One of the unique Indonesia traditional instrument that developed from generation to generation, and can be played for any song by anyone.
Angklung is Indonesia traditional instrument from West Java which made from bamboo. The beauty of Angklung's tone, small size, and played by shake it made Angklung become one of the popular Indonesia traditional instrument not only in Indonesia but also in the world.
For your information, West Java is located in the west side of Java Island, Indonesia. West Java's capital city is Bandung. West Java is very famous with culinary, beautiful view, and traditional culture performance. One of the West Java's traditional culture that very popular in Indonesia and International is Angklung.
HISTORY OF ANGKLUNG
In the past, community in West Java had problem with the harvest due to long dry season. They believed that the god of harvest, Sri Dewi, didn't want to go down to earth to fertile their paddy.
Then, West Java community tried to entertain and call Sri Dewi to help them harvesting paddy. They made instrument from bamboo awi wulung (black bamboo) and awi temen (white bamboo), and played it for make Sri Dewi happy and harvesting their paddy. It works and community's paddy had a good harvest at that time.
Angklung also used for harvest party and combined with traditional dance for celebrating community's harvest success.
In Holland colonial period, Sunda community (West Java's majority tribe), use angklung for raise the spirit of fight in order to fight against Holland colonial. That's why at that time, Holland colonial prohibit people to play Angklung.
In 1938, Holland Inladsche School (HIS) teacher, Daeng Soetigma, made innovation to Angklung by changing Angklung from simple instrument into modern instrument. He succeeded to bring back Angklung to the society and after Indonesia independence, he performed in many important national event.
TYPES OF ANGKLUNG
There are 7 types of Angklung that still exist in Indonesia:
1. Angklung Gubrag
This is the oldest Angklung that remain in Sri Baduga museum, Bandung. This angklung is played for big events in the end of year, harvest event, and national big days.
- Local community play Angklung gubrag in paddy's festival
2. Angklung Kanekas
In Kanekas, where badui tribe is living, Angklung kanekas is used for ritual that related to religion and paddy. This Angklung is played by male only.
- Angklung Kanekas
- Badui Tribe play Angklung Kanekas
3. Angklung Badeng
Badeng is musical performance that use Angklung as main instrument. Angklung Badeng has function to entertainment and spread Islam religion.
- Angklung Badeg
4. Angklung Bungko
Same as Angklung badeng, Angklung bungko is also used for spread Islam religion.
- Local community play Angklung Bungko
5. Angklung Buncis
First time made at 1795 in Cipurut town, Arjasari, Bandung. At first, Angklung Buncis was used for religion ritual and paddy festival, but now it becomes entertainment.
- Angklung Buncis
6. Angklung Dogdog Lojor
Dogdog lojor is the name of art in united Bantul tribe which located around Halimun mountain (the border of Jakarta, Bogor, and Lebak). In dogdog lojor art performance, one of the main instrument is Angklung. After harvest period, once a year, local community hold festival in the town's center.
- Angklung Dogdog lojor played by local community for parade in local event
7. Angklung Padaeng (Angklung modern or Angklung daeng)
Daeng Soetigma, the teacher of Hollandsch Inlandsche School (HIS) made innovation in Angklung in order to raise the popularity of Angklung in society, especially after Holland colonial prohibit Angklung to avoid a war. He turned traditional Angklung into modern version that popular in Indonesia society until nowadays.
The biggest different between traditional Angklung and modern Angklung is traditional Angklung was played by only one person while modern Angklung is played by many players because one player can only play one tone so Angklung players must match the rhythm and tone each other.
As teacher, Daeng thought Angklung Padaeng gave positive point in terms of education especially in character building such as team work, discipline, creativity, and responsible.
ANGKLUNG PROGRESS IN MODERN DAY
In 1966, Angklung master, Udjo Ngalagema, developed Angklung technique and teach to many people in Indonesia especially in West Java. He establish Angklung center in West Java which called Saung Angklung Udjo (Saung Udjo/SAU). In there, Angklung make significant progress like not only for play Indonesia traditional song or accompany traditional dance, but Angklung can be used for play jazz, pop, and rock music.
In Saung Angklung Udjo, master of ceremony hosting Angklung events with three foreign languages such as English, Japanese, and German because many for
eign tourists come to Saung Angklung Udjo to see Angklung performance.
eign tourists come to Saung Angklung Udjo to see Angklung performance.
