CATHARSIS 6 (2) (2017)

Catharsis: Journal of Arts Education

http://journal.unnes.ac.id/sju/index.php/catharsis

Bundengan : Between Aesthetics Expressivism, Social of

Reality, and Perfomance Studies

Bahtiar Arbi , Totok Sumaryanto F, Udi Utomo

Universitas Negeri Semarang, Indonesia

Info Artikel Abstrac

________________
Sejarah Artikel: Bundengan is a transformation of kowangan or tudhung, which is a
Recived August 2017
Accepted October 2017 kind of head cover made of bamboo blades, clumpring, and rope
Published Desember 2017 fibers. This kowangan used to be used by duck herders to take shelter
________________
Keywords:
or shelter from the rain and the sun. The purpose of this study is to
creativity, indie music. analyze: (1) The form of bundengan art performances; (2) Social
____________________
reality that occurs in society; And (3) The aesthetic expression of
artists bundengan with the flow of expressiveness. This research uses
qualitative method with data collection technique of interview,
observation and document study. The data validity technique is based
on the credibility criteria, using triangulation of data. Data analysis
techniques used are data collection, data presentation, data reduction,
and data verification. The results show bundengan can replicate
gamelan sounds such as bendhe, kempul, gong, and kendang applied
in the pattern of the game, accompanying Lengger dance. There are
three moments of dialectics in the social reality of externalization,
objectivation, and internalization. Artists bundengan embrace the
flow of aesthetic expressiveness art is not as a craft, magical,
representation, and entertainment. The art of bundengan maintained
its authenticity, and developed and disseminated.

© 2017 Universitas Negeri Semarang


Alamat korespondensi: p-ISSN 2252-6900
Kampus Pascasarjana Unnes, Jalan Kelud Utara III Semarang 50237
e-ISSN 2502-4531
E-mail: [email protected]

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INTRODUCTION (aesthetic art), in this context is the art of

tradition in Wonosobo. Art that develops in
Culture is dynamic, meaning it always Wonosobo include Sontoloyo dance, Lengger,
changes the form of culture itself, whether it's Kuda Lumping, and Calung. One of the art
minor changes or major changes. There are five tradition that is phenomenal and growing very
factors that cause cultural change according to rapidly in Wonosobo today is the art of
Elly M. Settiadi et al. (2006: 44), namely: (1) bundengan. Art bundengan can be said to be
Changes in the natural environment; (2) phenomenal because this musical instrument
Changes caused by contact with another group; was originally a tool to shelter duck herders
(3) Changes due to discovery; (4) The change while the rain called kowangan or tudhung.
that occurs because a society or nation adopts Bundengan then transformed into a musical
some elements of material culture that have been instrument created when the shepherds fill their
developed by other nations elsewhere; And (5) leisure time with the animals. At the beginning,
The change that occurs because a nation shepherds use grass grasses using a fibers rope in
modifies its way of life by adopting a new kowangan that can produce sound when played.
knowledge or belief, or because of changes in life As the times progressed, grinting grass and rope
view and its conception of reality. fibers that are easily broken are replaced using
The culture as proposed by Alvin L. racket strings.
Bertrand is all the life views learned and Bundengan musical instrument was first
obtained by members of a society (Sulasman & discovered by the father of Barnawi circa 1968.
Gumilar 2013: 18). Culture in each region is But it turns out the existence of bundengan
different so that each individual learns the much older than expected. This is evidenced by
culture around them. Each region has its own the writings of Wretta Sancaya in the 12th
culture that depends on the condition of the century by Mpu Tanakung in the Majapahit
local community. Based on the existence of kingdom who discussed the music called
different needs, activities and views within a tudhung, in this case referring to musical
community group, each region has its own instruments made of kowangan or tudhung. In
culture. No exception in Wonosobo regency that comparison, in the 12th century civilization in
has a characteristic of its own culture that is not the West was in the periodization of the Middle
owned by other regions. Ages, not yet entering the Renaissance
Wonosobo regency is one of the regencies (Interview Hengky Krisnawan, February 2017).
in Central Java Province located in the Musical instrument bundengan used to
Highlands and Mountains. The word Wonosobo accompany the dance Kuda Kepang, Mask, and
comes from the Javanese language "Wanasaba" Lengger by bringing tembang-tembang
which literally means a gathering place in the accompanist like Kebo Giro, Gones, Sumiyar,
forest. The word "Wanasaba" derived from Kinayakan, Bribil, and Cuthang. Bundengan
Javanese was quoted from the Sanskrit word music is one of the unique musical instruments,
"Vanasabha" which has the same meaning that because bundengan can replicate various sounds
is gathered in the forest. The words "Wanasaba" similar to some gamelan devices such as
and "Vanasabha" are also known as two Bendhe, Kempul, Gong, and Kendang. As the
Mahabharata books namely Sabhaparwa and era progressed, this bundengan musical
Wanaparwa (Wikipedia.org). instrument developed into one of the most
Like other cities in Indonesia, Wonosobo popular art among other traditions in
also has a motto, namely Wonosobo ASRI Wonosobo, and made one of the local content
(Healthy, Neat, Beautiful). In addition to its teaching materials in high school in Wonosobo.
natural beauty, Wonosobo also has another The most recent event featuring bundengan art
beauty charm. The beauty here can be was held in December 2016 in Art Bundengan
interpreted as the beauty contained in the art 100 bundengan event in Wonosobo initiated by

