Sasando

Indonesia unique cultures,

Indonesia is rich in an amazing variety of arts areas, including in it are a variety of traditional musical instruments with particularity bunyiannya. One instrument that must be considered to be maintained is a stringed instrument from Rote Island, East Nusa Tenggara named Sasando, ie instruments that are found since the 15th century.

Sasando is a stringed musical instrument. Sasando form similar to other stringed instruments like guitar, violin, and harp. But its uniqueness is the main part sasando harp shaped like a long tube is usually made of bamboo. Sasando media have sound reflectors made of tree leaves gebang (a type of palm trees that grow on the island of Timor and Rote Island) which dilekuk a half circle.
Sasando tubular length is usually made of bamboo. Then in the middle, a circular from top to bottom are given the wedge-wedge, where the strings (the strings) stretched across the tube from top to bottom rests. Wedge-wedge gives a different tone on every string passages. Then the tube is placed sasando in a container made from a kind of woven palm leaves made out like a fan. This is where the resonant container sasando.

Sasando very unique sound when compared with the guitar, usually Sasando more varied. This is because sasando has 28 strings. That is why it is not easy because sasando play a player should be able to make sasando rhythm and feeling the exact tone of all the existing strings. Sasando with 28 strings is called sasando ankle, while the type of double Sasando has 56 strings, and some have 84 strings.

How to play sasando is to be picked like playing guitar. But sasando has no chord (key) and the strings should be plucked with both hands, making it more like a harp. Until now almost all the materials used to make sasando is original material, except the strings.

In fact, not many more people who can play this instrument. Older people are always proud to play a sasando for their children or in traditional ceremonies, complete with TiiLangga hats, clothing and traditional dances, so many have died. Meanwhile the younger generation not many people know much less interested in simply learning to play.


Indonesia unique cultures.