Imagine the sound of simple bamboo instruments played in unison, creating harmonies powerful enough to draw thousands of people into the same rhythm. That is the angklung, a traditional musical instrument from Sunda, West Java, Indonesia, which has been part of agrarian life for centuries.
In the past, the angklung was played to honor Dewi Sri, the rice goddess believed to bring fertility. Today, it calls the world’s attention. On August 5, 2023, Indonesia made history by breaking a Guinness World Record, with 15,110 participants performing angklung simultaneously at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta.
A Name Born from Sound
The name angklung itself comes from both movement and sound. In Sundanese, angkleung-angkleungan refers to the swaying motion of the players, while the distinct klung sound marks its identity.
Linguistically, angka means “tone” and lung means “incomplete,” making angklung a symbol of tones that are only made whole when played together.
The Evolution of Sound: From Ancient to Modern
The angklung has undergone a long journey of transformation:
- Angklung Buhun (6th–15th centuries)
Sacred in nature, it was played only by nine men over the age of 40, using pentatonic scales such as salendro and pelog. Its main function was agricultural rituals to summon fertility. - Angklung Badeng (15th–19th centuries)
During the spread of Islam, the angklung became a medium for religious teaching. Music and spirituality blended to convey Islamic values to Sundanese communities. - Modern Angklung (20th century–present)
In 1938, Daeng Soetigna transformed the angklung’s pentatonic system into a diatonic-chromatic one, enabling it to play pop, jazz, and even rock music. His student, Udjo Ngalagena, preserved the pentatonic tradition while adding new scales like madenda. From this, two faces of angklung emerged: modern and traditional.
The Scales of Angklung
One of the most fascinating aspects of the angklung is how its musical scales have evolved over time. In its earliest form, the buhun angklung was tuned to the traditional Sundanese pentatonic scales, known as salendro and pelog. These simple yet profound tones were often used in rituals and agricultural ceremonies.
In the 20th century, Daeng Soetigna introduced the chromatic diatonic scale, enabling the angklung to perform international music across genres, from pop and jazz to classical. His student, Udjo Ngalagena, later enriched the tradition by adding another scale called madenda, which carries a more melancholic, emotional tone.
Today, Sundanese angklung embraces three main tonal systems:
- Salendro → bright and cheerful, strongly tied to Sundanese identity.
- Pelog → deeper, more solemn, and often sacred.
- Madenda → expressive and emotional, perfect for dramatic melodies.
Number Notation: The Simple Way to Play Angklung
Although angklung ensembles may look complex, the instrument uses a very simple number notation system that makes it easy for anyone to learn.
Each number represents a basic note:
- 1 = Do
- 2 = Re
- 3 = Mi
- 4 = Fa
- 5 = So
- 6 = La
- 7 = Ti
Dots above or below the numbers indicate higher or lower octaves:
- .1 = Low Do
- 1 = Middle Do
- 1. = High Do
For example, if a song is written as 1 - 2 - 3 - 5 - 5, players holding the notes do, re, mi, and so will shake their angklung in that order. When hundreds of people do this together, what seems simple suddenly transforms into a powerful, harmonious soundscape.
Angklung in the Global Era: Between Magic and Industry
Despite its simplicity, the angklung has a profound impact. Playing it has been proven to improve concentration, creativity, and teamwork, and in some countries it is even used as a therapeutic tool. This is the charm that has earned it the name “The Magic of Angklung.”
Beyond education, the angklung has also entered the cultural industry. Saung Angklung Udjo (SAU) in Bandung now serves as both a production hub and a center of Indonesian cultural diplomacy. In August 2023, SAU even exported 14 types of angklung weighing a total of 231.5 kilograms to South Korea, facilitated by Pos Indonesia.
Recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2010, the angklung continues to be promoted globally. In 2025, Indonesia’s Ministry of Education and Culture has become increasingly proactive in encouraging international musicians to incorporate the angklung and other traditional instruments into their work.
