Just over two months ago I was in Manado, Indonesia, to adjudicate the successful record attempt for the most people scuba diving simultaneously organised as part of the celebration for the international event Sail Bunaken 2009. In this occasion for the first time I saw the world’s largest trumpet proudly showing off in a parade through the city centre of Manado and I asked to meet the people behind the creation of the huge instrument.

The following day I was taken by the organisers of the scuba diving world record on a journey across natural and beautiful sceneries to the Art and Culture Institute of North Sulawesi, a magical place situated in Kinali village and dedicated to the study, preservation and promotion of the traditions and arts of North Sulawesi.
Here I learnt a about the importance of kolintang and bamboo music between the people of Minahasa and found great inspiration for a potential new worldwide record breaking event in Indonesia.

On the 31st of October I was already back in Manado, from London, to be part of the North Sulawesi art and culture festival 2009 and to meet Mr. Benny Mamoto the organiser of the for records attempts in one day for the largest trumpet, the largest kolintang, the largest kolintang ensamble and the largest orchestra playing on bamboo instruments, all in Tondano, capital of Minahasa.

Mr. Benny Mamoto in the last few years has dedicated a big part of his life to a large range of activities for the development and promotion of the Minahansan culture as for a promise he made to his father before his death, of re launching the culture of North Sulawesi within Indonesia and all around the world.

In the magnificent countryside surroundings of the Tondano Maesa stadium 1223 Kolintang players, each with mallets and a kolintang set, started the celebration by playing at the unison two traditional songs entitled “Aki Tembo- temboan” and  “Minahasa Kina Toanku” and setting the first world record of the day for the largest kolintang ensamble.

The kolintang is a melodious instrument made of wood pieces, arranged like piano keys and it is believed to be originated in the Minahasa region.
In occasion of the North Sulawesi Arts and Cultures festival the largest kolintang measuring 8 meters in length and 2.5 meters in height was presented to the media and to the spectators, together with the 32 meters long world’s largest trumpet of the diameter of 5,20 meters.

Both instruments required many days of workmanship to manufacture and are perfectly playable with the need of three people to operate the Kolintang and the help of a compressor for the trumpet.

But more to come for the thousand of musicians lined up behind the kolintangs display and filling up the stadium field, ready to attempt another record for the largest orchesta playing on bamboo instruments.

Playing on instruments made of bamboo is common in Indonesia and the bamboo orchestra proposes a different access to music by entering the relationship between man and nature.

Under the influence of the Iberian and Dutch orchestra during three centuries of occupation and one century formal education in schools, the Minahasan people have taken over the European musical tradition and developed the single bamboo flute into a complete orchestra, made from bamboo materials. Nowadays most Minahasan villages have a bamboo music orchestra to perform on special out-door festivities, such as weddings and ceremonies.
The power of the bamboo musical sound creates a unique listening experience without the use of any electric instruments and therefore suitable to the poor rural condition of living without electricity.

In Tondano 3011 people performed together a variety of instruments entirely made from bamboo and delighted the crowd with a touching symphony and a new world record award for Indonesia.

An unforgettable day the 31st of October for North Sulawesi and a celebration of the arts and cultures of a fantastic country, Indonesia,  where music plays a leading role in people’s everyday life.

Across its many islands, Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous country, with the world's largest population of Muslims and consists of distinct ethnic, linguistic, and religious groups and Indonesia's national motto, "Bhinneka Tunggal Ika" ("Unity in Diversity" literally, "many, yet one"), articulates the diversity that shapes the country.

Commotion and satisfaction for Mr. Benny Mamoto, organiser of the event, and for all the thousands of people and musicians who worked hard to achieve for new world records in one day during the North Sulawesi Arts and Culture festival 2009 event, expression of the rich Minahasan culture shared now with the all world.

6 November 2009

Lucia Sinigagliesi