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Ibu Mul from Sanggar Ngesti Laras along with traditional arts in Indonesia, his research can be
students at SMP N 2 Selomerto (Interview accessed through the site
Hengky Krisnawan, February 2017). www.auralarchipelago.com
Music education as expressive advice Research that will be carried out by
because among the students and students of researchers starting from previous similar
music education institutions such as disclose research, such as research conducted by Arum
that through musical activity they get the Purwinda et al. (2012) entitled Bentuk
opportunity to express their thoughts and Pertunjukan Kesenian Angklung Carang Wulung.
feelings through the tones that are created or that The difference lies in the focus of the study being
diaainkannya, either with vocals or musical examined textually. Another research similar to
instruments he learned (Udi Utomo, 2006: 9). It this research is a study conducted by Karman
is undeniable that art is an integral part of (2015) entitled Konstruksi Realtias Sosial sebagai
human life. One implementation of this Gerakan Pemikiran (Sebuah Telaah Teoritis
inseparability is the role of art in influencing the Terhadap Konstruksi Realitas Peter L. Berger). The
development of the human soul. This utilization difference lies in the material object, the research
is of course in a positive sense, namely the study is to examine or examine which is not the object
of art to develop the aesthetic aspects of human of art.
beings. Efforts to achieve these goals include Starting from the concept of seven
through art education held in schools (Totok elements of Koentjaraningrat culture, this thesis
Sumaryanto, 2000: 1). discusses two elements of culture, namely life
Initially the person who can play this and artistic livelihood systems. The livelihood
bundengan musical instrument is only the father system of life will be examined extraesthetically
of Barnawi, the daughter of the father of using the social reality concepts of Peter L.
Barnawi, and a disciple of the father of Barnawi Berger and Thomas Luckmann, and the arts will
namely the father of Hengky Krisnawan. Art be examined intraesthetically using the concept
bundengan which is located in Kampung Seruni, of performance and aesthetic form of
Kelurahan Terbsari, Wonosobo is not missed by Coollingwood expressivity. Art bundengan is
media coverage, one of television station that created on the basis of the desire to seek
presents art episode bundengan Hengky activities on the sidelines when waiting for the
Krisnawan is Trans TV in Indonesia program livestock, this is related to the social reality that
Have Stories, Compass TV in the program occurs in society and also the aesthetic
Explore Indonesia titled "Khayangan di expression of bundengan artists. Based on the
Javanese Heart ", which aired in September background that has been presented, the authors
2014. It is the underlying writer took the object lifted the thesis title of "The Shape of Bundengan
of art material bundengan owned Mr. Hengky Performing Arts and Aesthetic Expressivism in
Krisnawan. Wonosobo Regency in Context of Social Reality
Art bundengan has also created a special Study".
documentary film entitled "Aura Magis Musik
Bundengan" by artists collaborating with the METHODS
local government which was released in early
February 2016. Besides covered in mass media The method used in this research is
and in filmkan, bundengan art has also been qualitative research method. Qualitative
studied by Rosieh Cook, a Conservatory from research is a descriptive study, not using
Monash University Australia in 2016. In numbers, and describes speech, writing and
addition to research, Rosieh Cook also brought observation. The approach used in this research
along and some bundengan to his native is an interdisciplinary approach, involving
country. There is also a USA ethnomusicologist ethnomusicology, sociology and aesthetic
named Palmer Keen, who examines many disciplines. Ethnomusicology to analyze

