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This paper presents a quantitative analysis of the kowangan, a shield-shaped resonator used in the bundengan, a bamboo-based musical instrument from Indonesia. The kowangan resonator is made from a woven lattice of bamboo splits, covered with layers of bamboo sheaths, and then secured with palm sugar fibers. To gain insight into how this resonator works, it is required to first determine the shape of the resonator. Previously, we have developed a computational model of the resonator shape, where the distribution of curvatures in the resonator surface is driven by the minimization of potential bending energy in the woven lattice of bamboo splits. In the present study, we report the latest development in this work, where we have designed and built an optical imaging setup to measure the actual shape of a real kowangan resonator. Our measurement data allows for further improvements on our computational model, and consequently a deeper insight into the physics of the kowangan. The ultimate aim of this study is to build a full virtual prototype, not only of the kowangan resonator, but also of the whole bundengan instrument, which will be useful for the conservation and documentation of this endangered cultural heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

As the world's largest archipelago, Indonesia has a vast natural and cultural diversity, and hence a huge variety of musical instruments. Musical acoustics is, therefore, an important field of research and study in Indonesia. However, this subject is still rarely touched in undergraduate education. To help improve the quality of musical acoustics education in Indonesia, we have developed several methods. First, we design a series of final projects for undergraduate engineering students, where they can implement various methods and techniques previously studied in class (e.g., system identification, experimental methods, computational analysis, engineering design) into actual practice. These projects help the students to gain a more comprehensive perspective on the various applications of their knowledge. Second, we form inter-disciplinary collaborations, where the students can learn with musicians, craftsmen, scholars, and conservators. Such collaborations help the students to understand that, by studying the musical instruments, they are supporting the conservation of their own heritage. We have been applying these methods with our students in Universitas Gadjah Mada, particularly in our research on the bundengan, a very unique bamboo-based musical instrument. Our experience indicates that these approaches can be effective to help improve the quality of musical acoustics education in Indonesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...