TEMPO.CO, Bandung – Angklung is a traditional musical instrument that serves as means of cultural diplomacy, Pasundan University’s traditional music expert Rosikin said in Bandung, West Java on Thursday.
“Angklung has been displayed in the Asian-African Conference (AAC) from year to year and has become a traditional musical instrument that represents Indonesia,” said Rosikin.
In the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of AAC, the government organized an event on Thursday in an attempt to break the world record by playing 20,000 angklungs in Siliwangi Stadium, Bandung. The event, dubbed “Angklung for the World”, played a string of songs of various genres, from the Indonesian national anthem to Western songs.
Rosikin said angklung as a traditional musical instrument was flexible and capable of adapting to the development of music.
“Angklung also has dual functions, that it is able to accompany a pentatonic music, which is the original tone of Sundanese songs, and it can also be developed with a diatonic music, which is vastly used in Western music,” said Rosikin.
Angklung today has continued to show delightful progress and begin to seize the global limelight, whereas in the past it was only played during traditional ceremonies, such as harvest.
Rosikin hoped in the future angklung could become a musical instrument that represented the country in every AAC event.
“Everyone that sees angklung will remember Indonesia, remember West Java, just like they remember Bali and batik,” said Rosikin.
ANTARA
