Sasando is a string instrument (string) played by plucking. This sasando music instrument is a traditional musical instrument originating from Rote Island, which is precisely in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Indonesia. Literally the name Sasando according to the origin of the word in the rote language, sasandu, which means a device that vibrates or sounds. The sound of sasando is almost similar to the sound of other string instruments such as guitar, violin, and harp.
The main part of sasando is the usual long tube made of bamboo. Then in the middle part of the loop from top to bottom are given the strings on which the strings (strings) stretched in the tube, from top to bottom resting. These strings give different notes to each string.
Then this sasando tube is placed in a container made of a kind of woven palm leaves made like a fan. This container is where the resonance of the sasando. It is said that Sasando was used among the people of Rote since the 7th century. Sasando is a traditional musical instrument that needs regular care, friends. Once every five years the palm leaves must be changed, as these leaves are easily moldy.
How To Play The Sasando Instrument
Playing a Sasando instrument is not easy, it needs harmonization of feelings and techniques so as to create a melodious tone. In addition, finger skills are needed to pluck the strings as in the harp musical instrument. However, Sasando is played using two opposite hands.
This is what makes it unique and different compared to other traditional musical instruments. When you play the instrument, the right hand plays the accord, while the left hand as a regulator of melody and bass.
History Of The Sasando Musical Instrument
There are several versions of folk tales that tell about the beginning of sasandu or sasando, including this story begins from the presence of a young man named Sangguana on Ndana island. Then by the people around, he was brought before King Takalaa. This was the beginning of the meeting with the King's daughter Sang Sang.
Sangguana fell in love with the princess, but the King had the condition to accept Sangguana. Sangguana asked to make a musical instrument other than the others. In his dream Sangguana played a beautiful musical instrument with a very melodious voice. It was this dream that inspired the ability to make a musical instrument the way the King wanted it.
The musical instrument was named sasandu or sasando. Then the sasandu was given to the King's daughter and The King's daughter gave the name Hitu (seven) meaning of the name because 7 (seven) sasando strings shook simultaneously when picked.
Sangguana also finally married the King's daughter, because she managed to fulfill the King's wish. Therefore, in function and usage, sasando is usually played to accompany singing, imitating singing, accompanying the reading of poetry in the Rote area and also to accompany dances, entertaining families who are grieving and who are holding parties, and others. There are no special conditions or rituals to be able to play the instrument. Anyone can to learn the musical instruments typical of the rote area.
Development Of Musical Instruments Sasando
The development of musical instruments sasando counted very rapidly, starting from sasando stringed 7 (pentatonic) as sasando gong, because it is usually played with the rhythm of a musical instrument gong, then sasando gong developed into a musical instrument stringed pentatonic with 11 strings. Sasando gong is very popular in the rote Islands.
It is then estimated that at the end of the 18th century the sasando musical instrument underwent a change, from the sasando gong to the sasando violin. Sasando biola is more developed in Kupang. It is named sasando biola because the notes on sasando imitate the notes on the violin.
The tone is diatonic and the shape is similar to sasando gong but the shape of the bamboo and the diameter is larger than sasando gong and the number of strings on sasando violin is more, initially 30 notes later developed into 32 to 36 strings.
Sasando violin there are 2 forms, namely sasando with The Shape of the resonance chamber made of palm leaves and sasando violin with The Shape of the resonance chamber made of wood and multiplex. As we often see on the 1992 edition of the five-thousandth banknote.
In 1958, sasando elektrik began to be made until in 1960 successfully completed and get a perfect sound similar to the original sound. This electric sasando form is made as much as 30 strings. Its first Maker was Arnoldus Edon, and its first artificial electric sasando was directly under to Jakarta by Thobi Messakh (a traditional figure from Rote).
The most important tool in sasando elektrik, in addition to the sasando body and dawainya, is a spool (pickup) which is a transducer that will convert vibrating strings into electrical energy, then forwarded through the cable and into the amplifier.
Thus, a glimpse of the understanding of sasando musical instruments and their history, may be useful and useful and increase your knowledge in the field of art and history.