Get to know Western Javanese folk songs, musical instruments and their arts
Local arts are the culture of the country, so they must be preserved, including West Javanese folk songs and various other arts. Each region has its own songs, music, and unique arts. The features of songwriting and music sometimes have similarities, but they can be different from each other.
Typically, the songs and music that characterize a region are a description of the region’s history, scenery, culture, food and customs. Every song, music and art in a region of the country that provides teaching to the younger generation has always had its meaning.
Folk songs are very easy to find in the archipelago because they are present in every region. Not only songs, but also performances that unite folk dances, musical instruments, songs, musical instrument games, and dances. Unfortunately, its existence has now been eroded by modernization.
Already many folk songs have been forgotten and have failed by modern art. Songs from West Java are more marginalized instead of contemporary music. The current generation considers local music and art to be indeed ancient and obnoxious. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the awareness of the youth to love the arts of their own region.
This time we have information on musical instruments, songs, and local arts, so you can learn a little bit about the richness of art in our homeland. By getting to know the arts and regions, perhaps you will be able to cultivate a love for music products from your own country.
Folk songs from West Java
As an ordinary person who protects the future of the nation, you don’t need to learn science and technology. Both these things are essential for building the future of the nation and for the welfare of the people. However, it is no less than the importance of valuing and caring for the country’s culture.
There are many ways to preserve the culture of the nation. Although you have not directly mastered various arts and struggles in this field, you can still preserve the local arts by knowing and getting to know the local arts. Here are some of the songs that originated from West Java:
- Manuk Dadali
This song is still one of the most well-known songs. In the lyrics, the charismatic, brave bird capable of flying high in the vast sky, describes the appearance of the garuda bird (Manuk Dadali), the symbol of the country today. This explains the greatness of Indonesia.
- Ice Wax
Ice candles are a common food for bandung. However, the lyrics of this song describe the heart of a girl, where one should always be careful when facing a man, especially when choosing a life partner.
- Bubui Moon
The lyrics in this song also describe a girl’s heart, but in a state of heartbreak because her boyfriend has abandoned her, one day she finds someone with an expression in her eyes like her boyfriend.
- King Kang Keling
In the lyrics of this song, you will see a depiction of a human heart that is easily shaken and turns like a wave in the ocean.
- Tokekang
The lyrics of each song always have a meaning, one of which is Tokekang, which describes a man who is greedy, greedy, greedy and greedy, and describes a man who is not willing to share it with others.
Traditional musical instruments in West Java
The various musical instruments from the province of Bandung city also deserve attention to maintain and preserve their existence. Some musical instruments may have similarities with other regions, which is natural given the nearbyvilaya and similar cultures. Here’s an example of traditional West Javanese music:
- Karinding
There are 2 types of carinding, i.e. for men and women. For men, bamboo will be used as a basic material, and palm tree trunks will be used for granite for women. In order to make a sound and blow it at the same time, the player must reach the hand that hits one side of him.
- Kalung
The kalung can produce melodious sounds and is often played at concerts. How to play with a bat. This musical instrument is made from bamboo for the body and the beater.
- Flute
This typical Sundanese flute is usually accompanied by Western Javanese songs. There are four or six holes to control the melody and produce a distinctive sound because it is made of bamboo.
- Harp
There are two types of harps, namely Indung and Rinsik. The lyre of the indung (parent) has strings of 18-20 sizes and larger sizes. This device became the leader of the detail (child) harp, which was played as a filler for the interval between the notes of the indung harp.
- Celempung
The device relies on the sound from within the bamboo sticks to produce a sound pleasing to the ear. It is played at night in cultural performances in the areas of Selempang.
Western Javanese traditional arts
In addition to songs originating from West Java, there are also various other arts, such as dances and art performances. One of them is a masked dance based on a folk tale about the Sunan Gunung caste, the ruler of the city of Sirebon, when confronted with the invasion of Prince Velang.
There is also a pasundan peacock dance, which, as the name suggests, is inspired by peacocks. Along with this dance, Gamelan will also feature a number of dancers with beautiful movements and a tambourine. Peacock dancers always use the crown, and I refer to the symbol of ragakanya, karen peacock.
Have you ever heard of the art of Renkong? This local Kesenia N is a demonstration inspired by the procedures of the Sundanese people in planting paddy for harvesting. It first appeared in the Sianjur Regency in 1964. So far, it is still played in cultural parks and other cultural venues.
There is also the art of horse-drawn carriage, which is often held in the Java region and in various other parts of Indonesia. The performances of horses are often played and watched by the public. This art has a mysterious taste because the dancer is a madman who rides on a wooden horse and then dances with drumming.
Cultural performance venues in West Java
If you want to listen to the singing of various songs from West Java, you can visit places where cultural performances take place. There are many places that are often used as a place to perform folk songs and various other arts. These places are used as a place for the people of West Java to showcase their artistic expertise while maintaining the preservation of art.
One of the places you can visit is Taman Budaya located in Bukit Dagi Selatan. From singing local songs, playing musical instruments to performing arts in the western Jawab region, local residents and tourists can come to see the performances.
There is always a special agenda for cultural events every week that all circles can enjoy, and even foreign tourists come to see firsthand how beautiful the country’s culture is. In addition to the local culture of West Java, other diverse Indonesian local arts are also exhibited.
You can also visit the Daya Sunda Art Context in the Taman Sari Bandung Zoo area. This place typically includes a variety of local dances, martial arts performances, gamelan and other performances. Every week at least 20 artists perform.
As a child of the nation that determines the future of Indonesia, you need to love the national culture from your own territory and other regions. By getting to know various local arts, musical instruments and Western Javanese songs, you can cultivate a love for the country’s art and culture.