IYAR WIARSIH & BHINEKA TUNGGAL IKA GROUP - CELEMPUNG SENI SUNDA

In my many conversations with Gugum Gumbira about Sundanese music we would always discuss the many, many female singers (sinden) and he would always say that there was one sinden who stood above them all. In his opinion the very best of the best was Iyar Wiarsih. She's still alive, very old now, she was born September 21, 1932 and she composed many great Sundanese songs, her most famous song is Mojang Priangan but also songs like Kalakay Murag, Wanita Jaya, Reret Mojang, and Gutak-gitek. Some five years ago I attended the yearly birthday party from Pak Gugum, always great parties with great performances, I saw the great Yoyoh Supriatin perform at the party the year before, and they told me that the surprise guest were going to be H. Idjah Hadijah and Iyar Wiarsih. Unfortunately both had to cancel, Iyar Wiarsih because she was sick and H. Idjah Hadijah because her husband, the great wayang puppet player R. Tjetjep Supriadi, who passed away recently, was sick. Really too bad, I would've loved seeing those two legends perform.... Anyway, here's a fantastic celempung cassette from Iyar Wiarsih with music by Inen Saputra and the Bhineka Tunggal Ika Group, Titim Fatimah's old group, amazing music on this one.... GET IT HERE Enjoy!