Indonesian Music Ensemble Brings Anklung to Paris

Jakarta Globe, November 16, 2015

A musical ensemble from Saung Angklung Udjo will perform in Paris on
Tuesday. (Photo courtesy of Saung Angklung Udjo)

Jakarta. A musical ensemble from Indonesia's Saung Angklung Udjo cultural will be performing at the Odéon, Théâtre de l'Europe in Paris on Tuesday, despite the deadly spate of terror attacks in Paris on Friday.

The Bandung-based collective's performance is intended to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the recognition of angklung — a West Java traditional musical instrument made from bamboo — as one of the world's intangible cultural heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

It will also coincide with the celebration of Unesco's 70th anniversary.

Around 30 members of Saung Angklung Udjo, led by Sam Udjo, arrived at the Charles de Gaulle airport on Sunday morning.

"Thankfully, we arrived safely in Paris and did not encounter any difficulties. Everything went smoothly, including when we went through immigration checks," said Sam, as quoted by Antara.

Indonesian Ambassador to Unesco Fauzi Soelaiman underlined the importance of angklung being heard in the city.

"I want angklung to be performed in Paris, where Unesco recognized the [musical instrument] as an intangible world heritage," Fauzi said.

Saung Angklung Udjo's visit to Paris is supported by Indonesia's Ministry of Education and Culture.