Kacapi and recitation of pantun stories It is not certain how
long the kacapi has been used to accompany the recitation of
pantun stories. In the Sundanese dictionary published by the
Lembaga Basa & Sastra Sunda (1976) the primary meaning of the
word pantun is given as kacapi. This may be an indication that
the relation between the kacapi and the recitation of pantun
stories is an old one. Eringa (1949:3) points to the proverb
"kawas pantun teu jeung kacapi", 'like a pantun(-singer) without
a kacapi', used of someone who likes to give other people advice
but who does not himself practise what he preaches. This
proverb, according to Eringa, indicates that the kacapi is the
Standard instrument for accompanying a pantun recitation. The
Baduy Sundanese of Banten Province still make exclusive use of
the kacapi to accompany their pantun stories.