A single note angklung. — Crisco 1492/Wikimedia Commons
Have you ever heard the clinking and clanking of bamboo musical instruments, tuned and played so harmoniously that it becomes melodious?
Meet the angklung, a traditional instrument said to originate from West Java in Indonesia. The angklung is also played in Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and even Singapore, though not all countries play the exact same instrument.
We were delightfully entertained during a recent visit to the Saung Angklung Udjo (or Udjo’s House Of Angklung), a centre in Bandung, Indonesia dedicated to preserving this traditional instrument. The visit was arranged by AirAsia, which had brought reporters on a trip to Indonesia, as part of the launch of the airline’s direct Kota Kinabalu-Jakarta flight services.
Established by the late Udjo Ngalagena (1929-2001) and his late wife Uum Sumiyati in the 1960s, the centre is today run by their son and offers a wonderful cultural experience for visitors.
Apart from buying souvenirs and learning about the angklung, visitors also can also experience playing the angklung if they stay on for the performances. These shows involve both children and adults, and the pieces they play are folksy and light, as well as interactive.
One of the more memorable shows was called Kaulinan Urang Lembur, loosely translated as “the villagers’ playtime”. It was packed with short segments that showcased different skills and instruments. There’s even a wayang golek (wooden puppet show) incorporated into it, as well as helaran (agricultural harvesting celebration) rites, some traditional dances and children’s games.
During the angklung experience, each visitor was given his or her own instrument to try. An angklung master played some simple melodies for everyone to replicate.
The children at the centre, ranging from age four to their teens, are locals from the village as well as neighbouring areas. They would go there everyday after school for practice, and then perform for visitors.
Dressed in traditional costumes, the children are naturals at making music, singing, dancing and acting.
Of course, there are also a handful of professional musicians at the centre who play all sorts of musical instruments made from bamboo.
One of the visitors, Anthea Fuilyn Peter, 33, said, “The interactive learning session where we had the chance to play the angklung was a good way to keep the traditional instrument alive.”
She feels that this is something that the tourism industry players in Malaysia should consider emulating to preserve our own traditional musical instruments and ensure its continuity for generations to come.
Another visitor, Esther Rimah Richard, 33, said, “This experience is a cross between modern cosmopolitan living while keeping traditions alive and well.”
This is a small part of the charm one gets to experience when visiting Bandung, as there are many other cultural activities and experiences available.
To get to Bandung from Jakarta, you can either drive for about three hours or take the bus, or, hop on the high speed rail, Whoosh, and cut your travel time by half. The AirAsia Jakarta-Kota Kinabalu direct flights operate three times weekly.
