Banda Manusa

Suling: Burhan Sukarma
Kacapi Indung: Rukruk Rukmana
Kacapi Rincik: Dede Suparman

Burhan Sukarma is a profound improvisor whose soulful expressive melodic lines speak across cultural boundaries. His suling playing has influenced countless performers and built his reputation as one of the most influential Sundanese musicians of his generation. During the 1970s and ‘80s, he appeared on the majority of suling recordings produced in West Java. Today’s musicians still scrutinize those early recordings for inspiration and technique. For the past 30 years, Burhan has performed, recorded and taught throughout the United States and directed the group Pusaka Sunda in San Jose, California.

Rukruk Rukmana is an award-winning virtuoso on the kacapi indung. He has collaborated and recorded with many of the leading Tembang Sunda vocalists of his generation. His kacapi indung playing is bold and lyrical, a technique that is particularly suited for instrumental recordings. Rukruk has been a mentor to countless kacapi students worldwide and continues to teach weekly master classes in Bandung, Indonesia.

Dede Suparman has been the ‘first call’ kacapi rincik player in West Java for the past 40 years. During those years he also performed for millions of listeners as a principal musician at Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) Bandung. Dede is featured on hundreds of Tembang Sunda and Kacapi-Suling recordings. The consistency and subtle creativity of his playing superbly defines the role of the kacapi rincik. Dede continues to perform throughout West Java.