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South East Asian Instruments

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 Angklung                                             Gong                              Kendang


The angklung is a traditional percussion instrument in Malaysia and Java (Indonesia). It is made of two or more bamboo tubes that hang loosely within a wooden frame, and produces a sound when the tubes are shaken sideways.

The kendang is another native Javanese percussion instrument. The drums are normally played in pairs. During performances, the drum rests on a wooden stand. The kendang players direct the other musicians as they lead the tempo and indicate the starting and finishing points in the music.

The gender is another important percussion instrument. Its structure is similar to a xylophone but with a row of tuned bronze bars. The player uses a mallet in each hand to strike them.

Gongs have a long history in Asia and are commonly used in native Asian music. The gong ageng is a Javanese instrument. The set of gongs is normally hung from a wooden frame. The largest one is called the gong ageng and the smaller ones are called kempul and gong suwakan.

Check that you understand what these words mean in this document Percussion instrument: a musical instrument in which the sound is produced by one object striking another.
Tempo: the speed at which a musical composition is to be played.
Mallet: a light drumstick with a rounded head that is used to strike percussion instruments.