Saung Angklung Udjo have performed in U.S., Holland, and Australia. They even invited by embassy from other countries. Students from overseas such as French and American often coming to Saung Angklung Udjo to learn more about Angklung.
Saung Angklung Udjo have big role in Angklung progress in domestic and international. It makes Angklung become one of the trade mark of Indonesia traditional culture.
HOW ANGKLUNG CAN UNITE PEOPLE IN INDONESIA AND WORLD
In 18 November 2010, UNESCO declared that Angklung as "Intangible Elements of World". It shows that Angklung is originally Indonesia traditional instrument and avoid other countries claim that it's their culture.
In July 2011, there's gala dinner held in Nusa Indah Hall, Bali. More than 50 foreign minister attended in that gala dinner such as foreign minister of U.S., ASEAN countries, China, Russia, and European countries.
After discuss International problem, the organizer distributed Angklung to each foreign ministers. Angklung master from Saung Angklung Udjo teach how to play Angklung to the ministers in simple way. It was fun and warm atmosphere, all foreign ministers including Hillary Clinton had fun play Angklung.
Even representative from South and North Korea laugh each other and concentrate when they played Angklung. It's like they have no problem and like old friend. After that, there's Angklung performance to entertain all foreign ministers.
- Minister Foreign of U.S. Hilari Clinton, Minister Foreign of Vietnam Pham Gie Khiem, and Minister Foreign of Timor Leste Leste Zacarias Albano da Costa, having fun play Angklung in gala dinner, Bali
- NUSA DUA, BALI, 22/7 - Gala Dinner, Foreign Minister of Indonesia Marty Natalegawa (2 right), with Foreign Minister of U.S. Hillary Clinton (3rd left), Foreign Minister of Viet Nam Pham Gia Khiem (2nd left), Foreign Minister of Timor Leste Zacarias Albano da Costa (left), Photo by: ANTARA/Widodo S. Jusuf/11
It shows how Angklung can unite world because its uniqueness and the beautiful tone.
ANGKLUNG BREAK NATIONAL AND WORLD RECORD
23 April 2015 will remembered as the biggest day in Angklung's history. In Asia-Africa conference (KAA) anniversary day, in the event with theme "Harmony Angklung For The World" there were 20,704 people played Angklung together in Siliwangi stadium, Bandung, West Java. In that event, they played national song and modern song such as "I will survive" by Cake and "We are the world" by Michael Jackson.
- Indonesia society play Angklung in Siliwangi Stadium, Bandung. The biggest number of Angklung player in Indonesia history
- Haromony Angklung For The World, the event that break Indonesia Record Museum and Guinness Book of Record
- Daeng Udjo and Indonesia embassy for U.S, Dion Pati Dajal, and Lucia from Guinness Book of Record, in Guinness record certificate presentation
Such a amazing achievement for Indonesia traditional culture. Angklung isn't only played by Indonesian, but people around the world can play Angklung and perform Angklung together.
In October 2015, I watched Angklung performance in Indonesia culture exchange in Osaka.
The song that performed wasn't only Indonesia song but also Japanese anime song such as Detective Conan song, Kimi ga ireba (きみがいれば）by Iori and Totoro's song, tonari no totoro (となりのトトロ) by Akiyama.
It's very wonderful performance by Indonesian students in Osaka. They can play those two Japanese songs very well. Here's the video:
Another Angklung event in Japan held in my previous university, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) when Indonesian culture week event 2013.
For one week me and the other Indonesian manage event to promote Indonesian culture in our campus. On Thursday event, 27 June 2013, we held "Gema Angklung" event in APU pacific cafe. In that event, we gave Angklung for free to Japanese and International student, then, we held Angklung workshop to introduce how to play Angklung in easy way to them. After workshop, Japanese and International students design their own Angklung and take it home.
- International students play Angklung in "Gema Angklung" event
- International student in APU design their Angklung and take it home
It's wonderful to see how exciting Japanese and International students play Angklung. It's first time for them to even watch Angklung performance and play Angklung.
In summary, Angklung has developed from religion ritual and paddy ritual instrument into traditional instrument that can play any songs by anyone. The harmonization among Angklung players and the beautiful tone can make people unite each other like foreign ministers who attend in gala dinner in Bali. If you want to feel Indonesia culture or if you want to visit Indonesia, don't forget to see Angklung performance in West Java area.
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