Angklung, Famous Indonesian Musical Instrument in Abroad

Angklung is known as a tool of traditional music that developed in mainland Sunda, or West Java region. How to play the angklung was different musical instruments in general. Angklung is played by means shaken or vibrated.
The history of angklung begins from the land of Sunda. In the Sundanese tradition of the past, the instrument angklung is used in a variety of events, in particular the celebration of farming.

In that period, the Angklung was played as a form of invocation to Goddess Sri, a figure who is depicted as the Goddess of Fertility, which give a blessing on the rice plants to fertile prosperous and welfare of society.

The word angklung was originated from Sundanese “angkleung-angkleung”, which means that the movement of the players with the rhythm. While the word “klung” is the sound of the tone that is produced instrument of the music.

Each of the tones resulting from the shape of bamboo tubes of different sizes. So if shaken will produce a beautiful melody which is pleasing to the ear. Therefore, to create a melody angklung played collectively.

Angklung is usually made with a type of black bamboo (Awi wulung) or bamboo ater (Awi temen), which has a characteristic yellow whitish when dry. Angklung strung to collect 2 to 4 bamboo tubes of different size and assembled into a single bound together with rattan.

How To Play Angklung
How to play the angklung is relatively simple, angklung players simply hold the frame angklung (upper) and shake up the lower part to produce a sound. There are three basic techniques to play the angklung:

  1. Kerulung (Shakes)
    This technique is most general and fundamental, where both hands holding the base of the bamboo tubes and thrill to the left and right many times during the play the tone.
  2. Centok (Snapped)
    In this technique, the tube is pulled quickly by the fingers into the palm of the hand, so angklung will beep once as the sound of stomping.

3 Tengkep
In this technique, the angklung player to thrill one tube, while the tube on the other part of retained so as not to vibrate and produce only one sound only.

To play a song using angklung, usually it takes a lot of participants and a conductor that will guide the division of the tone. Each player, will be distributed one to four angklung with the tone is different.

Then, the conductor will prepare music to be played, and each musician should play the angklung to suit the tone and beat of the rhythm of the requested conductor. Not only produce different tones, angklung also has different types.

Angklung is an Indonesian cultural heritage. The history of angklung at the start of the land of Sunda and is now worldwide.

Type-the type of Angklung
In the course of the history of the musical instrument angklung, many regions in Indonesia produces the type of angklung new. Here are the types of angklung:

  1. Angklung Kanekes
    Angklung Kanekes comes from the Bedouin and displayed only during the ceremony of the planting of rice. Making angklung was only done by the people of Baduy tribe In.
  2. Anklung Reog
    Type of angklung is used to accompany the dance Reog Ponorogo in East Java. Angklung has a characteristic shape and a different sound with angklung general. The voice on the type of angklung reog is hard and only has two tones. Angklung Performance is also usually used as a garnish. Angklung is also known as klong kluk.
  3. Angklung Dogdog Lojor
    Dogdog Lojor is a tradition homage to the rice plants. Angklung type is used only at the time of the ritual tradition of walking. This tradition is still carried out Kasepuhan community Pancer Pangawinan or unity adat Banten Kidul. Community adat Banten Kidul annually held tradition Dogdog Lojor.

Angklung player in the tradition of Dogdog Lojor only amounted to six people, in which two people play the angklung Dogdog Lojor, and the other four play angklung large.

  1. Angklung Badeng
    Derived from Garut, angklung Badeng originally used as musical instruments in the ritual of planting rice. Along with the influx of the spread of Islam in the past, there was a shift function, angklung Badeng used as a tool bridesmaid propaganda.

It takes 9 angklung to complete the process of accompaniment da’wah. The ninth angklung consists of two angklung roel, one angklung cymbal, four angklung ovaries, two angklung children, two dogdog, and two gembyung.

  1. Angklung Padaeng
    Type the angklung was first introduced by Daeng Soetigna 1938. Daeng Soetigna do modifications on the structure of the rod, so as to produce the tone of the diatonic. Thus, the angklung can be played with a musical instrument popular and modern.

Nawacita Daeng Soetigna then forwarded by the Handiman Diratmasasmita, who want to angklung in terms of the use is aligned with the tool international music.

Handiman continue making angklung diatonik but with better development. In addition to the Handiman Diratmasasmita, another figure that actively introduce angklung to the community is Udjo Ngalegena.

Saung Angklung Udjo in Bandung, West Java is one of the places recognize the existence, beauty, and history of angklung. (Photo: Anadolu Agency/Mahendra Moonstar)
Saung Angklung Udjo is a form of love he was top of the musical instrument angklung. Udjo managed to make angklung be a show of art music that is interesting and harmonious, by playing a variety of songs regional, national, and international. Saungnya in Bandung, West Java was now crowded with tourists in and outside the country.

In addition, the angklung art now has also been recognized by UNESCO as one of the world cultural heritage. UNESCO set Angklung as a world heritage on November 10, 2010, the angklung was recorded as Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Man. In addition angklung, of intangible cultural heritage of other representative list of UNESCO is wayang, batik, and keris.

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