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TYPES
OF MUSIC IN MALAYSIA: Folk
Music
Folk music in Malaysia can basically be divided into three broad categories: dance-related forms, folk theatre-related forms and independent forms. You can read more about the basis for these classifications here. Further details on each genre are found here. Malaysian folk music may
be subdivided into various overlapping subcategories. The categories are
proposed to help the non-specialist to gain a broad overview of the types
of folk music in the country. All of the categories below include additional
subcategories of music for dance or theatre or independant songs.
“Religious” and “ritual” music are distinguished under the main headings “spiritual” and “individual” respectively. “Religious” music is defined as music which is used in conjunction with religious worship or religious services, while “ritual” music is defined as that which is used in conjunction with secular or social rituals such as Malay weddings. Music listed under the category “Non-religious” and “social” includes music which is used in a social context, though not in a ritualisitic sense. Examples of this sort of music include children’s songs. “Festive” music is defined as music which is associated with, and usually only performed during, specific festivals which occur at specific times of year, such as Hari Maulud Nabi, Chinese New Year and Deepavali. Independent songs as opposed to “dance” and “theatre” music is defined as any music, including vocal song, which is sung or performed independently of dance or drama. The reader is reminded at this point that any specific song or piece of folk music may be described as belonging to any or all of the subcategories listed, (i.e. the subcategories are not mutually exclusive): spiritual, individual, community or function. For example, a religious song which is sung only in a social context, though not part of any set ritual, during a specific festival each year might be categorised as “religious”, “social”, “festive” and “independent song”. The reason for these additional levels of subcategorisation is in order to provide for alternative search criteria. It is useful to be able to search for information any, several or all of the various subcategories defined above, which is the primary reason for defining the various subcategories. However, to avoid redundancy in discussion caused by the overlapping nature of the subcategories defined, only one approach of subcategorisation is taken in describing the various types of Malaysian folk music. The functional approach is taken because this is possibly the least ambiguous method of categorisation. |
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