Indonesia to Set New Record for World's Largest Angklung Ensemble

Jakarta Globe, Lauren Zumbach, July 08, 2011

Washington DC. Internationally-acclaimed maestro Daeng Udjo will lead thousands of Indonesians and Indonesia enthusiasts in an attempt to set a new record for the world's largest angklung ensemble at Saturday's Indonesia Festival 2011.



(Antara Photo/Rosa Panggabean)

The first attempt at the record outside Indonesia will be hosted by the Embassy of Indonesia at the Washington Monument, highlighting a day of festivities meant to introduce Americans to Indonesia’s diverse culture. 


As many in the ensemble will be first-time angklung players, the Embassy commissioned 5,000 angklungs from West Java for the event. After receiving their angklung and Balinese bandana or batik scarf, Daeng will give the crowd a crash course in the art of the angklung, teaching them the song that they will play during the record attempt.

A Guiness World Records judge will oversee the event and if the ensemble succeeds, each participant will receive a certificate acknowledging their role in the newly-minted record. 1,600 participants have already registered.

"It may surprise our guests to learn that Indonesia is actually the world's fourth largest country because only 3,000 Indonesians reside in the D.C. Metro area," said Ambassador Dino Djalal. 

"Indonesia Festival 2011 is a perfect opportunity to celebrate multiculturalism and share with Washington the food, dance and music of our nation's more than 230 million citizens."

The all-day festival was organized by the Indonesian Embassy and the Indonesian community in Washington, DC to celebrate Indonesia’s diverse cultural traditions.

In the afternoon, guests will get to taste Indonesian cuisine, try traditional crafts at an arts workshop, and take in a variety of dance, music, and martial arts performances from across Indonesia.

Indonesian artists Malik D'essentials, Sherina, Balawan and Elfa's singers will be featured alongside a lineup of performers from Brazil and the US, including Grammy-nominated singer Raheem DeVaughn and 80's favorite Air Supply.