Calung

The Calung (Sundanese: ᮎᮜᮥᮀ) is a type of Indonesian bamboo xylophone originating from Baduy culture and commonly used in Baduy, Bantenese, Sundanese, Banyumasan, and Balinese performances.^[1][2] The calung (instrument) consists of multiple bamboo tubes which are struck at the base to produce a woody sound.

Calung

A calung musical instrument from Indonesia.
Percussion instrument
Classification	Idiophone
Hornbostel–Sachs classification	111.232 (Sets of percussion tubes)
Inventor(s)	Baduy people
Developed	Java (in Banten by both Baduy and Bantenese, in West Java by Sundanese, in Banyumas by Banyumasan) and Bali (by Balinese)

Angklung
UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage
Calung performance in Frankfurt, Germany.
Country	Indonesia
Criteria	Oral Tradition and Expression, Performing Arts, Customs, rituals and celebrations, Knowledge and practices based upon nature and the universe, and Skill in traditional handcraft
Reference	393
Region	Asia and the Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription	2010 (5th session)
List	Representative List
Traditional Angklung (Pentatonic – Slendro Scale: Angklung Kanekes, Angklung Dogdog Lojor, Angklung Gabrag, Angklung Badeng, Angklung Bungko, Angklung Badud, Angklung Buncis, and angklung Calung) and Modern Angklung (Diatonic/Chromatic - Slendro, Pelog, and Madenda Scale: Angklung Padaeng)

In the Balinese Gamelan gong kebyar, the metallophone Jublag can also be known as Calung, it has a one-octave range, and is generally utilized to play mid-range melodies.

In Banyumas, southwestern Central Java in Indonesia, when Calung is referred to as an ensemble, it uses multiple bamboo instruments and is composed of singers and dancers.^[3] The ensemble is characterized by a variety of traits that include: interlocking melodies and rhythm, abrupt changes in tempo, as well as syncopated rhythm and humorous vocals. Calung (the ensemble) is present at many celebratory gatherings, and its dancers are sometimes related to prostitution.^{[4][dubious ][page needed]}

On November 18, 2010, UNESCO officially recognized the Indonesian angklung which includes a musical instrument of calung as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, and encouraged the Indonesian people and the Indonesian government to safeguard, transmit, promote performances and to encourage the craftsmanship of the angklung.^[5] In 2011, calung traditions are recognized as National Intangible Cultural Heritage of Indonesia by the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture.^[6]

Etymology

Calung is actually the name for the Diospyros macrophylla tree in Sundanese language (ki calung, literally: calung wood),^[7][8] as a musical instrument, according to the A Dictionary of the Sunda language by Jonathan Rigg (1862), calung is a rude musical instrument so called, being half a dozen slips of bambu fastened to a string, like the steps of a ladder, and when hung up, tapped with a bit of wood.^[9]

Instrument

The calung works by cutting away multiple pieces of bamboo tubes to create a pitch when struck.^[10] To make the Calung in the Sundanese tradition, a set of bamboo tubes are strung together through holes cut into the tubes. You are then able to play the Calung either suspended; you play the tubes while they are in hanging in front of you, or you can put them across a bamboo frame and play it like a xylophone.

Gallery

•  
  An illustration of a Sundanese Baduy man playing a calung by Jannes Theodorus Bik, c. 1816–1846 (this picture taken from the anthropological collection pictures of Rijksmuseum Amsterdam).
•  
  A Rindhik musical instrument (Balinese calung style) from Bali, Indonesia.
•  
  Calung Jinjing

See also

•  Music portal
•  Indonesia portal

• Gamelan
• Music of Sunda
• Music of Java
• Music of Bali

References

1. "Calung". Grove Music Online. 2001. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.46041. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0. Retrieved 2020-08-31.
2. "Calung". Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia (KBBI). Retrieved 8 August 2021.
3. [1] (2007). "Calung". Grove Music Online (8th ed.). Oxford University Press. 2007. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0. Retrieved 9 Sep 2013.
4. Sutton, R. Anderson (1991). Traditions of Gamelan Music in Java: Musical Pluralism and Regional Identity. Cambridge University Press.
5. ""Indonesian Angklung", Inscribed in 2010 (5.COM) on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity". UNESCO. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
6. "Warisan Budaya Takbenda, Penetapan". Cultural Heritage, Ministry of Education and Culture of Indonesia. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
7. Annisha, Wahyu (2016). Mengenal Aneka Flora & Fauna Indonesia. Yogyakarta: Laksana Kidz. p. 68. ISBN 978-602-0806-84-6.
8. Dodo (20 February 2014). "KI CALUNG (Diospyros macrophylla Blume) DI TAMAN NASIONAL UJUNG KULON BANTEN". Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
9. Rigg, Jonathan (1862). A Dictionary of the Sunda language. Batavia: Lange & Co. p. 75.
10. [2] Yampolsky; et al. (2001). "Indonesia". Grove Music Online (8th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0. Retrieved 8 September 2018. Section (b): Village music.

External links

• (August 2, 2011). "Calung Traditional Art from West java", Antique-Teak-Furniture.BlogSpot.com. An example of a Calung ensemble can be found in the video halfway down the page.