Guna Dwi
Whoever have thought that garbage can be turned into a musical instrument? Every musical instrument that Dodong Kodir has made came from used plastic, pieces of wood, metal, fi bers, and fruit skins.
Using those musical instruments made from waste, Dodong collaborated with musician Dwiki Darmawan recently. He has also performed at the UNESCO in 2006, playing a musical instrument called Sulangsong, a bamboo flute that he created himself.
“Although I used garbage, I could play music with world musicians. It was something I’m proud of, even though many Indonesians do not know about it, “said Dodong, who has participated in a number of festivals at home and abroad since 1996.
In 2006, he played the Sulangsong in an event commemorating 100 years of the composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in France. “They always have interesting things. In this event world ethnic musical instruments blended with a European classical orchestra. I was the only person coming from Indonesia,” said Dodong.
The man, who is also known as a seasoned artist in the field of karawitan (Sundanese gamelan music), puts much efforts to work on musical instruments made of secondhand items.
His musical instruments are based on tradition, such as the gamelan, but they use sound effects, like contemporary music in general. Therefore, his homemade musical instruments are commonly called contemporary tradition. “Actually, compositions of gamelan can be created just by using the sound effects coming from the instruments,” he said.
— Full article is available on Majalah Warisan Indonesia Vol.01 No.04 —
