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Kacapi Suling

Kacapi Suling is Sundanese instrument tool which can be found in every region of Land of Sunda. The instrument consist of Kacapi and Suling. The Kacapi consist of Kacapi Indung or Kacapi Parahu or Kacapi Gelung.

Beside shown by instrument, Kacapi Suling can also be used in harmony with Juru Sekar who sings Anggana Sekar song or Rampak Sekar. Available songs are: Sinom Degung, Kaleon, Talutur et cetera.

The used key is Salendro key, Pelog, or Sorog. Different from Kacapi Suling or Kacapian if it uses Kacapi Siter. It is commonly known beside Kacapi Siter and Suling the additional 1 set of Kendang and 1 set of Goong. The used key is the same as the key which is usually used for Kacapi Suling which uses Kacapi Parahu that is Salendro key, Pelog, Sorog. Kacapi Suling which uses Kacapi Siter, beside showing instruments, it is also used in harmony with songs (kawih) either in form of Anggana Sekar as well as Rampak Sekar.

Songs in the form of Anggana Sekar are : Melati di Gunung Guntur, Sagagang Kembang Ros and many more. Whereas for the Rampak Sekar are Seuneu Bandung, Lemah Cai and many more.

In its development both Kacapi Suling which either uses Kacapi Parahu or Kacapi Sitter, is often used to accompany Sundanese Narration in Ngaras and Siraman Panganten Sunda occasion, Siraman Budak Sunatan, Siraman Tingkeban. Besides the instruments, the songs are also performed adapted to the need of the event that will be done. The songs which are performed are taken from Tembang Sunda songs.

Such are Candrawulan, Jemplang Karang, Kapati-pati or Kaleon etc. There are also those who take kawih songs or Panambih songs in Tembang Sunda such as Senggot Pangemat, Pupunden Ati and many else.

Besides Kecapi and Suling set of instrument, there is also Kecapi Biola and Kecapi Rebab which performs the same songs. In its performance, Kecapi plays the frame of the rhythm whereas the songs are played by whistle, violin, or rebab. The keynote exists in Karawitan Sunda is called Surupan, there are also those which are called Salendro, Pelog, and Sorog.

Kacapi Suling nowadays is widely enjoyed by Young People, either in the villages or in the cities. Because to learn it can imitate from recorded Kacapi Suling cassette which widely distributed in the society.

Special for the kecapi instrument, these days it is often used by several comedy groups as a complement. It can be seen that, during Mang Ukok show, Kecapi becomes the main complement which sound not only supplementing Sundanese songs, but also foreign songs.

 (Source : www.westjavatourism.com)