Sasando

Sasando Origin

The origins of musical instruments from Rote Island, East Nusa Tenggara is packaged in different versions of the legend. That said, a young man named Sangguana Ndana stranded on the island when sea. He was taken by residents to the king at the palace. During his stay in this palace of art talent possessed Sangguana immediately known many people hooked up to the princess. 

He asked Sangguana create a musical instrument that has never existed. One night, dreaming Sangguana was playing a beautiful instrument or voice form. Inspired by these dreams, Sangguana create an instrument that is named Sandu (that vibrates). When playing, the princess asked what song that is played and Sangguana replied, Sari Sandu. Any instrument that he gave to the Princess which was then called Depo Hilu, which means once a seven-stringed plucked vibrating.

Another story mentions, the inventor Sasando are two shepherds of sheep, Lunggi Lain and Balok Ama Sina. Mentioned, when creating a water reservoir container of wine from palm leaves, they find some threads on palm leaves that can cause different sounds when fastened. Incident to encourage two people to create strings that can imitate sounds gong. After trying and look for them managed to find musical instruments from Haik midrib palm fiber strings became the forerunner to the current Sasando known.

Yore first created hundreds of years ago, musical instruments Sasando is part of the plants. Strings made of bamboo rods, Sasando body that serves as a resonant space, made of palm leaves. Sementra strings made of bark in the forest.

Starting the second generation, until recently, according to the times, Sasando strings made of bark, changed with the string taken from a motorcycle brake line. Besides, the other part is preserved.

Make Sasando not take a long time, except for palm leaves as a resonant space, which must be dried in the sun all day before use.

Sasando parts

Sasando is a stringed musical instrument. Sasando shape   similar to other stringed instruments like guitar, violin, and harp. But its uniqueness is the main part of the long tubular Sasando like a harp that is usually made from bamboo. Sasando sounding the media has made of tree leaves gebang (a type of palm tree which usually grow on the island of Timor and Rote Island) is bent into a half circle.

In general, the shape Sasando stringed instrument similar to others such as guitar, violin, and harp. The main part of the long tubular Sasando usually made of bamboo. Then in the middle, a circle from top to bottom are given lump-lump where the strings (the strings) that stretched across the tube, from top to bottom rests. Lump-lump gives a different tone to each chord passages. Then this Sasando tube placed in a container made from a kind of woven palm leaves made out like a fan. This container is where Sasando resonance.

Sasando do have a lot of strings. Sasando with 28 strings, is called Sasando ankle. Another type is Sasando Doubles, have 56 strings. Some even have 84 strings.

Currently Sasando already started in the modification. The sound of leaves gebang reflector has been replaced with an electric guitar that spool attached to bamboo poles amid Sasando. Sure Sasando this model can only be issued a clarion sound system with assistance.

Instrument Function Sasando

Sasando gong music functions in society as a dance accompanist instrument, console the grieving family, comforting families who are having a party, and as a personal entertainment. Sasando pentatonic gong has a wide variety of ways to play, among others: Teo lace, Ofalangga, Feto Boi, stones matia, Basili, Lendo Ndao, Hela, Kaka Musu, Tai Benu, Ronggeng, Dae muris, Te'o tonak. Variety, variety is already a variety of materials, but with slight differences due  :

• Rote consists of 18 Nusak indigenous and divided into six districts. By itself each have a style of play Nusak different.
• The difference-this stock is influenced by the ability of their respective musikalis Sasando player gong.
• The absence of musical notation system Sasando gong standard.

How to play Sasando

How to play the way Sasando picked, similar to the guitar. Only Sasando without chord (key) and the strings should be plucked with both hands, so more like Harp. Right hand over the six strings, while the other five strings are plucked by the left hand, without involving the thumb, because the location of strings that are in the back of the rod strings. Need liveliness of the eight finger, while the sound of strings, there is a shrill sound like a melody, and sound "heavy" like the sound of bass. Uniquely, there is no standard scales in playing this type of musical instrument. Until now almost all the materials used to make Sasando is original material, except the strings. 

Sasando unusual nature played traditional ceremonies celebrating thanksgiving after the harvest, birthday, wedding, family party, and so on, complete with Tiilangga hats, clothing, and traditional dances. Sasando emerged in the 1800s. Rote Ndao ordinary citizens to play it to entertain the king. They bring the best music award from the king in the form of cattle and agricultural land. Sasando is one of the most common musical instrument is played at that time even in a simple form.

Sasando Developments

Sasando initially using pentatonic scales. It is estimated that  the late-18th century sansando been progressing according to demands of the times, that is using diatonic scales. Diatonic Sasando especially developed in Kupang district.

Number of strings used by Sasando varies the diatonic, 24 strings, 28 strings, 30 strings, 32 strings, and 34 strings. Then in the next development is approximately 1960 for the first time Sasando use electricity. This idea came from a man named Mr. Edu Pah, that is one of his players Sasando experts in East Nusa Tenggara.

Source :
http://bataviase.co.id/detailberita-10395531.html
http://www.nttprov.go.id/ntt_09/index.php?hal=alatmusik