The story of angklung is not just about music but also about culture, tradition, and heritage. As one of Indonesia’s most iconic bamboo instruments, angklung has traveled through centuries, evolving from ceremonial use to becoming a useful tool of education, entertainment, and therapy.
Angklung is renowned as Indonesia’s traditional musical instrument made of bamboo. To this day, Angklung Gubrag remains the oldest angklung that still exists. This angklung was made in the 17th century and is 400 years old today. Angklung Gubrag can be found in the Sri Baduga Museum located in Bandung, West Java.
As time flew by, the story of angklung spread beyond Indonesia to other Asian countries and later gained worldwide recognition. Moreover, in 2010, UNESCO recognized angklung as a Masterpiece of Human Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage, which is a highly appreciated worldwide cultural heritage.
The Origin of the Name “Angklung”
The story of angklung also lies in its name. The name “angklung” originates from the Sundanese word “angkleung-angkleungan.” It refers to the movement of the angklung player and the sounds “klung” created when the angklung is played.
In linguistic terms, angklung comes from the word “angka,” which means tone, and “lung,” which means broken. So, angklung means “broken tone” and “incomplete tone.”
The Development of Traditional Angklung
Angklung Buhun (6th – 15th Century)
The earliest form of angklung is called Angklung Buhun. It was spread by the Sundanese Kingdom around 600 AD and reached areas throughout West Java, Bali, Sumatra, and Kalimantan. This type of angklung formerly used pentatonic scales, namely Salendro (Carang) and Pelog (Kerep) scales.
In the early days, people played Angklung Buhun during ceremonial activities, such as harvest time. They believe that the sound of bamboo could catch the attention of the goddess Sri, who will bring fertility to the plantation and happiness to mankind.
Angklung Badeng (15th – 19th Century)
While Islam spread quickly in the 15th century, angklung became an art to spread Islam. For instance, in Garut, West Java, angklung developed into a form of cultural and religious performance.
Angklung Pa Daeng (1938 – present)
The story of angklung reached a new milestone with Daeng Soetigna, who transformed the traditional pentatonic scale into a diatonic chromatic scale. He also simplified the shape and created complete sets, including melody, accompaniment, cuk, and bass.
It is not made easier for many people to play angklung, but it also allows people to play more diverse music, including Western songs. It leads to wider use of angklung, covering educational and entertainment fields.
Angklung Pentatonic by Udjo Ngalagena (1970 – present)
Udjo Ngalagena is one of Daeng Soetigna’s students. Even though pentatonic angklung has transformed into a new style of diatonic angklung, Udjo Ngalagena developed a new style of traditional pentatonic to preserve and enrich Sundanese Angklung. Besides that, he also introduced a new tone scale that he named Madenda.
It did not stop there. Udjo also founded a cultural center, “Saung Angklung Udjo” (SAU). SAU has contributed to introducing angklung to international audiences and preserving Sundanese traditional angklung.
Nowadays, SAU is active as a cultural and educational destination, including showcasing angklung performances, giving educational programs, and offering workshops or training to play bamboo instruments. To this day, Saung Angklung Udjo has become the most prominent producer of angklung in Indonesia.
The use of angklung has been widely played on various occasions. In the musical field, more artists created and innovated through Angklung and combined it with modern instruments. Some films, such as Tendangan Dari Langit (2012), also used angklung to accompany their story. Last but not least, in 2023, Indonesia was setting a Guinness World Record for the largest angklung ensemble, with 15,110 people playing angklung in the Gelora Bung Karno stadium.
Benefits of Angklung
Academical benefits
It not only helps to develop a better sense of music, but playing angklung can also develop intellectual growth and positive character. As we know, angklung only has one note, so each player needs to harmonize it with the other players. This makes angklung not only a source of music and entertainment but also a tool for building positive attitudes and strong character.
Health benefits
The story of angklung also extends to health. Several health centers have found that angklung is a useful tool for music therapy. In Indonesia, this therapy has been implemented in post-stroke therapy. In this therapy, patients will be asked to do cross movements while holding and playing the angklung.
These movements help train the brain to stay active and strengthen the connections between different parts of the brain. As a result, the patient’s eye nerves become better connected with their speech and movement nerves, which can help improve their ability to talk and move after a stroke.
The story of angklung reflects the identity and innovation of Indonesian culture. Angklung continues to inspire people, ensuring that this bamboo instrument will remain a treasured part of world heritage.
