Malay Music in Singapore

Basic Melody

Malay Malay traditional music do not have tuning standards. Usually, the musical scale used is 7-pitches (heptatonic) or 5-pitches (pentatonic).

Musical Instruments

Percussion instruments are the most important instruments in malay music. They are divied into two: tuned and untuned. The tuned instruments are usually xylophones, while the untuned ones are usually membranophones.

Gamelan

Contary to popular belief, gamelan is not a musical instrument. instead, it is a malay musical ensemble. The instruments used are xylophones and gong-like instruments.

Saron

steel xylophone with 6 steel keys, used for main melody

Bonang

a set of gongs used to accompany main melody

Gender

a xylophone used to accompany main melody

Gong

used to mark the phrase of melody

Gendang

used to keep tempo of melody

Other Instruments

Serunai

Malay reed wind instrument. The body has 7 front finger holes and 1 at the back.

Seruling

a type of flute made of bamboo. It can be used both to play the melody or for accompaniment

nafiri

Wooden trumpet, usually used in Malay folk music

Gambus

It is used to accompany songs or dances.

Rebab

A string instrument with 2 - 3 string. It is used to accompany strorytelling or wayang (puppet) show.

Orkestra Melayu Singapura ( Singapore Malay Orchestra)

Orkestra Melayu Singapura (OMS) was formed on 1991. Its puprose is to preserve and promote malay music in Singapore . The orchestra combines western music techniques and traditional malay music techniques. OMS has been well-received both in national and international level. The orchestra has performed more than 500 times in major national and community events. They also has performed in Indonesia, Japan and Korea.

OMS (Youth)

The OMS (Youth) was formed in 2004. It has the same purpose, which is preserving and promoting malay music in Singapore, through introducing malay music to youths. The OMS (Youth) is active in introducing malay music to schools (primary, secondary, junior college, polytechincs and institutes of technical education).

Music @ SG
About Music Cultural Music Modern Music Esplanade About Us	Malay Music in Singapore Basic Melody Malay Malay traditional music do not have tuning standards. Usually, the musical scale used is 7-pitches (heptatonic) or 5-pitches (pentatonic). Musical Instruments Percussion instruments are the most important instruments in malay music. They are divied into two: tuned and untuned. The tuned instruments are usually xylophones, while the untuned ones are usually membranophones. Gamelan Contary to popular belief, gamelan is not a musical instrument. instead, it is a malay musical ensemble. The instruments used are xylophones and gong-like instruments. Saron steel xylophone with 6 steel keys, used for main melody Bonang a set of gongs used to accompany main melody Gender a xylophone used to accompany main melody Gong used to mark the phrase of melody Gendang used to keep tempo of melody Other Instruments Serunai Malay reed wind instrument. The body has 7 front finger holes and 1 at the back. Seruling a type of flute made of bamboo. It can be used both to play the melody or for accompaniment nafiri Wooden trumpet, usually used in Malay folk music Gambus It is used to accompany songs or dances. Rebab A string instrument with 2 - 3 string. It is used to accompany strorytelling or wayang (puppet) show. Orkestra Melayu Singapura ( Singapore Malay Orchestra) Orkestra Melayu Singapura (OMS) was formed on 1991. Its puprose is to preserve and promote malay music in Singapore . The orchestra combines western music techniques and traditional malay music techniques. OMS has been well-received both in national and international level. The orchestra has performed more than 500 times in major national and community events. They also has performed in Indonesia, Japan and Korea. OMS (Youth) The OMS (Youth) was formed in 2004. It has the same purpose, which is preserving and promoting malay music in Singapore, through introducing malay music to youths. The OMS (Youth) is active in introducing malay music to schools (primary, secondary, junior college, polytechincs and institutes of technical education).

Music @ SG