Rebab is a two or three string musical instrument that is believed to have originated from the Middle East. It was introduced into the Indonesian archipelago by Moslem traders at about the 10th century CE or about the same time as Islam was introduced into the archipelago. Since then it has been adopted and adapted into the existing local musical ensamble of gamelan.
As you can see from the picture, the Sundanese (West Javanese) rebab - like that of Javanese - is shaped like a heart, has two strings, and two elongated tuning pegs at the top. The strings are usually made of copper. The heart-shaped body is made of wood and covered with a thin layer of membrane made of buffalo skin, intestine, or bladder. The elongated tuning pegs are significantly longer than its Asian siblings.
In a gamelan ensemble, rebab plays the role of the elaborating instrument that gives ornaments to the basic melody. As such, it can be played relatively freer from the scales that other instruments in the ensemble have to follow.
7 comments:
So unusual! Thanks for the story of the rebab.
A very unusual looking instrument - I bet it's quite difficult to play !
Hi Saudara Eki, it's been a while since I have not checked in at your blog. Hope to drop in by more often, coz I'm a bit relieved from my studies right now. The rebab has that mystic sound to me. Interesting post.Salam.
Thanks for introducing this musical instrument...
It looks like a cross between a stringed instrument and a drum. And those tuning pegs are the longest I've seen in any stringed instrument. Fascinating!
I thought this said 'Sudanese Rehab' as in rehabilitation...LOL.....Nice to see you Eki....
Michelle From Rambling Woods
what a strange looking musical instrument. very interesting history too.
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