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intrestetiknya, namely the form of art the observed subjects. The stages of observation
performances bundengan. Sociology to assess in this study are as follows: (1) Preparing
the extraestetiknya, which represents the social observation instruments; (2) Collecting data that
reality that occurred in the community in begins by recording the atmosphere of guitar
Wonosobo regency. lessons during the learning process up to observe
The research design in this study is a case the ability of the participants of the lesson by
study, which means the findings in this study do conducting question oral and practice questions;
not apply to the public, but only apply to the And (3) reconcile the results of data collection.
same characteristics or phenomena. That is, the Interviews used in this study are structured free
case or findings of this study apply only to the interviews that the interviewer brings the
cattle herders community in Wonosobo regency. guideline which is an outline of what will be
The research location conducted by the examined. The tools used by researchers in
researcher is in Sanggar owned by Mr. Hengky conducting the interview activities are: (1)
Krisnawan Seruni. The research objectives Questionnaire; (2) Notes; (3) Camera (for photos
studied or focused on this research are related to and sound recordings). Then the researchers
the problems raised by researchers, namely summarize the results of interviews that have
bundengan art in Seruni sub-village, Kelurahan been done systematically to make it easier to
Luar, Wonosobo district. The focus of this study understand. Interview conducted with artist
examines the form of performance, social pioneer bundengan art in Wonosobo that is
reality, and aesthetics of expressiveness, with the Hengky Krisnawan and also art dancer
object of bundengan art. bundengan, and also society and also audience.
The type of data in this study is qualitative Researchers use document study methods with
data. Then, the data source in this research is the aim of collecting useful data to reinforce the
divided into two, namely primary data and data obtained from interviews. Documentation
secondary data. The researcher obtained the is used to collect documents in the form of
source of data from the main source, the learning materials, learning media, photographs
informant acting as the pioneer of the existence and videos on the learning process.
of bundengan art, as well as the community Documentation is also used to record
members acting as the main actors of bundengan bundengan art activities in Kampung Seruni,
art in Seruni sub-village, Kelurahan Luar, Kelurahan Terbsari, Wonosobo District.
Wonosobo district. Supporting data is obtained Way of data analysis, method used
from observation and literature as well as several qualitative analysis. Put in a thorough and
other informants such as artists, community systemic thinking frame. Data in the form of
leaders and other community members. In words, ideational statements, explanations of
addition, researchers also conducted steps to ideas or events and not a series of numbers, have
obtain data from secondary data sources, been collected and processed and then compiled
namely in the form of data that support research. in an expanded and analyzed text. That data
Secondary data is the source of data obtained analysis is a joint activity and mutual copying
indirectly, but can help and provide supporting between data reduction steps, data presentation
information as research material. They include and examination of conclusions or verification.
documents or historical and event notes,
photographs of supportive activities and events RESULT AND DISCUSSION
and research-related books.
Data collection in this research using Overview of Research Sites
observation technique, interview, and document The location of this thesis research is
study. In order to obtain data, researchers used located in the studio of Mr. Hengky Krisnawan
participant observation. Researchers observe as located in one of the villages in Wonosobo
well as participate in the activities undertaken by regency in Kampung Seruni. Kampung Seruni is

