Old Tunes, New Students
Indonesia is known for its cultural wealth, including its traditional dances and music. But a number of the country's traditional musical instruments are on the brink of extinction, including the Balinese wind instrument genggong and the Central Javanese string instrument bundengan from Wonosobo. The younger generation's lack of interest in learning traditional instruments is one of the reasons for their worrying scarcity. But several individuals have chosen to take action. The Halim Foundation in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, teaches young people to play traditional Chinese instruments, while the Mekar Bhuana Group in Bali archives and documents old gamelans and reproduces them. In Commemoration of World Day for Audiovisual Heritage on October 27, Tempo English reports.
November 20, 2017
Music for Unity
The Halim Foundation in Pontianak organizes routine classes for learning traditional Chinese musical instruments, to preserve tradition and foster diversity.
THE sound of music could be heard faintly from outside the Halim Foundation's building on Jalan Gajah Mada, Pontianak, West Kalimantan. The rhythms seemed to blend in with the pouring rain and the rumble of traffic in front of the three-decade-old building. On that day three wee
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