just a note...

children performing at Saung Angklung Udjo

Yesterday, Ronnie and I attended Saung Angklung Udjo with our language teachers, Grace and Yessy. That is the destination for “all things angklung.” Saung Angklung Udjo, a popular tourist spot, is a center for Javanese culture. It is also a school where Indonesian children ages 2-12 learn to play the angklung, a musical instrument made from bamboo.

traditional wooden puppets

girls play in visitors center

The program consisted of a number of Javanese instrumental performances as well as traditional wooden puppets (Wayang Golek) and Sundanese dances. It was entertaining to watch. The show began with the wooden puppet show. Puppet shows (or stories) can last as many as 7 hours, because each story has many characters (some evil, some good) and they are all controlled by a single puppeteer. Thankfully, we just watched a demonstration that lasted maybe 10 minutes or so. Before it was finished, the table covering was removed so that we could see the puppeteer sitting underneath, working both hands and one foot (hitting a drum) – what a lot of coordination that takes!

color costumes and bare feet

Before the performance, we milled around in the handcraft center where visitors could hear them being played, try their hand at playing one or (of course) purchase one. Angklungs can range in size from miniature to very large. They sell them already assembled, or in boxes with handles for easy transport. Outside in another shed-like structure we watched craftsmen as they cut and whittled the rough bamboo to be used in the making of the angklung.

traditional Javanese circumcision dance

trimming opening in bamboo

trimming pieces of bamboo for making angklung

The angklung is Indonesia’s traditional musical instrument and is made entirely of bamboo. Each section of the angklung is made of two bamboo tubes attached to a bamboo frame (this would comprise a single note). The base of the frame is held in one hand, while the other hand shakes the instrument rapidly. This causes a repeating note to sound. At the end of the performance, angklungs (each representing a single note) were handed out to every person in the audience. The director showed us corresponding hand signs for each note and then we each played our own note as he used our particular sign. As he directed, complete melodies were produced and actually sounded quite pretty! At the same time, I was thinking to myself that I probably didn’t want to purchase an angklung CD, as I have a feeling a little angklung could go a long way!

audience playing together

bamboo xylophone?

For a greater appreciation of the angklung and  its role in Indonesian culture, click on the link below. You will also see Saung Angklung Udjo several times in the clip.

http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/en/RL/00393