiv, 1961, pp.3-29, repro.
|Eng
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ACK MEP 975 Mu of Trodtional MMalay Dance Lecture Motes_Stude

2 Gambus Classification: Chodaptcat

This plucked lute is dertved from the Middle Eastern (Arab) 'ud/oud
It s often played as a form of relavation and entertainment after
work or to accompamy certain Malay dance music like the ropin and
ghorol

How it is mode
The gambus has a short, fretless neck and a wooden, pear-shaped
body, rounded at the back It is typicaly made of jackfruit wood. It
can carry five to eight nylon and metal strings, in double courses
and a single high string

How it is ployed
The gambus is played in a guitar-like fashion, with the body held horizonatally on the
player's lap The pertormers left hand stops the strings while his rght-hand plucks the
strings with a plectrum or with his fingers
Exomples
Malaysian Oud Dollah gambus
http //www youtube com/wotch ?v=v Qv2aSrl6Q
-

Malay Music Perf 1 by Zubir Abdullah http.//youtu

be/wPebA9Vy W1Y
Guitarmostly pvtor tu mote sound putntyt
Sometimes used With, Classification:Chiophene
or to replace the gambus

Rebab
Classification: Chardophe
The triangular-shaped
rebab is 3-stringed
a instrument that has a
wooden body Its front is covered with a membrane from the lining
of the cow's stomach that has been cleaned and dried. A small knob
called the susu (nipple). made from bee's wax, is attached to the
upper left side of the face and serves to dampen the sound. The back
side of the body is covered with cloth and colourful yarn. A
rounded wooden neck extends from the body and is attached to it
thick
by
a long, thin wooden spike placed vertically inside the body At the
lower end of the spike and at the base of the body, another thick
peg
is attached and serves as a toot on which the instrument rests when
it is played The rebab also has a head piece, located at the
uppe
end of the neck The three metal strings are stretched over a small
wooden bridge (pacat / grass leech) at one end, and attached to three lateral tuning pegs

The musician would use one hand to depress the strings and another to bow the strings with a wooden
bow. whose hairs are made from coconut husk fibers. In modern times, the nylon strings replace the
coconut husk fibers The musician would use his hands to tighten the nylon strings as he holds the bow
Examples
Rebab https.//www youtube com/watch?vEwaxbD9320hQ
Rebab OTM dan Rebab Tradisional http //www.voutube com/watch?v=XT_VKIbnPo
Description of Rebab https //www youtube com/watch?v=x3TpicnFMIS
https //wwwyoutube com/watch?y=2xqY4Uulvhg
https//www.youtube.com/watch?:3N10hWMdxi8
ACIC MEP
9753 Music of
Traditionol Malay Donce Lecture Notes_ Students (LT)
S.
Seruling/ Suling
The flute is Classification: Aarophone
commonly used as a melodic
found in Malaysia are end- instrument. The flutes
mouth or the nose. The
or
side-blown with breath from the
breath from the nose is
very
Some Malaysian
socieites because of the belief that important in
contains the soul or spirit of a man. nose breath
Hence the music of the
flute becomes nose
important in mourning for the deceased. In the past,
the sound of the flute is
associated with affection, love and death;
today, the instrument is also for played
In the entertainment.
past, the end-blown flutes typically
bamboo. are locally constructed from
The diameter and length of the seruling / suling may differ,
typically, there three four
but
equidistant,
are or or six finger holes (sometimes
but not always so) at the front of the pipe and
the back one thumbhole
at of the pipe. Depending on the region, the seruling may be
tuned to dif erent Scales. 20"
In the century, metal European flutes have
almost replaced them.
Examples:
Malay Music Perf 1 by Zubir Abdullah
Zapin Telok Blangah -Zubir Abdullah http://www.youtube.com/watch ?v= Ou9KSMZEylo
Dwi Smara, Suling
(Balinese flute) http://www.youtube.com/watch?y=VUI YUM2vPBI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWRHVorvE1k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?y=MEaspY-Sam8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8g0Cmlwdkg
6. Harmonium
The harmonium originated from Great Britain and was introduced to
India by religious missionaires in
Classification:eroptohe
the 19 century, where it established itself as a vital part of Indian music ensembles.
It is a small reed organ made of free beating metal reeds, a keyb0ard and a pair of bellows. The
musician plays the keyboard with one hand while pumping the bellows on the instrument with the
other.
This instrument originates from Great Britain and was introduced to India where it established itself as
a vital part of Indian music ensembles. Later, it was adapted by the Malays for ghazal performances.
Exomples
Harmonium Improvisation hrtp://www.youtube.com/watch?y=KBMHVOUTV
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUbAZbJDJOo

