Angklung, the beautiful Indonesian musical instrument

 

Angklung is one of Indonesian traditional musical instruments. Honestly, I don’t know how to play this instrument (just like I can’t play ANY musical instruments :p). But I have seen angklung played live in front of my eyes and the uniqueness and beauty of its sound really amazes me.

pic from here

Lately there have been debates about where Angklung originates from. There are even questions, “Angklung, to whom does it belong?” due to some claims made by Malaysia that this instrument belongs to them. But without a doubt, I know it originates from Indonesia, to be precise, West Java, Indonesia, since 400 years ago.

One of Indonesian angklung artists had proudly established that the

musical instrument belongs to Indonesia.

Sunday, 11 November 2007, Ika
Widyaningsih performed in “Malam Budaya Indonesia” (Indonesian Culture
Night) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Malaysia is on their mission to
patent angklung as theirs. But that night, Ika and the other angklung
players from Saung Angklung Mang Udjo teached the Malaysian (and
Indonesian) audience how to play angklung the right way. Ika and her
team awed them with their beautiful music of angklung, one of
thousands of Indonesian traditional cultures. That occasion had two meanings for Indonesia. Other than to maintain Indonesia’s friendship with Malaysia, the most closely related neighbouring country, it was also meant to remind Malaysia on the values and ethics of “brotherly relationships”. source: Kompas Community.

That’s one smart and brilliant step made by Ika, very inspiring indeed. Hopefully more and more Indonesian artists introduce more and more of our cultures internationally (and maybe I should start learning some myself! :D)