ANGKLUNG

The angklung (Sundanese: ᮃᮃᮃᮃᮃᮃ) is a musical instrument from the Sundanese people in
Indonesia made of a varying number of bamboo tubes attached to a bamboo frame.[1] The
tubes are carved to have a resonant pitch when struck and are tuned to octaves, similar to
Western handbells. The base of the frame is held in one hand, while the other hand shakes the
instrument, causing a repeating note to sound. Each performer in an angklung ensemble is
typically responsible for just one pitch, sounding their individual angklung at the appropriate
times to produce complete melodies (see Kotekan).

The angklung is popular throughout the world, but it originated in what is now West Java and
Banten provinces in Indonesia, and has been played by the Sundanese for many centuries.
The angklung and its music have become an important part of the cultural identity of
Sundanese communities.[2] Playing the angklung as an orchestra requires cooperation and
coordination, and is believed to promote the values of teamwork, mutual respect and social
harmony.

On November 18, 2010, UNESCO officially recognized the Indonesian angklung as a Masterpiece of
the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, and encouraged the Indonesian people and the
Indonesian government to safeguard, transmit, promote performances and to encourage the
craftsmanship of the angklung

The word angklung may have originated from Sundanese angkleung-angkleungan, suggesting the
movement of the angklung player and the onomatopoeic klung sound that comes from the
instrument

According to Dr. Groneman, the angklung had already been a favorite musical instrument of
the entire archipelago even before the Hindu era.[5] According to Jaap Kunst in Music in
Java, besides West Java, angklung also exists in South Sumatra and Kalimantan. Lampung,
East Java and Central Java are also familiar with the instrument.[4]

In the Hindu period and the time of the Kingdom of Sunda, the instrument played an
important role in ceremonies. The angklung was played to honor Dewi Sri, the goddess of
fertility, so she would bless their land and lives.[6] The angklung also signaled the time for
prayers, and was said to have been played since the 7th century in the Kingdom of Sunda. In
the Kingdom of Sunda, it provided martial music during the Battle of Bubat, as told in the
Kidung Sunda.[7] The oldest surviving angklung is the Angklung Gubrag, made in the 17th
century in Jasinga, Bogor. Other antique angklung are stored in the Sri Baduga Museum,
Bandung.[7] The oldest angklung tradition is called angklung buhun ("ancient angklung")
from Lebak Regency, Banten.[8] The angklung buhun is an ancient type of angklung played
by Baduy people of the inland Banten province during the seren taun harvest ceremony.

In 1938, Daeng Soetigna (Sutigna), from Bandung, created an angklung that is based on the
diatonic scale instead of the traditional pélog or sléndro scales. Since then, the angklung has
returned to popularity and is used for education and entertainment, and may even accompany
Western instruments in an orchestra. One of the first performances of angklung in an
orchestra was in 1955 during the Bandung Conference. In 1966 Udjo Ngalagena, a student of
Daeng Soetigna, opened his Saung Angklung ("House of Angklung") as a centre for its
preservation and development.[7]
UNESCO designated the angklung a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of
Humanity on November 18, 2010.