Jakarta - Indonesia broke the Guinness World Records (GWR) with the world's largest angklung performance with 15,110 participants at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium, Jakarta, on Saturday (5/8/2023). This grand performance was attended by President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo and Vice President Ma'ruf Amin along with several Ministers of the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet.
Through two medley songs "Berkibarlah Benderaku" and "Wind of Change" played for seven minutes, all participants managed to present a beautiful musical harmony. The official judge of GWR, Sonia Ushirogochi, before announcing the results, appreciated that the performance presented a beautiful harmony of angklung instruments and outstanding teamwork.
During the results announcement, Sonia confirmed that the record-breaking feat was successfully accomplished with a total of 15,110 participants. The previous world record for the largest angklung performance was set at the Washington Monument, Washington D.C., USA, on July 9, 2011, involving 5,182 participants.
"As of last month, Indonesia has 124 Guinness World Records. Jakarta has 13 records. I can confirm that with 15,110 participants, you (Indonesia) have achieved record-breaking," said Guinness World of Records official assessor Sonia Ushirogochi, reading out the results to the applause of the entire stadium.
The head of the committee, Tri Tito Karnavian, who is also the Chairperson of the Organization of Solidarity Action of the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet Era (OASE KIM), explained that this performance was a direct initiative of First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo to preserve angklung musical instruments and support artists who had been affected during the pandemic. "This effort is not an easy thing, it is a struggle from all parties involved. Today's success is a gift for the 78th anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia," said Tri.
The same thing was expressed by Franka Makarim who prepared the participants to be able to present a melodious harmony. "This performance has been seriously prepared since October 2022 with the involvement of various parties who have given their time, energy and enthusiasm for this success," Franka explained, in a statement quoted in Jakarta, Sunday (6/8/2023).
"The participants from various backgrounds have been disciplined and united to go through a three-month training process. Today we can witness the fruit of the long process that has been passed, we managed to break the GWR world record," said Franka Makarim.
Participants in the world's largest angklung performance came from various backgrounds, ranging from OASE KIM administrators, high school and official school students, representatives of ministries/institutions, to Dharma Wanita Persatuan and Tim Penggerak PKK.
"The preparation is quite long. We have been preparing for months and we have been practicing and practicing seriously to pursue the world record," said Renaldi, one of the GWR record-breaking participants who is a student of the Institute of Domestic Government (IPDN).
Another participant, Dian from Dharma Wanita Persatuan, expressed her feelings of happiness, pride, and a valuable experience to be part of the world's largest angklung performance that succeeded in breaking the GWR record.
The GWR assessment process, which lasted for an hour, was filled with entertainment from Salma, the winner of Indonesian Idol 2023, Saung Angklung Udjo, and Kahitna who were able to release the tension of the participants and sing and dance together. Not only that, the invitees, including the Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, Nadiem Anwar Makarim, also got a surprise to play angklung with all participants with the song "Mengejar Matahari".
The Spirit of Collaboration behind the World Record-Breaking Success
Preparations that have been made since October 2022 are also supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Kemendikbudristek). "Angklung is an Indonesian cultural heritage that has been recognized by UNESCO since 2010 and has good character education values that must be preserved and passed down to the next generation. This performance is expected to be a momentum to foster the younger generation's love for the Angklung musical instrument," explained the Director of Film, Music and Media at the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research, Ahmad Mahendra.
Mahendra added that the Ministry facilitated 20,060 Angklung units and distributed them to 381 angklung groups, each with 40 members. Collaborating with Saung Angklung Udjo (SAU) as a partner, Kemendikbusritek also developed the concept of musicality, video conductor, and angklung training for all participants.
"We believe this joint effort is a trigger to embed culture in the nation's generation and inspire the world in facing global challenges," said SAU Chairman, Taufik Udjo.
"In addition to being trained directly by the SAU team, we also involve 182 supervisors who have been previously trained by SAU to assist independent training in each group. These supervisors come from music teachers and angklung artists from studios or communities," Mahendra explained.
Hotland, one of the supervisors, expressed his happiness and pride in being part of this performance. "Happy and proud to be part of the Angklung world record history, this is a gift for Indonesia's 78th birthday", he said.
Meanwhile, Director of High School at the Ministry of Education and Culture, Winner Jihad said that the Ministry of Education and Culture in collaboration with the Provincial Education Offices of DKI Jakarta, West Java, and Banten gathered 1,000 participants from 25 schools. "The involvement of high school students is an effort to introduce and foster a love of angklung to the younger generation because there are many good values that can be learned from this musical instrument. Collaboration, discipline, and patience," added Winner.
This collaboration from various parties involved is a positive spirit in the management of Indonesia's cultural heritage. Angklung has indeed been recognized by UNESCO since November 16, 2010, but the sustainability of this original Indonesian musical instrument that has gone global is the responsibility of all Indonesian people.