Week 3

The title of this piece is Sekar Jupun, and it is performed by an unidentified Balinese gamelan ensemble. This music is from Indonesian (Bali), and is scored for kendang, gender, saron, bonang, gong ggeng, small cymbals, and an aerophone that resembles a wooden flute or whistle.

I think the most prominent link between context and musical structure is culturally based. Different traditions within each culture have associated music with specific structures. In western pop traditions, the structure is often verse-refrain, in Indonesian and West African traditions, the structure is colotomic. Each culture – and its sub cultures/traditions – has its own specific musical structures. Another context is the setting of musical usage. Is the music dance music, reflective music, ceremonial, or religious? The setting will affect tempo, style, chord progressions, and use of harmony. These are all parts of musical structure.

In the above example, musical structure is heavily influenced by culture. The piece is made up of colotomic patterns and many performers play the same part. The sequenced nature of the music as well as the equal importance of each music instrument in the soundscape reflect the cultural values of working together for the common good.