Central Sulawesi strives to revive traditional bamboo music<\/p>\n
Irvan NR, Palu<\/p>\n
It is rare nowadays for youngsters and students to play
\ntraditional musical instruments, raising concerns among the older
\ngeneration that traditional music may vanish.<\/p>\n
One of these traditional musical instruments is the bamboo
\ninstruments from Central Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
Primarily performed by senior citizens during welcome
\nceremonies for government officials and during Independence Day
\nfunctions, the music is also used to enliven social occasions
\nlike weddings and religious functions for both Muslims and
\nChristians.<\/p>\n
The instruments are played in a group of 30 to 40. The
\ninstruments, made from bamboo, are various, ranging from flute to
\nclarinet to form an entire bamboo orchestra.<\/p>\n
Central Sulawesi music and cultural observer, Tasrief Siara,
\nsaid that almost none of the younger generation in Tolitoli
\nregency, Central Sulawesi, could play the bamboo music
\ninstruments anymore.<\/p>\n
He added that the traditional instruments had been gradually
\nreplaced by modern musical instruments which are beginning to
\nenter villages in the province.<\/p>\n
He said that the young people were not to blame for abandoning
\nthe instruments but that the education office and tourism office
\nhad not been creative enough to preserve traditional music.<\/p>\n
Tasrief acknowledged that the education office had initiated
\nefforts to revive the skill in several villages after the
\noutbreak of the sectarian conflict in 1998.<\/p>\n
He cited Central Lore district in particular as an example of
\nhow extracurricular training in the art of playing the
\ntraditional bamboo music could become a focus in elementary
\nschools.<\/p>\n
Tasrief remained concerned however, that these efforts were
\nnot sufficient.<\/p>\n
\"Why don't they organize a bamboo music festival involving the
\nwhole region of Central Sulawesi. Many will certainly be
\ninterested,\" he suggested.<\/p>\n
Head of the Central Sulawesi Cultural and Tourism office
\nLiberty Pasaribu said that he was concerned about the fate of
\nbamboo music. He promised to organize annual festivals without
\nlimiting the age of contestants. He believed this would encourage
\nyoungsters to learn how to play the music.<\/p>\n
He said that traditional music was one of the attractions for
\nforeign tourists in Central Sulawesi. Some of them have even
\nasked where the bamboo musical instruments were made, but the
\noffice had little data on that.<\/p>\n
\"Many tourists come here to ask where the instruments could be
\nbought as souvenirs,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Raw materials to produce bamboo musical instruments are
\nabundant in the villages. But special skills are needed to create
\nthem. It takes a month to complete one ensemble of the
\ninstruments.<\/p>\n
The principal of Bariri elementary school in Central Lore,
\nYohanes Tombo, said that it required months of training before
\nthe children could play the bamboo music well. Besides breath
\ncontrol, note and song mastery were also needed.<\/p>\n
He said that the bamboo orchestras involved 35 to 40 children.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/central-sulawesi-strives-to-revive-traditional-bamboo-music-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }