Description: The angklung is ancient idiophone percussion instrument whose ancient origins are in Java Indonesia. When the musician performs the angklung the mechanism of action is a “rattling” like effect by rapidly pushing the “tuned assembly” back and forth. Angklungs are either played individually or assembled on a rack. Ensembles may include 1 to 4 where as orchestras may include up to 40 members.
Types of Angklung:
The angklung is an integral component of gamelan ensembles in 1955 the angklung received its first international debut arranged by the Bandung Conference held in Bandung Indonesia. The ensemble "Anakswarasanti" uses angklung having metal "plates" they are tuned in equivalent to G, A, B, D in the 12-tone scale. Orchestras arrange the Angklung in male and female pairs.
Anatomy of the Angklung: The angklung is assembled by a horizontally supporting tubes of bamboo in which two opposite square holes are carved into and a third bamboo piece inserted into the middle of each horizontal tube. The two vertical pieces of bamboo are wrapped with rattan to ensure stability. There are two vertical tubes which are the tuned-tubes. When shaking the angklung the tubes and their respective pitches make a rattling type sound when some plays the angklung. The two oscillating tubes are inserted with two support beams in which when played they rock through a pivoting motion thus producing the sound. On the main horizontal tubes there are two holes carved in which the pivoting two vertical tubes. The photograph on the right shows the construction of one piece of the angklung.
Low C B A G to F e d" high c" |