Central Sulawesi strives to revive traditional bamboo music

Central Sulawesi strives to revive traditional bamboo music

Irvan NR, Palu

It is rare nowadays for youngsters and students to play
traditional musical instruments, raising concerns among the older
generation that traditional music may vanish.

One of these traditional musical instruments is the bamboo
instruments from Central Sulawesi.

Primarily performed by senior citizens during welcome
ceremonies for government officials and during Independence Day
functions, the music is also used to enliven social occasions
like weddings and religious functions for both Muslims and
Christians.

The instruments are played in a group of 30 to 40. The
instruments, made from bamboo, are various, ranging from flute to
clarinet to form an entire bamboo orchestra.

Central Sulawesi music and cultural observer, Tasrief Siara,
said that almost none of the younger generation in Tolitoli
regency, Central Sulawesi, could play the bamboo music
instruments anymore.

He added that the traditional instruments had been gradually
replaced by modern musical instruments which are beginning to
enter villages in the province.

He said that the young people were not to blame for abandoning
the instruments but that the education office and tourism office
had not been creative enough to preserve traditional music.

Tasrief acknowledged that the education office had initiated
efforts to revive the skill in several villages after the
outbreak of the sectarian conflict in 1998.

He cited Central Lore district in particular as an example of
how extracurricular training in the art of playing the
traditional bamboo music could become a focus in elementary
schools.

Tasrief remained concerned however, that these efforts were
not sufficient.

"Why don't they organize a bamboo music festival involving the
whole region of Central Sulawesi. Many will certainly be
interested," he suggested.

Head of the Central Sulawesi Cultural and Tourism office
Liberty Pasaribu said that he was concerned about the fate of
bamboo music. He promised to organize annual festivals without
limiting the age of contestants. He believed this would encourage
youngsters to learn how to play the music.

He said that traditional music was one of the attractions for
foreign tourists in Central Sulawesi. Some of them have even
asked where the bamboo musical instruments were made, but the
office had little data on that.

"Many tourists come here to ask where the instruments could be
bought as souvenirs," he said.

Raw materials to produce bamboo musical instruments are
abundant in the villages. But special skills are needed to create
them. It takes a month to complete one ensemble of the
instruments.

The principal of Bariri elementary school in Central Lore,
Yohanes Tombo, said that it required months of training before
the children could play the bamboo music well. Besides breath
control, note and song mastery were also needed.

He said that the bamboo orchestras involved 35 to 40 children.