Best regards for anyone who read my entire blog. I glad to say that it's been my 10th post for this blog.. And for this time, I'll take you to my hometown, Bandung! I've told you about Baker Street before, but why didn't I think to explore my own city?
As wikipedia said, Bandung (/ˈbændʊŋ/ or /ˈbɑːndʊŋ/) (Indonesian: Kota Bandung) is the capital of West Java province in Indonesia and the country's third largest city by population with a sprawling urban population of 8.6 million in 2011. Located 768 metres (2,520 ft)above sea level, approximately 140 kilometres (87 miles) south east of Jakarta, Bandung has cooler temperatures year-round than most other Indonesian cities. The city lies on a river basin surrounded by volcanic mountains. This topography provides a good natural defense system, which was the primary reason for the Dutch East Indies government's plan to move the colony capital from Batavia to Bandung.
But for me personally, Bandung is the city of live, city of love, and city of life! It was a city I was born in, a city I live in, and a city I study at! Although, both of my parents aren't originally came from Bandung even West Java, but since I was born and growing up here, I love this city so much.
West Java 's population is 46.3 million (in 2014) and it is the most populous and most densely populated of Indonesia's provinces. This province has many traditional music instruments especially that made of bamboo. The three main types of Sundanese bamboo ensembles are angklung, calung, and arumba. The exact features of each ensemble vary according to context, related instruments, and relative popularity.
West Java 's population is 46.3 million (in 2014) and it is the most populous and most densely populated of Indonesia's provinces. This province has many traditional music instruments especially that made of bamboo. The three main types of Sundanese bamboo ensembles are angklung, calung, and arumba. The exact features of each ensemble vary according to context, related instruments, and relative popularity.
Angklung is a generic term for sets of tuned, shaken bamboo rattles. Angklung consists of a frame upon which hang several different lengths of hollow bamboo. Angklungs are played like handbells, with each instrument played to a different note. Angklung rattles are played in interlocking patterns, usually with only one or two instruments played per person. The ensemble is used in Sundanese processions, sometimes with trance or acrobatics. Performed at life-cycle rituals and feasts (hajat), angklung is believed to maintain balance and harmony in the village. In its most modern incarnation, angklung is performed in schools as an aid to learning about music.
The Angklung got more international attention when Daeng Soetigna, from Bandung, West Java, expanded the angklung notations not only to play traditional pélog or sléndro scales, but also diatonic scale in 1938. Since then, angklung is often played together with other western music instruments in an orchestra. One of the first well-known performances of angklung in an orchestra was during the Bandung Conference in 1955.
I like the angklung orchestra a lot. And since I got a task to visit a spot that I've never been there before, so I decided to go to Saung Angklung Mang Udjo which is located at Padasuka Street number 118, Bandung City.
On last Sunday morning, I went to Saung Angklung Mang Udjo by car with my parents, yeah, both of them. We went there without any preparation. We hadn't even read any information about it. So we went at 10 and arrived at about 11. And, guess what? The show would start at 15.30! And we had to wait for about 3 and half hours. We decided to wait a while and looked the process of making angklung until the Dhuhur time came so we could have Dhuhur prayer then had a lunch.
Since the picture of how to make angklung there wasn't really clear, so I copy-paste the making angklung process from its official website. Here they are.
It was so boring, waiting the show to begin inside the car. And I was like, " It's better to change the destination rather than waiting here the whole day." But, 1 hour pass, 2 hours pass and I was asleep, 3 hours pass, and finally, it's show time!
We got in the hall a bit late since we had Ashar prayer which is just end a minute before the show began. We had bought the ticket a half hour before the show. The ticket was in the form of a necklace with a mini angklung on it. We had to use it during the show.
The show was so amazing and memorable. Begun with the wayang golek show, then the arak-arakan sunat ceremony, merak dance, and many angklung show. There were the angklung traditional music play, continued with playing angklung together guided by the grandson of the owner of Saung Angklung Mang Udjo, and the last angklung show was the most beautiful angklung orchestra I've ever heard. Played by some teenagers, each person played about 10 angklungs and they brought 3 musics. And the most wonderful was Bohemian Rhapsody by The Queen, one of legendary pop-rock music and also one of the hardest music.
