Kabayan and Sundanese Musical Instruments

credit:instagram@yadimanaaja

Kabayan is a very funny person. Although lazy, it turns out that this one figure is so wise. Kabayan with kecapinya or kabayan with flute, so typical of Sunda. 

It may be rare to see Kabayan playing angklung, a type of Sundanese musical instrument, but this does not prevent people from understanding that Kabayan is closely related to Sundanese music. So, it's not wrong if you remember Kabayan, remember Sundanese musical instruments.

Kabayan Songs and Sundanese Music

Kabayan songs are so distinctive that people will recognize the musical instruments that accompany the songs. Usually, there is a harp and a flute. The gentleness of these two types of musical instruments makes the Sundanese longing for their hometown feel healed. Especially if you are in a restaurant that serves Sundanese cuisine. Sitting in the saung with a green view, the strains of the harp or flute are so peaceful.

Sundanese song is very distinctive and associated with the green nature. Try to go to a restaurant with unique huts and the sound of gurgling water, then there is the sound of Sundanese music. The rural atmosphere will be felt. 

One of the songs performed by Doel Sumbang can represent how irreplaceable a Sundanese musical instrument is.

Urang sunda Kamarana

Urang sunda di marana

Urang sunda, urang mana

Urang sunda, Anjeun saha

Now with saukur nu nu ngeusian Java Island

Naha saukur lalajo bari tumenta Gancang

geura hudang open ceuli open your eyes

Geura tembongkeun urang sunda oge can

A song that is quite interesting to listen to. This song is quite long with funny language. This is one of the Sundanese songs that adequately represents the use of musical instruments from Sunda.

When Traditional Meets West

The accompaniment of a very distinctive harp is so tempting. If there is no harp and flute, calung, drums, it's not Sundanese music. In Sundanese songs, sometimes the sound of angklung is heard which is very well known throughout the country, even abroad. This angklung has even been used as a musical instrument combined with modern musical instruments. Some combine angklung with rock music.

More and more musicians and artists are combining traditional musical instruments with modern musical instruments. Djaduk Ferianto, his brother Butet Kertarajasa, are among the artists who combine traditional music with their unique music. Usually Djaduk combines gamelan with his music which is no less exciting. It's from Yogyakarta.

From the land of Sunda there is an underground music genre that combines karinding musical instruments. This karinding is made of wood and is played by blowing. An underground group with the name "Karinding Attack" has popularized this karinding. The more lively traditional music enters the repertoire of modern music.

Bondan Prakoso, who also often incorporates traditional music into his songs, adds to the beauty of the music itself. So, there is no longer any reason for anyone to use traditional music in their songs or musical performances. The wealth of this nation is extraordinary and there is no doubt about it.

The Loud Angklung 

credit:instagram@adywidyarta

It's not only Kabayan that reminds people of Sundanese songs and music. There is another simple man who has taught a life that is very close to nature. He is Udjo Ngalagena or better known as Mang Udjo. He was gone forever but his struggle was continued by his children. What did Mang Udjo do during his life?

Angklung. Angklung is what makes Mang Udjo's life so thick with the repertoire of Sundanese music. Mang Udjo is the person behind the establishment of Saung Angklung Mang Udjo, Museum and Education. 

He founded the angklung learning place with his wife, Uum Sumiati, in 1966. This saung is located on Jl. Padasuka No. 118 Bandung – 40192 West Java, Indonesia. For those who want to contact Saung directly, you can call +62 22 7271714.

Under the care of Mang Udjo, angklung is getting louder. In fact, now angklung has become one of the typical music from Indonesia. Many have learned to play angklung in this Saung. Saung Angklung Mang Udjo is one of the tourism destinations in West Java. This is one of the strengths of traditional music that may not be owned by modern music.

If you want to learn to play angklung, a learner must learn about several types of angklung. Among the known types of angklung are Kanekes Angklung, Lojor Dogdog Angklung, Padaeng Angklung, Sarinande Angklung, Toel Angklung, Gubrag Angklung, Badeng Angklung, and Sri-Pure Angklung. If you can't remember the type of angklung because it uses a typical Sundanese language, it's not a problem. Provided later understand about the sound produced.

Based on the sound, this angklung consists of six types of sounds, namely, small melody Angklung, major melody Angklung, Angklung akom septim, Angklung akom minor, Angklung ko-akom septim and finally Angklung ko-akom minor. Why should you know about the sound of angklung? If you don't know the sound, how do you play it?

At Saung Mang Udjo, all information about the angklung will be given in detail as long as visitors have time to listen to the guide's explanation at the Saung Mang Udjo museum. In addition, you will be told how to make angklung, including the type of bamboo used. Angklung is usually made of black bamboo (awi hideung) and white bamboo (awi bodas).

Those who have tried to learn how to play the angklung will find it amusing when something goes wrong. This musical instrument that has been designated as an international cultural heritage can be played by hundreds of people at one time. A great conductor will be able to make a song play very well.

Each group will play a different tone so that when they move the angklung, the tone will be very harmonious. How to move the angklung cannot be arbitrary because it has different movements, different sounds.

Calung

credit:[email protected]

Tanah Sunda also has a musical instrument that is beaten. The name of the musical instrument that was beaten was calung. Calung is also made of awi bamboo. If you remember the comedy group D'Bodor, you might know what calung is. One of D'Bodor's players often uses calung when joking. When he reveals something then he will play calung.

This one musical instrument may lose the prestige of the angklung. But because it is used in jokes or other artistic performances, people are happy if someone displays calung as a distraction. Usually this calung will be held and played by hitting a few notes. The distinctive sound of bamboo gives a very interesting impression.

Of the various musical instruments, it is appropriate that the Sundanese are quite famous for all their artistic models. People are known to be very creative. Many of the artists are well known. Look at Sule who really exists in the entertainment world. Sule also often sings Sundanese songs. 

The funny Sundanese song is one of the interesting presentations from Opera van Java. Sunda land is the land of art. The land that gave birth to bamboo as a material for playing music, the land that gave birth to the story of the innocent but intelligent Kabayan.

original source: aneka budaya

Interesting Topics