Redoubling The International Achievement, KPA ITB Performed Angklung at Esplanade Singapore
b.ac.id - Good news comes from Keluarga Paduan Angklung (KPA ITB). The student activity unit that was established since 1972 had joined the stage in 'Celebrate December', the year-end festival that was held by Esplenades - Singapore Theatre on The Bay, Sunday (22/12/13). Besides KPA, there are also other performances from many music groups such as Jefferson Pop Orchestra, Voice of Indonesia, Hillary Francis, Summertimes Big Band, Odilon, Sand Artist - Lawrence Koh, Tanglin Rose Big Band, and Singapore Char Siew Baos who also performed in this festival. On this occasion, KPA ITB performed various international songs that have been arranged by angklung, the Indonesian traditional music instrument made from bamboo. Some of the songs were: Mission Impossible, We Are the Champions, Can't Smile Without You, LOVE, Medley Rock, Mamma Mia, and it was nicely wrapped by Holiday Medley. The seven songs were chosen based on their closeness to the international spectators in the event. At the end of the performance there was also 'Interactive Angklung' session where KPA ITB ask and teach the spectators to play angklung together. With all of specatators who filled the Esplanades Theatre, KPA ITB played song 'Que Sera Sera'. This session was getting a lot of appreciation from the audience. "Even after the show, we met an Indian that has the first time experience to see angklung. She wanted to bring one of the angklung back home, to show it to her friends in India," said Luthfie Maula (Meteorology Engineering 2011) as Head of KPA ITB.
For approximately one month of preparation, there are many sadness yet also happiness that the team faced in their journey. Besides rehearsals and final semster test at the same time, funding and accommodation were also became a problems before departure. Luckily KPA ITB got the sponsor from the government (DIKTI), ITB alumni association (IA ITB), and ITB Student's Parents Association (IOM ITB). "Apart from that, a lot of happy moments and experiences that we got, like the experience to perform at Esplanade outdoor theatre with the background view of the Marlion statue and the Marine Bay, used the professional sound system, and performed in two sessions for 45 minutes each in front of the global viewers," said Luthfie.
Profile of KPA ITB
KPA ITB who was established in 1972, is one of cultural student activity unit in ITB. KPA was consistently exploring angklung as the traditional music and adapting diatonic angklung, that first was created by Daeng Soetigna, in order to broaden the genre of music for angklung performance. Angklung is also one of Indonesian traditional instrument that, on November 18th 2010, was appointed by UNESCO as Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It can tell that KPA ITB's role to conserve Angklung is significant. KPA ITB also held some big shows to introduce angklung to the public and maintain the standard of angklung music.
Beside making some independent performance, KPA ITB also performing in many events, both local and also international scale, such as The 33rd International Physics Olympiad (Indonesia, 2002), Indonesia-Malaysia Week 2007 Serumpun Seirama (Malaysia), Museiumfeurfest Frankfurt (Germany, 2008), The Grand Opening of Genexis Theatre (Singapore, 2011), and last Festival Muzik Bambu (Malaysia, 2011).
"I hope that KPA ITB keep working in Indonesia and international industry, keep conserving Angklung, and keep sharing with others. So, just keep doing on things you love and continue loving Indonesian culture till the end," said Luthfie to close the interview.
Photo Source: KPA ITB's Documentation
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