Indonesiawesome!

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The music of Indonesia, or Indonesiawesome as it is more widely known, is not a limited type of music, it does not conform to one or even a few way of doing things. There is no single distinctive “Indonesian way.” Each of the islands of Indonesia has a distinctive and separate musical tradition. Several have already been catalogued and explored, but there is still more yet to accomplish in this area of study however.

The culture of Indonesia is vast and full of different ethnicity. This wide range of people has made a huge difference in the culture has influenced the vast music in Indonesia. Heritage in Indonesia consists of a mix of Chinese, Indian, European, and Malay,and all of this is heard in their music.

Indonesia lies between the Indian and the Pacific Ocean's and has around 400 volcanoes. It is divided into 26 different provinces, 2 special regions and 1 special city districit, with 500 different ethnic groups and languages spoken. The people of Indonesia first identify themselves by their ethnic or cultural group before saying that they are Indonesian. =Regions and Provinces= = = =Regional Facts:=
 * Aceh
 * North Sumatra
 * West Sumatra
 * Riau
 * Riau Islands
 * Jambi
 * Bengkulu
 * South Sumatra
 * Babel
 * Lampung
 * Banten
 * Dki Jakarta
 * West Java
 * Central Java
 * Yogyakarta
 * East Java
 * West Kalimantan
 * Central Kalimantan
 * East Kalimantan
 * South Kalimantan
 * Bali
 * West Nusa Tenggara
 * East Nusa Tenggara
 * South Sulawesi
 * West Sulawesi
 * South Sulawesi
 * Central Sulawesi
 * Gorontalo
 * North Sulawesi
 * Maluku
 * West Papua
 * Papua

The national language is Bahasa.
Indonesia is a [|Presidential Representative Democratic Republic] The national anthem is [|Indonesia Raya] The Capital is Jakarta =Revolution From Dutch= From 1945 to 1949 Indonesia fought to gain its independence from the Dutch. The Indonesian's Independence Day was declared on August 17 of 1945 and the Indonesians had to fight to be recognized as an independent country by the Netherlands.

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====Dance in Indonesia was believed to start out as a religious worship. The country’s diversity is believed to influence both the music and dance. With more than 500 different ethnic groups, there are about 3000 different dance styles. The most popular of these dances are Java or Javanese. Royalty would use this dance as spiritual sophistication while the poor would use it as a form of entertainment.==== media type="youtube" key="HfrOSJRCsfM" height="315" width="420" align="center"

Another dance that is popular in Indonesia is Balinese dance, and is unlike the Javanese dance. Instead of slow controlled movements, the dance is very fast paced with many movements. media type="youtube" key="v08ZV34aW74" height="315" width="420" align="center"

Islam in the main religion in Indonesia, and in Islamic tradition music is haraam (forbidden). The second largest religion in Indonesia is Hinduism. In Hinduism there are devotional sangs that are called Bhajans. The Bhajans are used to get closer to the Gods and Goddesses and to acheive religious enlightenment. media type="youtube" key="Hd__k4i-Q7o" height="315" width="420" align="center"

This video is for the Ganesh, the God of wisdom and sucess. There are many other religions in Indonesia, however Hinduism seems to be the religion that most influences the music in this area.



=
Instruments are a very important part of the Indonesian musical tradition, as they are in most musical traditions from modern American to the ancient thumping on hide drums Native Africans still practice today. Important musical instruments for this area's tastes and tradition include:=====

- This Gamelan is composed of layers of melodies and rhythms being built one atop the other. This music is repeated over and over in a cycle until a signal is given for the end to come. media type="youtube" key="jyMHo9BfQyo" height="315" width="420" -While very similar to the Javanese Gamelan there are differences, such as being much speedier and upbeat in general. It is also characterized by sudden changes in the music. To the Balinese metallophones are more numerous and important than the gongs the Javanese appreciate so visibly. One very unique characteristic is the utilization of cymbals. media type="youtube" key="LRS13e5R8GI" height="315" width="420" media type="youtube" key="zpb1Hwwx0gw" height="315" width="420" media type="youtube" key="n59BBPvFxYk" height="315" width="420" media type="youtube" key="l2BFt0M0o2U" height="315" width="420" media type="youtube" key="Wlylv-W7KbU" height="315" width="420" media type="youtube" key="0p8whFfetzM" height="315" width="560"
 * The Javanese Gamelan
 * The Balinese Gamelan
 * The Saron[[image:Saron.jpg]]-The Saron is the basic melody maker for the Gamelan. It is much like our own Bell sets although the notes they make are different and are arranged in a different manner as well.
 * The Bonang[[image:bonang.jpg]]-Bonang are a set of small gongs set into a wooden frame and raised on a set of strings. They can be modified to better fit the economy of the area they are used in.
 * The Gender[[image:Gender.jpg]]- The Gender is again much like our own bell instruments. It is in face a type of metallophone.
 * The Gambang[[image:gambang.jpg]]-Once again a very xylophone like instrument.
 * The Kethuk[[image:kethuk.jpg]]-The Kethuk is mainly a beat-keeper for the Gamelan

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 * The Kenong[[image:kenong.jpg]]- The Kenong is a special type of gong that is typically placed on its side. Despite its relatively large size it carries a somewhat high pitch.
 * The Gong Ageng[[image:gong_ageng.jpg]]- Dissimilar from what we consider the typical gong this indonesian gong, like others, has a more focused, bell like quality. Not a typical "crashing" sound.
 * The Gong Kempul[[image:gong_kempul.jpg]]- One of many important indonesian gongs that hang on a rack near the back of the Gamelan, often chared between players.
 * And a set of four Suling[[image:suling.gif]]- An indonesian ring flute, it can be tuned to many different scales.

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One of the biggest musical traditions associated with Indonesia, is a percussion ensamble known as [|Gamelan]. The Gamelan consist of several different bells and gongs, including the ones listed in the "Instruments" section of this page.Gamelan originated nearly 2,000 years agoas a gift to the god-king Sang Hyang Guru. Gamelan is most commonly seen with puppets. It is also used as a ritual performance with weddings, religious cerimonies, and so on.media type="youtube" key="IRXa8yqJuF4" height="315" width="420"

Each Gamelan is different from another, like fingerprints each is unique. However similiar to western orchestras organization is kept uniform, so that no matter the actual makeup of the Gamelan, the way it is put together is similar.

Instruments utilized in the Gamelan include: sets of turned bronze gongs, gong-chimes, metallophones, drums, flutes, bowed and plucked string instruments, and occasionally a singer or two. In poorer areas such as villages were bronze is less available instruments are made from other materials ranging from iron to bamboo.

To those living in Indonesia, and those who share those beliefs, the Gamelan is a sacred thing with preternatural and supernatural powers. What we would know as "magic". Everyone is respectful to the Gamelan as the are believed to have spirits residing in each instrument, guiding there use and giving them powers. Certain rules are rituals are followed in order to avoid offending the Gamelan, such as not wearing shoes while playing one. Some instruments are considered so powerful and so important that only those qualified by certain rituals may interact with them. These same powerful ones are believed to have the ability to influence nature itself through the music they produce.

Gamelan is not an individualists art. It is a coming together of talent and effort to produce and effect greater than the sum of its parts. There are no soloists. There are no leads. The important thing is the Gamelan.

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