Caklempong Performance at IIUM Cultural Night.

(Source: IIUM Today/Izzud Deen Redzuan)

The Gereteh (Melody), Tingkah (Rhythm), Saua (Bass), drums, and wind instruments similar to Bangsi, Saluang, and Pupuik make up traditional caklempong music, a special musical instrument that is hard to master.

This instrument has a variety of specific methods and techniques and is divided into three types of playing positions, namely Pacik, upright, and sitting.

Pacik techniques require three players, and each player will carry two caklempong hung with a rope.

The second method is in an upright way where the player will play standing and caklempong will be placed in a footed clap.

Caklempong can also be played while sitting cross-legged, as seen on television or performance stages.

Melissa Amyra Musa, 23, a student from Akademi Seni Budaya Dan Warisan Kebangsaan (ASWARA) who is also a caklempong player, felt this musical instrument was very interesting and challenging because every player had to remember the tone produced by each caklempong that was tapped.

"For me, caklempong has its level, the more the tone used in the song, the harder it is for us to understand," said Melissa in an interview with Berita DIMENSi via WhatsApp.

Melissa also mentioned that for beginners, they will start off with a song that uses five tones. After mastering it, they will slowly upgrade to 16 tones, and then move to plays using 24 tones.

In addition, to play caklempong, one must be proficient in four techniques, namely Menitir, Mengaritik, Menganak, and Mandarai.

This technique differs in the way it is played between the Minang community in Sumatra and Malaysia.

“For Minangkabau, the technique of adjusting is more to comfort and suitability of the sound by a player while in Malaysia it is more using the ‘standard’ scale used in the west,” said Melissa.

The history of caklempong began in West Sumatra when the Minangkabau people used this music as a tool to celebrate the courtiers at that time.

Due to the business activities that took place in the past, the Minangkabau people who came to live in Negeri Sembilan brought their culture into Malaya between the 14th and 19th centuries.

The cultural shift that was brought eventually made talempong or caklempong a piece of traditional music for Negeri Sembilan other than 'Bongai'.

Caklempong music was also linked to the region's mystical history. This traditional music was heard by Tuanku Laras, who was lost and chased away by a fairy-tale princess on the day of his coronation.

Some also believe that caklempong music is the result of Hikayat Malim Deman written by Pawang Ana Raja Haji Yahya who is from West Sumatra.

According to Sanggar Seni Malaysia, caklempong music has been modernized and played for various activities, not only in the palace but also for celebrations, crowds and weddings.

Caklempong was played in ancient times.

(Source: Sanggar Seni Malaysia)

Young people today are more attracted to modern music than traditional music, which they considered traditional music for the old.

President of Andeka Caklempong from International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Nor Syafiqah, 22, said, among the efforts made to reintroduce caklempong to the current generation is by ‘busking’.

“This is one of the greatest steps to reintroducing traditional music to the masses since caklempong music has so much historical value and legend,” said Syafiqah in an interview session with Berita DIMENSi via email.

Andeka Caklempong IIUM also performed in conjunction with the Citra Open Day concert by singing the song Anta Permana using caklempong.

Every musical instrument has its own value that makes it unique and fun to play with so we must protect these traditional instruments that were held by our ancestors.

It is so that future generations can appreciate the value of them just like how our people appreciate the wonderfulness of the caklempong music.

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