Harmonium Accordion

. Accordion Classification: Arvphake

This instrument was brought into Malaya by the Portuguese in the 16th century. The accordion is a box-

shaped that contains free beating metal reeds and a pair of bellows. The musician
instrument
the buttons and/or keys, causing the valves to
compresses and expands the bellows while pressing thus
the brass o r steel reeds. This causes the reeds to vibrate,
open and allow alr to flow across
The musician would press the keys or buttons of the
producing sound inside the body of the accordion. left-hand manual to
buttons o n the
right-handmanual to perform the melody, and depress the pre-set
bass and chords.
perform the accompaniment, consisting of
 ACIC MEP
9753 Music of Traditional Molay Donce Llecture Notes_Students
(L
Examples:
Serge Teleshev J.S. Bach Toccata and Fugue in D minor on the Accordion:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDFFUIGoBUC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5UGmISWQYS
8. Serunai
he
Classification: Herophone
Malaysian serunai is a quadruple-reed
instrument that typically appears as a pair in two different
Sizes (referred to as 'ibu' and
'anak') ranging from 40-50 centimeters long. Although the size is not
standard from one set to another,
usually the serunai ibu is about 10cm longer than the serunai anak.
It is typically made of wood with seven holes on the
front of the pipe and one thumbhole at the back of
the
pipe.The reed is typically made of four thin layers
of rice stalk or dried palm leaf, uSually taken from the
lontar (Palmyra) tree.

When the instrument is blown, the entire reed is

inserted into the player's mouth while the lips rest
against a lip-disk. This way, the reeds beat freely. As the melody played on the serunai
usually never
stops until a piece ends, the player has to use circular
It is often used in shadow
breathing technique.
play (wayang kulit) performance, menora (in Kelantan) or in silat
(martial
art).
Examples
Traditional Malay Wedding Music Gendang Tari Inai:
http.//www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEBo524c-tE
Serunai https://www.youtube.com/watch?y=9ZVVDBIYWg8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAQQVMtR4QQ
4.3 Instruments that play a rhythmic function
4.3.1 Two-headed barrel.-shap drums
1. Gendang
Classification: Membeanaabiaz
The gendang is double-headed with an
elongated barrel-shaped body
typically made from the wood of the jackfruit tree. It
usually appears as a
pair in two sizes, the larger called ibu ('mother) / bopak
('father) and the
smaller anak ('child')/ adik ('younger brother). The drumskins
are made
from goatskins, though the larger head may be made from
cowhide.
skins are attachd to the body with rattan laces, or Thes
today, with thick nylon
ropes. The drumheads are tuned by tightening or
loosening
the laces or
ropes
The gendang is usually held
horizontally in the players lap or sometimes placed on a wooden
stand. The musician will strike the drumhead with their hnads or with a
light rattan beater or a
wooen stick. The mnemonic syllabls for the small
gendang are 'cak' and "ting', while the large
gendang produces the sounds 'pak' and 'duh'.
Examples
http://www.youtube. com/watch?y=mFTfrE3BupM
http://youtu.be/9oYxpX0Q020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?y=SbX-JLBBvow

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ACIC MEP 9753 Music of Traditional Malay Donce Lecture Notes_Students (uT)

2. Manwas
Hih pitth
Classification: Mamnamhane
This drum originated from the Middle East. It is a
double
headed, cylindrical drum with a very shallow body. The
drumhead is about 16cm in diameter while the body is about 12
cm in depth. The skins are attached to the body by laces of rope
(usually nylon rope). The ropes are tied tightly to tighten the
skin.
In performance the drum is held in one hand and the only one
head is struck using the fingers of the other hand. At least two
with
different timbres are produced on this drum. These are obtained by striking the drumhead
four
In the Malay zapin the three or
the fingers in the middle of the drumhead or near its edge.
contributes speciftic drum
marwas drummers in a n interlocking style in which each player
play
resultant rhythmic pattern.
given rhythm to produce
a
sounds on specific beats and in a

