Unveiling the strong bond in society through soundscapes; Kotagede's case.

Kotagede is the former capital of the Mataram Kingdom, an ancient kingdom long before the current kingdom of Yogyakarta, which CNN named as one of the 13 most beautiful cities in Asia in 2019. It is not only beautiful but also unique. The uniqueness of Kotagede starts with its residents. A document states that, at once, all the residents had a very close relationship as a family. It is no longer the case, but they have lived for more than one generation or more than 25 years. Even though they no longer live as a family, they still live very closely to each other. It is reflected in the living environment, which is the intangible heritage of the Kotagede people. Kotagede's soundscape consists of religious sounds, professions, household activities, nature, and even mystical sounds. A series of focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with local stakeholders show that all the sound sources that develop Kotagede's soundscape are both individual and communal. Neighbours can visit through the back yet private door to borrow salt or other spices. Gathering in one house to listen to the radio or accidentally hearing private conversations from neighbouring houses is a common phenomenon in Kotagede. The soundscape reflects the strong bond within the community that is missed by locals when they leave Kotagede for a while.