Over all it was toootally cool experience. There's no need to regret any of things I've got that day. The show was worth the best praise! I'm sorry but I can't post the picture of the show because it may causes some problems of copyright. Thanks for reading. Highly recommended to visit this cultural Bandung spot! With only 60kIDR!
website sources :
Since the picture of how to make angklung there wasn't really clear, so I copy-paste the making angklung process from its official website. Here they are.
Making Angklung
1. Choosing The Bamboo
Bamboo is the material of an Angklung. It is choosing by its age. It has to be at least 4 years old and not more than 6 years old. It is cut in the dry season, between 9 am and 3 pm at the afternoon. After being cut at its base, with the size about 2-3 span of the hand, it should be stored for about 1 week, so that the bamboo will contain less water.
After a week, the bamboo should be separated from its branches. It should be cut into certain various sizes. Then, it should be stored for about one year to prevent it from termites. Some of the procedures are: by sinking out the bamboo beneath mud field, pool or river, also by smoking it at the fireplace, and the modern procedure: by using a certain liquid chemistry formula.
2. The Parts Of Angklung
Each Angklung consist of 3 parts:
The Voice TubesThe most important part of an Angklung, is the voice tubes which produce intonation. Tuning process makes the intonation.
The FrameFrame supports the voice tubes to stand inside the hollow space.
The BaseIt functions as the frame of the voice tubes.
3. Tuning The Voice Tube Process
Half-Done ProcessIt is the process of Shaping the bamboo become laths of voice tube.
Resonance Tuning ProcessIt is the process of blowing the lower part of an Angklung to the floor and measuring it to the tuner.
Main Voice Tuning ProcessIt is the process of tuning the voice by increasing and decreasing the tone by striking voice. Also it is the process of increasing the tone by cutting its upper parts slightly, and decreasing the tone by shaping both voice laths with shaping knife.
How to Use a Tuner:
- To use a tuner, we should pay attention to both of the lamps on the left and the right of the panel, and also the pointer needle.
- For example, if you’re going to make an “F” tone, you should shake the Angklung while paying attention to both of the lamps which will flame together, and the to pointer needle which will point the “F” letter.
4. Finishing
After each of the voice tubes has its tone, it should be put into the frame laths and be tied of rattan rope.
5. Maintenance
Re-Tuning Angklung
1. If the tone of angklung is higher than the normal tone, the angklung (side A) can be whittled by knife little by little until it reaches the tone wished.
2. If the tone of angklung is lower than the normal tone, the end of angklung (side B) can be cutr little by little until it reaches the normal tone.
2. If the tone of angklung is lower than the normal tone, the end of angklung (side B) can be cutr little by little until it reaches the normal tone.
Maintain Angklung
Since Angklung is made of bamboo, its construction and endurance are not as good as those of metallic things. Therefore, it needs good maintenance and storage. Good Angklung is made of old and dry bamboo. It takes at least one year to store the bamboo material in order to get the proper/high-pitched voice and to prevent termites. It endurances can be fifteen years, providing it is in a good maintenance.
In our place (Saung Angklung Udjo) we have tried to make the Angklung from the very dry bamboo. However, nowadays we haven’t got the supply of one – year-old bamboo, but only eight – month – old one. This condition is caused by the limitation of its availability and storage. Moreover, it needs high production cost.
It was so boring, waiting the show to begin inside the car. And I was like, " It's better to change the destination rather than waiting here the whole day." But, 1 hour pass, 2 hours pass and I was asleep, 3 hours pass, and finally, it's show time!
We got in the hall a bit late since we had Ashar prayer which is just end a minute before the show began. We had bought the ticket a half hour before the show. The ticket was in the form of a necklace with a mini angklung on it. We had to use it during the show.
The show was so amazing and memorable. Begun with the wayang golek show, then the arak-arakan sunat ceremony, merak dance, and many angklung show. There were the angklung traditional music play, continued with playing angklung together guided by the grandson of the owner of Saung Angklung Mang Udjo, and the last angklung show was the most beautiful angklung orchestra I've ever heard. Played by some teenagers, each person played about 10 angklungs and they brought 3 musics. And the most wonderful was Bohemian Rhapsody by The Queen, one of legendary pop-rock music and also one of the hardest music.
Over all it was toootally cool experience. There's no need to regret any of things I've got that day. The show was worth the best praise! I'm sorry but I can't post the picture of the show because it may causes some problems of copyright. Thanks for reading. Highly recommended to visit this cultural Bandung spot! With only 60kIDR!
website sources :
