Wayang Kulit Music: Traditional Asian Theater Music Quiz and Flashcards

What does the term 'Chou' mean in Chinese?

What does the term 'bu' represent in the word 'Kabuki'?

Which percussion instrument is a part of the Peking Opera ensemble according to the text?

Which musical segment of Kabuki involves highly dramatic recitation with the accompaniment of shamisen?

What is one of the popular songs performed in the Nagauta style of music in Kabuki?

What does 'wayang' mean in Indonesian and Malay when used to refer to Puppet theater?

What does the term 'kulit' refer to in the context of Wayang Kulit?

Which traditional Indonesian percussion orchestra accompanies Wayang kulit performances?

Which Peking opera role requires a strong voice and the ability to exaggerate gestures due to the forceful character it portrays?

What is the main male role in Peking opera referred to as?

What is the role of the 'dalang' in Wayang Kulit performances?

Traditional Asian Theater Music

Wayang Kulit (Indonesia)

Wayang means "theater" in Indonesian and Malay, and can refer to the puppet itself in puppet theater.
Kulit means "skin", referring to the leather construction of the puppets, which are carefully cut and supported with buffalo horn handles and control rods.
The dalang prepares all materials used, including cloth and light, for the shadow puppet performance.
Wayang kulit performances are accompanied by a gamelan ensemble, a traditional Indonesian percussion orchestra.

Peking Opera (China)

The goal of Peking opera artists is to make every performance exceptionally beautiful in every movement.
Distinct make-up faces of Peking Opera actors and actresses show their outstanding roles in the play, differing in color to represent an artist's role symbolically.
There are four main roles in Peking Opera:
- Sheng: the main male role.
- Dan: any female role.
- Jing: a painted face male role, playing primary or secondary roles, requiring a strong voice and ability to exaggerate gestures.
- Chou: a male clown role, playing secondary roles, meaning "ugly" in Chinese.
Types of music in Peking Opera include:
- Aria: a solo accompaniment portraying a character.
- Qupai: a fixed-tuned melody.
- Percussion pattern: providing context to the music according to the character's rank and personality.

Kabuki (Japan)

Kabuki means "song" (ka), "dance" (bu), and "act" (ki).
One of the onstage segments of Kabuki is called Debayasi, divided into two song (nagauta and joruri) or a chant with highly dramatic recitation with the accompaniment of shamisen.
Nagauta is a popular shamisen music, with songs like "Sakura" being widely performed in Kabuki, Japan.

'Wayang' is a term for puppet theater in Indonesia, with 'Kulit' referring to the leather construction of the puppets. Test your knowledge on this traditional Asian theater music form by exploring its history, materials used, and performance aspects.