Audio-Visual Documentation of Cengklungan as a Living Archive

Abstract

This study explores the practice of audio-visual documentation of Cengklungan, a traditional musical expression from Temanggung, Central Java, through the framework of applied ethnomusicology. The purpose of this research is to examine how documentation can function not only as a record of musical information but also as a form of cultural engagement that supports the continuity and transmission of the tradition. The research employed qualitative methods including participant observation, in-depth interviews with tradition bearers, and collaborative audio-visual recording sessions. These approaches allowed the researcher to engage directly with the musicians and community members, ensuring that the process of documentation was participatory rather than extractive. The results reveal three major findings: first, the musical structure of Cengklungan demonstrates a collective rhythmic organization shaped by local ritual and agricultural cycles; second, its performance functions as a medium of social cohesion, spirituality, and intergenerational learning; and third, the community perceives documentation not merely as preservation but as cultural validation. The process of co-producing the recordings also generated renewed interest among younger participants, demonstrating the potential of documentation as a catalyst for revitalization.
This research concludes that audio-visual documentation can operate as a living cultural archive, enabling tradition holders to shape how their cultural expression is represented, stored, and circulated. Beyond capturing sound and image, the documentation becomes a dialogic space where cultural agency and continuity are negotiated. The study offers implications for heritage work, community-based archiving, and applied ethnomusicology practice, particularly in contexts where living traditions face shifts in participation, transmission, and cultural relevance.