Sasando.. a Difficult Instrument

June 26, 2005

Sasando
Electrical Sasando played by Zakaria

I was lucky enough to hear a Sasando (musical instrument form Nusa Tenggara Timur Province of Indonesia) played lively at my wife’s relative, Viony Nunuhitu and John Edmunds Wedding Reception. It was electrical, although originated accoustical from bamboo, leaf lontar and strings, it build a lovely tune. Sound more less like guitar, but with much more tone variations. I was told that my Sister In Law, Nindia, was able to play that instrument considering Nadin’s Family has one of them at home, but I never had tha chance to listen.

Sasando originated from Roti Island on NTT Province, it is a traditional instrument, but like lots of other traditional instruments Indonesia has, it wasn’t really popular to an ordinary Indonesian guy like me :(. The instrument along with a traditional song, sung by a group of ladies, was played to accompany a traditional dance called “Cerana”. Cerana is a traditional dance to welcome the guest, beautifully danced by four dancers, and accompany by accoustical traditional song. Beautiful..beautiful..especially my wife :).

Cerana Dance
Cerana Dance

Nadin
Nadin, My beautiful and pregnant wife..She wasn’t leading the choir, She was an “MC” at the Wedding reception

6 Responses

  1. Paulin

    September 7th, 2005

    Hello, salam kenal. Saya Paulin dr Kupang. Nice to read the sasando. BTW, Viony Nunuhitu is my causin. Cherio!

  2. Tajid Yakub

    September 9th, 2005

    Salam kenal juga Paulin .. Kalau Viony sepupu kamu, berarti kamu sepupuan juga sama istri saya, Ibu Mertua Saya Conny Nunuhitu anaknya Oma Elizabeth (Almh) :)

  3. Paulin

    September 14th, 2005

    iya, salam buat istri kamu yach! jgn lupa mampir ke blog ku. aku muat profil bapaknya viony. biasa bisnis :)

  4. Eni

    November 13th, 2005

    Hi, bisa numpang tanya. Kalau mau beli alat Sasando dan belajar di Jakarta dimana yah?
    Minta infonya dikirim ke eniagustien@hotmail.com Makasih yah sebelumnya

    Hope you always happy
    -Eni-

  5. Didin Setiawan

    September 1st, 2007

    Haloo, …. Namaku Didin & sangat tertarik dengan Alat Musik Daerah seperti Gutar Sasando, Mo tanya , kalo di Jakarta bisa beli dimana Gitar Sasando atau kalau pesan dari Timor kepada siapa saya bisa pesan & harganya kira-kira berapa ? Thank you banyak yach, tolong kabari yach, ke email saya : didinsnasman@yahoo.co.id God bless …..

  6. Marsel Folla

    March 11th, 2008

    my name is marsel from jakarta… but my father from kupang…
    i want to know cerana dancer in jakarta.?? coz 16 agust 08 i will merried with kup[ang traditional… but until now i dont know the dancer kupang is?? please give me clue and please email me… thank you so much…

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