Women singers are a comparatively recent innovation in a wayang performance, being seldom seen at the beginning of the century. Today, however, they are considered necessary and at least one, usually two or more pesinden are present at all performances. Sometimes even as many as 25 pesinden take part.

They sing solo, or in chorus, the composition, set to music, of well known poets of the past.

The pesinden do not sing the parts of the female characters in the wayang plays. The songs they sing may be changed at the dalang’s will from one performance to the next. Even if these songs, therefore, do not relate a part of the story of the play being performed, nevertheless they embellish it, accentuating some theme, perhaps, or pointing contrast. Their songs add to the wealth of the performance.