West Kalimantan Traditional Musical Instruments

West Kalimantan is one of the areas known as the “Province of a Thousand Rivers” because of its geographical situation which has several hundred rivers. Some of the rivers, one of which is still the main artery and important road for transportation to the hinterlands. Turning to the cultural factor, West Kalimantan is home to several types of ethnic groups, especially the Dayak tribe for the native tribes of Kalimantan. Of course, with the cultural exoticism that has built up, we can take at least an amazing knowledge about some of the arts in this area, namely the traditional musical instruments of West Kalimantan.

Names of West Kalimantan Traditional Musical Instruments

In this article, I have summarized at least 10 traditional musical instruments that are widely used in the Province of West Kalimantan. Please read together the 10 traditional musical instruments of West Kalimantan below.

1. Agukng

Agukng is a musical instrument like a gong and is played by beating with a wooden bat. This tool can actually be found in almost all Dayak sub-tribes and is believed to be a sacred item that can get rid of evil spirits. This is because the sound made is considered a noble sound that can summon ancestral spirits.

Agukng can be said to be a type of percussion instrument made of metal. Agukng is a colotomist instrument, which is used to separate the sound which is played in each measure.

In addition to its role as a musical instrument, in Dayak custom, agukng can be used as a dowry, as a stand as a symbol of enthusiasm during marriage. Also, agukng can be used as a means of payment in traditional law in West Kalimantan.

2. Silotong

Silotong is a traditional musical instrument resulting from the cultural gestures of the Jagoi Tribe in Bengkayang Regency, West Kalimantan. That said, this musical instrument has been used by Jagoi residents since the time of their ancestors.

The silotong is made of wet tori manah bamboo, a type of bamboo native to the Jagoi Babang area. It is stated that this bamboo has been planted by the ancestors of the Jagoi residents by way of hereditary until now. To increase the value of the beauty of the silotong musical instrument, rattan is used for ornamentation.

The name silotong is used because it comes from the characteristics of his voice which emits a tang-ting-tung-tong sound. His melodious voice makes the silotong a musical instrument for distraction, as a musical instrument to accompany dance attractions and poetry in local traditional ritual ceremonies.

3. Segayung

Senggayung is a percussion instrument in the form of a pair of bamboo which is played by being beaten together. The spread of this musical instrument covers the area of ​​Ketapang Regency, West Kalimantan, which is played during the fruit season and harvest in the garden.

How to play it, the lower-sounding string instrument pair is gripped by the hand now, while the higher-pitched one is gripped by the right hand. The senggayung partner in the right hand plays the role of the beater.

4. Old

Tuma is a musical instrument like a long drum which is widely used in West Kalimantan. This musical instrument is made of wood with a length of up to 1 meter. and a diameter of 25 cm for the body. While the membrane for the punch is made of ox skin.

As with the usual drum, tuma is played by tapping the palm of the hand. Based on the sound source, the tuma belongs to the family of membranophone instruments. In local community custom, tuma is usually played to accompany regional dance arts along with other traditional instruments.

5. Donkey

Keledi is a wind instrument made from pumpkin, bamboo, and adhesive from kelulut nests (a kind of jungle bee). Starting from the old pumpkin fruit (5-6 months old) is removed inside, then dyed for one month, then dried. The dried pumpkins are then glued together with bamboo sticks using adhesive from the kelulut nest.

Generally, the keledi musical instrument is played to accompany regional songs, dances, paparazzi theater (poems in songs containing advice), and during traditional ceremonies of the Dayak tribe.

6. Sape

Sape or Sampek is a stringed musical instrument like a lute which is actually widely used in several areas in Kalimantan. This musical instrument is usually played to accompany regional songs, dances, to chanting oral literature in traditional ceremonies of the Dayak people.

In West Kalimantan itself, the body of the sape is made of wood with a carving of a dragon or aso at the end of the neck, an animal that is considered sacred by the Dayak people of the Apau Kayah family. While on the body of the sape (resonator chamber) is made with ornaments typical of Dayak.

7. Antoneng

Antoneng is a stringed musical instrument like a tube guitar made of bamboo. This musical instrument is made of bamboo and bamboo epidermis which is made for about five strings. In the middle, there is a hole that serves as a resonator chamber.

In use, antoneng is usually used to accompany regional songs or just played at leisure to fill his spare time after working in the garden. It is played by drawing and the sound it makes is not much different from the genggong instrument.

8. Entebong

In essence, this entebong musical instrument is the same as the drum instrument, from the shape to the steps to play it are also the same. Entebong is a traditional musical instrument that is widely used in West Kalimantan. especially in Sekadau District. And also this musical instrument is made by the original Dayak tribe who live in the Sekadau area and its surroundings.

9. Kangkuang Musical Instrument

Kangkuang is a musical instrument like a drum from West Kalimantan, to be precise among the people of the Banuaka Dayak tribe in the Kapuas Hulu region. As with the general drum, this instrument is played by beating using the palms of the hands without any special bats. But on this kangkuang there is a carving that is characteristic of the uniqueness of the Banuaka Dayak drum.

10. Feedback/Curating

Balikan or curating is a stringed musical instrument like the sapek which is widely used in West Kalimantan. This musical instrument is originally made by local Dayak people who live in the Kapuas Hulu region. Because of its exoticism and uniqueness, this musical instrument has become a symbol of musical instruments for the West Kalimantan region.

Also Read: Traditional Musical Instruments of East Kalimantan

Closing

Thus the information related to West Kalimantan’s traditional musical instruments. Hopefully what you read is useful to increase knowledge in the field of music art. And don’t hesitate to provide feedback, criticism or opinions for the development of this blog.