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part of Kelurahan Distance, Wonosobo District. ricikan, ricikan strings. Then through the game
The distance between Kampung Seruni and of both ricikan is presented to accompany the
Wonosobo City is 10 minutes away. This song or song that is usually presented by a vocal.
section will describe the geographical situation At this stage there is a process of mixing musical
of Jaraksari Village. braids that intactly describe the form of
Based on data collected from Kelurahan bundengan music.
Luarsari office, this village is one of 13 urban
villages in Wonosobo sub-district, Wonosobo Table 1. Simplification of bundengan kendang
regency, Central Java province. Kelurahan game technique
Distance is adjacent to the surrounding villages,
in the north, Wonosobo subdistrict, the east is
bounded with Jogoyitnan urban village, the
south is bordered by Mlipak urban village, and
the west is adjacent to the district of Tawangsari.
Kelurahan Luar is a village located in a
Table 2. Pattern of the string game of
mountainous area with an altitude ranging
bundengan
between 700 meters up to 850 meters above sea
level with tropical climates division of two
seasons each year, the dry season and rainy
season with an average air temperature of 25ºC
with flat air humidity 70-80% and rainfall 2,200
mm/year.

The Shape of Bundengan Performing Arts in

Wonosobo
Art Bundengan is a musical instrument
that is usually used as a dance accompaniment
Lengger Mask that lives and thrive in the rural
life of the people of Wonosobo. Therefore, in
analyzing the performance of Bundengan art
performance, it is necessary to describe each
element of the Bundengan performing arts
performers in accordance with the concept of
Picture 1. Tembang Sontoloyo
performance form. Based on the concept of the
show form which explains about the constituent
Social Reality
elements, the researcher will describe the art of
Externalization
Bundengan by analyzing each element of
The social process of the moment of
performance form that is: (1) composition form
externalization in relation to the arts of
consisting of: working on music, working on
bundengan bahwasannya in the process of
dance, poetry; And (2) presentation form
transformation from tudhung or kowangan to be
consisting of order of presentation, stage,
a musical instrument that is currently known by
makeup, dressing, sound system, lighting,
the term bundengan, in which there is a moment
formation.
of externalization where there is the process of
spending ideas from the world of ideas to the
Composition Form
real world. The process is represented from the
As already known that the sound or
process of creation of musical instruments
sound media contained in the instrument
bundengan, where the instrument originally
bundengan is divided into two, namely the draft
derived from tudhung or head covering that

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serves as a protector in the heat and rain. Kowangan formed from bamboo, usually
Tudhung or kowangan commonly used by using bamboo rope or bamboo apus, the use of
farmers and pastoralists in the past. bamboo is due to its nature that is easily bent
As the shepherds watch for their livestock and woven in such a way as to form a kowangan
feeding animals, they have plenty of free time to form that we know as today. Bamboo function
simply rest under the tudhung to take shelter here is as a frame, which is then coated using
from the sun or the rain. In that free time the clumpring and wounded using fibers derived
shepherds try to find other activities, one of from sugar palm trees. This fiber rope serves to
them by installing the grinting on the kowangan bind clumpring. Besides useful to bind
that can produce sound like a gamelan. For clumpring, this fibers turns useful to take refuge
information, tudhung or kowangan listed in one from lightning strikes. Our ancestors thought
of the ancient books relics of the kingdom of that coconut trees and other trees could still be
Majapahit around the 13th century that is struck by peitr, but that had never happened to a
Wretta Sancaya by Mpu Tanakung. In this book palm tree. For this reason fiber rope is used in
there is a sentence about music called kowangan. So when they travel to the fields, to
"tudhung", the Javanese experts concluded the the fields, or to other places, they do not fret if
konotoasi of "tudhung" as the head cover that there is heavy rain accompanied by lightning
refers to kowangan (Workshop Bundengan, flashes.
2017). At this moment of objectivation, the
In the era of Majapahit gamelan music creators of bundengan assume that this
can only be enjoyed by the royal family and the instrument is an imitation of the musical sound
nobles, the commoners can only hear gaugnya of the gamelan. The main function of
only from a distance. When the shepherds enjoy bundengan in its period is used as a means of
their leisure time waiting for their livestock, the prayer. Worship and hyang in Hindu beliefs
idea is to use the tudhung they use for shelter as have the meaning of worshiping or worshiping
a means of entertainment. Installation of grass the Almighty. The use of bundengan that has a
grass and bamboo blades in kowangan was able rhythm and sound that resembles a gamelan,
to produce musical sounds that can mengimtasi with a monotonous rhythm is believed to help to
gamelan sound, namely bendhe, kempul, gong, concentrate in prayer by chant song-song to the
and kendang. In this process there is an Supreme God. The use of bundengan as a
outpouring of ideas from the world of ideas to means of worship and filling leisure time is done
the real world, reflecting the moment of continuously so that it undergoes habituation or
externalization. habituation process which eventually become a
pattern that is reproduced and understood by
Objektivation artists bundengan until now (Interview Hengky
The moment of objectivation that occurs Krisnawan, 2017).
in relation to bundengan art, where the
instrument bundengan as imitation of gamelan Internalisation
experience habituation process or habituation to Internalization moment that happened to
norm and culture that developed in society. society about bundengan art is by making
Bundengan developed into one of the popular bundengan as identity of Regency of Wonosobo.
popular art. This is based on tudhung or At the festival of traditional arts festival in
kowangan is a daily tool in his era that is easy to Indonesia in Yogyakarta some time ago,
find or made your own. The raw materials for bundengan serve as the mascot of the event. As
kowangan making are widely available in part of the shepherd's history, bundengan is an
nature, and commonly used by farmers and icon representing people's lives. The use of
pastoral communities. bamboo, slumpring, palm fiber, grinting grass,
represents the life of an agrarian-livelihood

