INDONESIA: Musicians perform using natural stalagmites and stalactites as instruments at the Tabuhan Cave in East Java
Record ID:
783522
INDONESIA: Musicians perform using natural stalagmites and stalactites as instruments at the Tabuhan Cave in East Java
- Title: INDONESIA: Musicians perform using natural stalagmites and stalactites as instruments at the Tabuhan Cave in East Java
- Date: 6th April 2007
- Summary: VARIOUS OF STALACTITE MUSICIANS PERFORMING
- Embargoed: 21st April 2007 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Indonesia
- Country: Indonesia
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
- Reuters ID: LVA93AY3OENUS6HY9BR3426J4XWV
- Story Text: In the Tabuhan cave in the Pacitan district of the eastern Java province, a group of musicians show their musical talent using only the natural stalagmites and stalactites as instruments.
Locally known as Tabuhan music, musicians gather every Saturday and Sunday to beat the natural cave protrusions to produce the rhythmic Javanese traditional gamelan melody.
Fifty-year-old Swunarto began playing the instruments of the cave in 1977 when his father, a famous cave musician, persuaded him to learn the art. Since then he is one of very few cave musicians left who still enjoy this endangered tradition. He has recently persuaded his two daughters to join his musical group, in hopes that they can keep the tradition alive.
Swunarto says what makes cave music special is that unlike other pentatonic instruments like the Javanese gamelan, it follows no written musical notes, but rather comes purely from feeling.
"It's different from other Javanese music that is made from iron and bronze, because this is stone music and it does not have musical notes. We we play it with feeling," he explained.
On the weekends many visitors gather to see the Tabuhan cave and are required to pay Rp. 50,000 (five U.S. dollars) per five songs played. Swunarto said he is trying to hand down his knowledge to the next generation, but younger people seem to have little interest in this music.
The local government has recently intervened and is trying to help spread this rare music with the help of the local performers and by collecting donations for the musical group.
"We are expanding Tabuhan music all the time and are joining with the local community to conserve the Tabuhan cave. I hope the musicians will be ready to perform whenever the tourists come," the head of the Pacitan tourism agency, Bambang Widodo, explained.
Pacitan, famous as 'Town of A Thousand Caves', is trying to increase tourism by attracting visitors to its beautiful scenery with caves and beaches being the prime attractions.
It's home to more than 20 caves with spectacular stalactites and stalagmites -- a natural paradise home for any cave musician.
A quirky story. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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