Computational analysis of the bundengan, an endangered musical instrument from Indonesia

The bundengan is an endangered musical instrument from Indonesia. This musical instrument was first developed and played by duck herders. To build the half-dome-shaped resonator, bundengan makers create a woven grid of bamboo splits and arrange the weaving pattern such that the grid spontaneously forms the half-dome shape. The dome is then coated with layers of bamboo sheaths, strapped with sugar palm fibres to hold them in place. Inside the resonator, there is a set of long, thin bamboo plates and some strings. The strings are equipped with small bamboo clips, which vibrate together with the strings. The clipped strings generate metal-like sounds, while the bamboo plates generate drum-like sounds, such that the bundengan as a whole imitates the sound of a set of gamelan, an Indonesian instrumental ensemble. Interactions with the bundengan makers and players allow us to identify an important problem: players find it difficult not only to tune this instrument, but also to keep it tuned for a long time. We ...