ABSTRACT

This chapter reviews the historical, cultural, and musical overview of Southeast Asia. It then provides in-depth studies of varied musical traditions, followed by an "aural analysis" of the sound and prominent musical elements. Throughout Southeast Asia, though especially in urban areas, there is also a great variety of modernized popular music. In countries with developed media, this type of music reaches into the most remote areas, even if the televisions have to be powered by car batteries. Besides its indigenous peoples, Southeast Asia also hosts great numbers of Chinese immigrants, most of whom came to the cities to engage in commerce during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, often retaining their distinct temple traditions, instrumental music, and opera. Southeast Asia is a subcontinent known more for instrumental ensembles than for soloists. Vocal music plays a strong role, because many traditional forms articulate narratives of great warriors, royalty, and religious men, as well as great women, comic characters, and superhuman heroes.