The document discusses the music of Southeast Asia, which includes 11 countries in the subregion. It provides an overview of traditional music styles in Southeast Asia, which vary greatly across the different ethnic and cultural groups. Some of the main musical genres include court music, folk music, and styles of smaller ethnic groups. Gamelan orchestras from Indonesia, Piphat/Pinpeat ensembles from Thailand and Cambodia, and Kulintang ensembles from parts of the Philippines, Borneo, Sulawesi and Timor are three of the main musical styles that have influenced others in the region. The document also lists some common instruments used in Southeast Asian music, such as string instruments, gongs, flutes, and bagpipes

1. MUSIC OF SOUTHEAST ASIA
Southeast Asian music include the musical traditions of this subregion of Asia. This subregion
consists of eleven countries, namely, Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,
Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Northeast India.
Music of Southeast Asia is best heard as an introductory sampler to the music of Burma,
Malaysia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. On "Burma: Shan Song," San Toke's gentle pentatonic
singing weaves through percussion and aereophone accompaniment. With "Malaya: Chinchem
(Temiar Dream Song)," the Temiar people sing and play drums and gongs in an effort to induce
trance. Western and traditional Thai instruments are combined on "Admiration of a Sleeping
Maiden." Composed by Yakob, this early world music fusion features suggestive lyrics about the
fondling of a maiden's lotus flowers. All in all, Music of Southeast Asia is a fascinating
introduction to the complex and variegated realm of musical cultures found in this area of the
world. And Henry Cowell's liner notes help to contextualize this heterogeneity.
Traditional music in Southeast Asia is as varied as its many ethnic and cultural divisions. Main
styles of traditional music can be seen: Court music, folk music, music styles of smaller ethnic
groups, and music influenced by genres outside the geographic region.
Of the court and folk genres, Gong-chime ensembles and orchestras make up the majority (the
exception being lowland areas of Vietnam). Gamelan orchestras from Indonesia, Piphat /Pinpeat
ensembles of Thailand and Cambodia and the Kulintang ensembles of the southern Philippines,
Borneo, Sulawesi and Timor are the three main distinct styles of musical genres that have
influenced other traditional musical styles in the region. String instruments also are popular in
the region.
Instruments in Southeast Asian music
 String instruments
 Zither (17 strings)
 Harp
 Lute
 Fiddle
 Metal instruments struck by mallets
 Gong
 Gangsa/Saron
 Pat waing/Godang
 Instruments with keys
 Bagpipes
 Khene
 Flutes
 Bamboo
 Metal