8 A World of Music
Introduction
In our last chapter, we discussed how different music from around the world inspired some impressionist composers. In this chapter, we’ll sample some music traditions from around the world. In our next chapter, we’ll briefly examine how some of these different music traditions have inspired popular music.
This is by no means an exhaustive collection of music from around the world. At the same time, some sections being longer than others does not indicate that it is of greater importance; rather, it reflects a greater abundance of available open material. We could spend an entire course focusing on world music and still have countless traditions to explore. This chapter—even any section of this chapter—could be expanded into a whole book. This chapter provides a sample of other music traditions which have informed music in this course and provides a chance to further explore. As you read, think about which music cultures you find especially fascinating, and see what else you can learn about them.
It’s worth noting how various examples from around the world can differ from what we’ve looked at earlier, or Western Classical Music.
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Western Classical Music |
Music from around the World |
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Pitch is fixed; harmony is present and helps propel the music. |
Pitch can be flexible, as musicians in various cultures bend and slide between notes; there is generally less emphasis on harmony. |
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Polymeter and polyrhythm are less common. |
In various cultures, polymeter and polyrhythm are more common.
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Musicians regularly play music from written notation. |
In various cultures, musicians regularly improvise and learn from an oral tradition. |
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Large ensembles require a conductor. |
Large ensembles are often led by a musician playing in the group. |
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A single person created the music, which is often considered a work of art. |
In some cultures, a group often collaborated on music, which is often considered a part of everyday life. |
Balinese Gamelan
Bali is one of many thousands of islands between the Pacific and Indian Oceans that make up the Republic of Indonesia. Other islands of Indonesia include Java, New Guinea, and Sumatra. One of the most prominent Indonesian music genres is gamelan, a traditional Indonesian ensemble of percussion instruments, often bronze, that can accompany dance, plays, religious ceremonies, and community events. The instruments can be very ornate.
Gamelan compositions are based on a single melody, and pieces are learned through oral traditions. One can often hear different interlocking layers of music in gamelan between the different melodies and fast figures, with gongs prominently appearing at key points in the structure of the piece.
Bali, one of Indonesia’s many islands, is predominantly Hindu with a population of two million people. Music is linked to both daily routine and religion in everyday life in Bali, and events of all kinds include gamelan performances. Gamelan is a percussion ensemb