'Angklung' workshop tries to win hearts of locals

Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post/Bandung

Unlike other traditional music, angklung (instrument consisting of suspended bamboo tubes which sound when shaken) music -- which was introduced to international audiences in the sixties -- has not enjoyed popular success with the current taste for world music.

When the late Udjo Ngalagena set out to promote the music of West Java's Baduy people worldwide, it probably didn't occur to him that his son, Taufik Hidayat, would one day assume the task.

Udjo's greatest wish was for Indonesian people, particularly the Sundanese, to renew their interest in the bamboo instrument. To fulfill that wish, Taufik is concentrating on activities at Saung Angklung Udjo, the only angklung workshop in West Java.

Recently, an angklung concert titled Culture, Nature and Harmony in Saung Udjo 2004 was held in Padasuka, Bandung. At least 150 children, aged between two and 15 years old, performed.

The young angklung musicians, wearing colorful costumes, did not seem to mind the cold night air as they played Sundanese and pop songs before an audience of 300.

Six-year-old Rama, who was dubbed "our prince charming" by the event's two female presenters, ushered guests to their seats in the open-air Karesmen Hall and Atmosphere Garden with great gusto. The venue is located at the far end of the Saung Udjo complex, which spans 7,000 square meters in total.

Amel, a girl the same age as Rama, and one of Udjo's grandchildren, sang Anak Gembala (Shepherd's Child) accompanied by angklung music.

The program included Alunan Rumpun Bambu (bamboo music) and the Cirebon mask dance, as well as a variety of songs, from the Sundanese song Tokecang, national song Ibu Kita Kartini, and Indonesian pop song, Benci Tapi Rindu to the western pop song Falling in Love.

Sundanese traditional fare such as nasi timbel (rice wrapped in banana leaves complete with side dishes of fried fish or chicken, raw vegetables and sambal or chili paste), bajigur (coconut milk mixed with palm sugar) and also bandrek (ginger drink made with palm sugar and grated young coconut flesh) were also served at the event.

All of Udjo's children and grandchildren were involved in the show. Taufik, who is also the general manager of Saung Udjo, acknowledged that the performance was held to promote the workshop.

"Before the monetary crisis in the late 90s, when tickets were cheap, only 5 percent of our guests were Indonesian. Now that tickets are sold at Rp 25,000 (US$2.70), almost 40 percent of our visitors are locals," he said.

Before 1998, Taufik said an average of 200 tourists from the United States, Europe, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea visited the workshop every day.

The crisis devastated cultural life in Indonesia. "We were lucky to stage even three performances a week," recalled Taufik.

However, hard times resulted in a new lease of life for the workshop. In 2000, the interactive "Bamboo Music Afternoon Show" was first held in an effort to attract local audiences.

The workshop also invites school groups to learn to play the angklung.

Karesmen Hall and Atmosphere Garden, which has a capacity of 800 people, is offered for weddings and birthday parties as well, with various extras available, including entertainers and catering.

Saung Udjo -- located on Jl. Padasuka No. 118, near the Cicaheum intercity bus terminal -- also sells handicrafts, such as key-holders made of wood and bamboo in the shape of Sundanese wooden Golek puppets, or angklung and puppet-shaped ballpoint pens and brooches in the form of mini angklung.

Various characters from the Golek puppet show are sold for Rp 35,000 a piece. A decorative angklung sells for Rp 60,000 per set and a set of playable angklung goes for Rp 230,000.

Taufik said the workshop also exported angklung overseas, especially to South Korea. Following the death of Udjo on May 3, 2001, several countries began to attract tourists through the promotion of angklung and angklung performances.

"At the end of the Truly Asia advertisement, which is aimed at attracting tourists to Malaysia, the image of an angklung is used. People from outside realize that the angklung is a powerful symbol. It's about time we proclaimed ourselves as its rightful owners," said Taufik.