Examples
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRGNKEyiU!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYtkdc7aldg

43.2 Single-headed,frame drums Classification: Membrata phua

1. Rebana
related the duff of the Middle East and it
This single-headed hand-held frame drum is
to

resembles the Arab tar.

which are tied from the
attached to the body by rattan lace5,
It is made of taut goat hide, which is
at the base end of the body.
Wooden wedges are inserted
hide to a thick rattan brace located
the drumhead.
between the body and rattan brace to tighten hands. Certain
who strikes the drumhead with both
Each rebana is played by a single player strikes the
is struck in specific ways. When the player
timbres a r e produced when the drumhead
sound is produced ('dung'). Striking the
head near
drumhead in the center, a low and resounding
drum o u t specific
sound ('tak'). Players use these timbres to
its edge produces a high and sharp
rhythmic patterns for different dance pieces.

It appears in many forms and sizes:

wooden frame and large head
o rebona berarok: deep
shallow frame and large head
o redop small
discs or jingles inserted into the frame and a
rebano kercing: shallow frame with
metal
o

head
massive in size and originate trom the state of Kelantan. 15 or more large
orebono besor circular brace at the base of the body and
tuning wedges are usually inserted between the
and accompanies the
The rebana besar is always hung vertically
the lower rim of the body.
or, in sets of three or more. It is used to play interlocking
singing of zikir (religious texts)
entertainment.
rhythmic patterns for on the ground,
rebana besr; it may be hung or set
rebana ubi: Slightly smaller than the
and is played with the hands or a padded
beater.
usually with the head in a vertical position, and ensembles of four
in interlocking rhythmic patterns,
Two men often beat a single drum
or more drums play in an interlocking style.
Examples:
http://www.youtube.com/wotch?y=Hx-6dsnZ4kc

http//www.youtube.com/wotch?y=kZet+ixsiyo

http//youtu.be/Hx-6dsn24kc (clearer view of instrument+improvisation)

http://youtu.be/Hx-6dsn24kc (in an ensemble, performonce setting)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AvRX6VlyH4

Rebana Ubi: h t t p s : / / w w w . y o u t u b e . c o m / w a t c h ? v = 3 U z 5 9 d V F R P 8

Rebana Kercing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT 5wi79joo

ACIC MEP 9753 Music of Traditional Maloy Dance lecture Notes_Students (LT)

w..w

2. Kompang Classification: mgphovl

A shallow frame drum without jingles in small to medium sizes,
with a single head tacked to the body. 'tighter sound, bright, dry'

Exomples
http://www.youtube.com/watch?y=-2HHmFF82aw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?y=3VO5jsxUgQ0
3. Gedumbak / Gedombak Classification: MmbanauL
It is a single membrane wooden goblet drum, attached with lacing and wooden
wedges for tuning. Placed horizontally in the player's lap, it is played with a single
bare hand. The head is struck by the hand and fingers wahile the other hand alters
the tone by covering the open lower end of the drum to varying degrees to

pairs, in
produce specific timbres. Like the gendong, this drum
usually appears
in

large and small sizes, and is also made from the wood of jackfruit
a tree.

Examples:
http://www.voutube.com/watch?y=U69HTLk5uwk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?y=sDPMqzG 2kw
Dok Classification: 04nb uasghon,
A short cone-shaped body drum (c.48cm long). Only one drum head is attached to the bodý by
rattan or rope laces. It is struck by the fingers of one hand while the other hand holds the body of
the drum. It is used to punctuate only certain beats of a given marwas rhythmic pattern, often
emphasizing upbeats (or offbeats). It provides greater dynamism to the already syncopate
set up in the marwas section.
rhythmic pattersn

Marwas (left) and Dok (right)

5. Gon8
Commonly found in Southeast Asia. This hangin8 instrument looks like big brass tray with a
a

protruding navel (boss) This

at its centre where it is struck. instrument is generally used to mark out the
start and end of the rhythmic pattern for each Malay dances.

Examples: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rslX3aebDQE