Notating Sundanese Kendang: Historical Approaches and a New Font

This article surveys the history and current practices of Sundanese kendang notation, and introduces KendangFont Sunda—a continuation of its notational predecessors. First, we examine the history of different approaches to kendang notation developed in West Java, considering the inspiration and intended purpose of each system. We analyze notation trends and symbol functions of the past five decades to explore salient characteristics for developing further applied research tools. We then introduce KendangFont Sunda, a new font based on our findings, and discuss computer input methods, legibility, and ease of use. With this new tool for notating Sundanese kendang—and this overview of musical concepts, people, and notation ideas—we hope to increase awareness, develop interest, and further wider comprehension of Sundanese kendang performance.