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society. Bundengan as a gamelan imitation, as if CONCLUSION

describing the grade differences between the
bourgeoisie and the proletariat. Bundengan is Bundengan is an imitation of gamelan
currently used as a replacement for Lenggeran sounds such as bendhe, kempul, gong, and
gamelan to accompany Lenggeran dance. kendang. Bundengan music is usually created
musical braided through the merger of two
Aesthetics of Expressivism forms of rhythm patterns and conditional. In
Arts is not as Handicraft accordance with the instrument furniture which
The process of creating bundengan from is a string and kendang. The pattern of rhythm is
Majapahit era to postmodern era today is not found in the strings while the pattern of rhythms
intended as a craft. Ethnically historiography, that conditionally seen in the game kendang.
bundengan is created to fill the pastime of the Another form outside the instrument is a vowel
shepherds, simultaneously imitating the sound dish that is commonly encountered as a serving
of the gamelan. Bundengan is usually played at material.
night alone, while contemplating and singing The process of transformation from
tembang songs. tudhung or kowangan until it can become a
musical instrument that is currently known as
Arts is not a Representation bundengan, in which there is a moment of
The expression of a bundled artist flows externalization where there is a process of
unceremoniously as to what his work would be expending ideas from the world of ideas to the
like. Because the musical instrument is actually real world. The process is represented from the
created to mengkeskpresikan themselves, process of creation of musical instruments
contemplate, on the sidelines of free time. While bundengan, where the instrument originally
the patterns of bundengan games that exist today derived from tudhung or head covering that
is the legacy of the ancestors based on the same serves as a protector in the heat and rain.
pattern. Tudhung or kowangan commonly used by
farmers and pastoralists in the past.
Arts is not as Magical Instrument bundengan as imitation of
Music bundengan and lenggeran dance gamelan experiencing process habituasi or
does not serve as a means of ritual, but rather to habituation to norm and culture that developed
the means of prayer in ancient times. Because in society. Bundengan developed into one of the
the tone of the rhythm produced by bundengan popular popular art. This is based on tudhung or
can make a person become more concentrated kowangan is a daily tool in his era that is easy to
and focused to worship the Almighty. find or made your own. The raw materials for
kowangan making are widely available in
Arts is not as Entertainment nature, and commonly used by farmers and
In the application of art bundengan can pastoral communities.
evoke the emotions of people who hear it. But it Internalization moment that happened to
happens accidentally, without any intention to society about bundengan art is by making
affect the emotions of the listener. The sound bundengan as identity of Regency of Wonosobo.
produced by the bundengan is like anesthetizing At the festival of traditional arts festival in
the listener to follow the rhythm, tone after Indonesia in Yogyakarta some time ago,
chant so that it can penetrate into the inner bundengan serve as the mascot of the event. As
human that cause positive effects such as part of the shepherd's history, bundengan is an
calmness. icon representing people's lives. The use of
bamboo, slumpring, palm fiber, grinting grass,
represents the life of an agrarian-livelihood
society. Bundengan as a gamelan imitation, as if

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