Visitors have fun with 'angklung'<\/p>\n
T. Sima Gunawan, Contributor, Bandung<\/p>\n
Clad in colorful traditional costumes, dozens of children and
\nteenagers cheerfully sing while playing unique bamboo musical
\ninstruments called angklung. Beautiful sounds fill the air,
\nmesmerizing the audience who clap their hands in rhythm to the
\nmusic.<\/p>\n
At the end of the show, they dance together in a happy
\natmosphere, sharing a moment that will no doubt become an
\nunforgettable memory.<\/p>\n
\"That's amazing. I've never heard such unique music,\" said
\nAndre, a tourist from Germany.<\/p>\n
He was one of some 40 tourists, mostly foreigners, who watched
\nthe show at Saung Angklung Udjo Sundanese Art and Bamboo Craft
\nCenter in Bandung, one of the most important tourist places in
\nWest Java.<\/p>\n
Another Western tourist, who got a chance to dance with a
\ntoddler, seemed to be so impressed that she spontaneously took
\nsome gifts out of her bag and gave them to the little girl and
\nher friends, while a Japanese woman asked the young artists to
\npose with her for a series of photo sessions.<\/p>\n
The performance at Saung Angklung Udjo begins with a wayang
\ngolek (wood puppet) demonstration. It only lasts a few minutes,
\nwhich is very short compared to the real wayang golek show that
\nusually takes more than seven hours to perform.<\/p>\n
The audience also learns something about traditions here with
\nthe young artists performing a khitanan (circumcision) show. In
\nthe village, there is a tradition where young boys who have just
\nbeen circumcised will be entertained by children with dancing and
\nsinging accompanied by angklung music.<\/p>\n
A mask dance and an arumba (bamboo music played in a band
\nformation) show are performed, too.<\/p>\n
The highlight of the whole presentation is, of course, the
\nangklung recital. Angklung are played by shaking the instrument,
\nand they produce beautiful sounds in harmony. The songs vary,
\nfrom traditional ones like Burung Kakaktua from Maluku, to Do Re
\nMi (a song of The Sound of Music), and Tulpen oit Amsterdam
\n(Tulips from Amsterdam).<\/p>\n
The audience is invited to participate by playing along with
\nangklung. They can even bring home a set of angklung as the
\nmusical instruments are available at the souvenir shop. Other
\nmerchandise on offer includes wayang golek, CDs of angklung
\nmusic, and various bamboo handicrafts.<\/p>\n
Saung Angklung Udjo Sundanese Art and Bamboo Craft Center
\n(saung means thatch-roofed pavilion with no walls, like an open
\ngazebo) is situated on a 1.5 hectare plot of land on Jl. Padasuka
\nin the Cicaheum area. It was established in 1967 by Udjo
\nNgalagena (1929-2001), and his wife Uum Sumiati to increase
\npublic appreciation of the traditional art. Udjo was a student of
\nDaeng Soetigna, the angklung master who created the do-re-mi
\ntones for angklung in 1938.<\/p>\n
The concept of angklung is 5-M; Mudah (easy), Murah (cheap),
\nMendidik (educating), Menarik (interesting) and Masal (for the
\nmasses, or common people). In other words, the center is aimed at
\nproviding an alternative musical education by means of low-priced
\nbamboo musical instruments that can be easily learned, and that
\ninvolve a lot of people who can produce an interesting show.<\/p>\n
Saung Angklung Udjo, which won the PATA Gold Award in Jeyu,
\nSouth Korea last year, has so far taught more than 1,000
\nstudents. Today there are some 150 students here. Interestingly,
\nthe parents and relatives of many students used to learn at the
\nart center, too.<\/p>\n
\"My parents used to perform here,\" said Ika, 14. \"And now me,
\nmy two siblings and some of my nieces and nephews learn here.\"<\/p>\n
A master of ceremony at Saung Angklung Udjo, Cathy, is a
\nstudent at the Padjadjaran University whose mother was also
\nUdjo's student.<\/p>\n
Considering the importance of interaction with the audience,
\nstudents learn not only traditional songs from various parts of
\nthe country, but also some popular foreign songs as well as
\nclassical music. They also learn how to greet guests in English,
\nGerman, Dutch and French.<\/p>\n
The daily performance is held from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Entrance
\ntickets for the regular show are Rp 25,000 for locals and Rp
\n35,000 for foreigners.<\/p>\n
The business has been much affected by the ups and down of the
\ncountry's tourist industry. Due to the tragedy of the Bali
\nbombings in 2002, Saung Angklung Udjo experienced a really hard
\ntime. Today, it is doing well, as seen in the number of
\nperformances that are held everyday.<\/p>\n
\"Now, we perform three or four times a day,\" said Cathy. \"In
\nthe morning, the shows are usually for kindergarten children and
\nhigh school students.\"<\/p>\n
Saung Angklung Udjo, Jl. Padasuka 118, Bandung. Tel. (62) (22)
\n727 1714, 720 1587. Daily performance: 3:30 p.m.- 5:30 p.m.<\/p>",
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