Dictionary
of the Sunda Language by Jonathan Rigg, which was published in 1862 in
Batavia, wrote that Angklung is a musical instrument made of bamboo
pipes, cut edges, resembling the pipes in an organ, and tied together in
a frame, vibrated to produce sound. Angklung is listed as Masterpieces
of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO since November
2010.
Origin
Have
not found the manual states since when angklung is used, but is thought
to have been used in the form of primitive Neolithic culture that
flourished in the archipelago until the beginning of the modern
calendar, so angklung is part of the relics of the pre-Hinduism in the
culture of the archipelago.
Notes
on new emerging angklung refer to the Kingdom of Sunda (12th century
until the 16th century). The origin of the creation of bamboo music,
such as angklung based worldview Sundanese agrarian society with the
source of life of rice (bitter melon) as a staple food. This gave rise
to the myth of confidence in Sri Pohaci Nual as a symbol of the goddess
of rice giver of life. Baduy, which is a native Sundanese people, using
angklung as part of ritual began planting rice.
Material
Bamboo
is used as the material is bamboo angklung is black (awi wulung) and
white bamboo (awi friend). Each tone of the sound produced from bamboo
tube-shaped bamboo slats each segment of small to large.
Function
The
kingdom of Sunda, angklung used them as encouragement in battle.
Angklung as the pumping function spirit of the people still felt until
the colonial period, thats why the Dutch government had banned the
public use of angklung, the ban could make angklung popularity declined
and only played by children at that time.
Furthermore,
songs offerings to Dewi Sri is accompanied by the sound of percussion
accompaniment made of bamboo sticks are packed simple then was born the
structure of bamboo musical instrument we know today named angklung.
Similarly, during the harvest festival and Seren Taun dedicated game
angklung. Especially in the presentation ceremony Angklung related to
rice, this art into a nature show procession or helaran, even in some
places into the motorcade Rengkong and Dongdang and jampana (stretchers
food) and so on.
How
to play angklung quite practically easy as staying holding frame on one
hand (usually the left hand) so angklung hang freely, while the other
hand (usually the right hand) shake up reads. In this case, there are
three basic techniques to shake angklung:
- Kurulung (shakes), is the most common technique used, where the right hand holding the tube base and moving from side to side several times during the tone to be played.
- Centok (jerky), is a technique whereby a basic tube is pulled quickly by the fingers into the palm of the right hand, so angklung will beep once (staccato).
- Tengkep, much like kurulung but one vibrating tube is not retained. In Angklung melody, this technique causes the angklung mengeluarka pure tone (one tone melody only, not two as usual). Meanwhile the major accompaniment angklung, this technique is used to play a major chord (3 tonnes), because if not ditengkep that termainkan is dominant chord septim (4 tonnes). Meanwhile to play angklung unit to bring a song, it will take a lot of musicians, led by a conductor. On each musician will be distributed one to four angklung with different tones. That is a brief description of traditional angklung musical instrument from West Java.