Western Java, Indonesia

Sundanese

Bamboo, rattan
Mid-20th century
Length: 24 in
Idiophones – Struck Idiophones – Rattles

This angklung is a tuned bamboo sliding rattle from the Sundanese region in Western Java, Indonesia. It consists of eight pairs of diatonic tuned bamboo tube units.  Each of the 16 tubes have a cut-back tongue, inserted into a frame. There are two tubes per unit, tuned an octave apart and strung together with rattan rope. They are suspended from a bamboo frame that allows one person to play the set of angklung by shaking the bamboo sideway, thus a sliding rattle.  As seen in this collection, the larger angklungs are played by individual performers in an interlocking, hocket-like manner. The Sundanese consider playing the angklung in a musical ensemble promotes teamwork, mutual respect, and social harmony.

Reference: ‘Angklung’, Margaret J. Kartomi/Andrew C. McGraw, “The Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments,” 2^nd ed., Vol 1., Laurence Libin, Editor in Chief. Oxford University Press.