JP/5/ANGKLUNG

JP/5/ANGKLUNG

'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.