TRADITIONAL INDONESIAN MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

The term Tambourine

     Tambourine in Indonesian; Genjring, Flying or Kencer in Javanese; the English dictionary calls it Tambourine; kalimantan term Gendang, is a traditional musical instrument played with the accompaniment of arabici songs

or Islamic.

     In Malay terms tambourine is a traditional musical instrument that is played to accompany cultural songs.

     Rebana instruments are made from selected wooden boards, rounded and hollowed out using an electric-powered lathe and specially designed to produce distinctive sounds. On the other side is mounted goat skin that has been tanned white. With skill, expertise and patience in its implementation, it will produce one of the Islamic artworks in the form of quality Tambourines. 

     A good tambourine instrument is one that sounds clear, not fals, adapted to the needs of the music flow or individual versions as well as with an exclusive appearance. Therefore the basic materials, especially wood and leather, that are needed must be the wood of choice. Not all types of wood can be made into tambourine crafts. Only certain wood. Similarly, the skin that will later be used as a pat medium, must use the skin of choice and a certain type of animal.

The existence of Rebana

     The existence of tambourine Kaliwadas-Bumiayu-Brebes-Central Java began from the tenacity of Mr. Toip [our father] and his uncle Madali [deceased] in making this 'pat band' in the 1940s. At that time the making of tambourines was arguably still limited and only as a filler of free time, interrupted by their busy farming and in the political turmoil of Japanese and Dutch colonization. When it began to be marketed in the 1950s, buyers and connoisseurs of distinctive sounds were still limited to old people and in the nearby area only. Such as Brebes itself, Banyumas, Tegal and Cirebon. The type at that time there were only two kinds, namely Rebana Syrakal with a diameter of 36-39 cm and Classic Java made of Glugu or Coconut wood.      The manufacture of body or kluwung tambourine and Java at that time still use manual means, namely by using Tatah [special knife] to design and break. It is still working with someone from Jatilawang, Banyumas. It was only in the '70s that our parents began to design the manufacture of Tambourine bodies using bubut_meski machines still using leg power [boosted] , so that the U.S. that had been fitted with Rebana wooden spheres could rotate.

     In the 1970s, a businessman from Jakarta of Tasikmalaya descent named H. Sulaeman [deceased] came to visit. He witnessed the tenacity and craft of our father who in fact was a maid of Mr. Madali in making Tambourine, so that then invite him to cooperate by opening his own business and give him free capital!

     From the expertise of H. Sulaiman through " Toko Musik Setia " this is finally gradually tambourine Kaliwadas tambourine Bumiayu which in fact Toip products began to be widely known, so was born Sentra Rebana Kaliwadas. Followed by two shops next to it preparing to accommodate musical instruments that are more specialized as escorts of this shalawat.

     The peak of tambourine glory took place in 1999 until now [At that time the home industry " Suara Tunggal Bahana " was only one year running]. And now the type of production is more and varied. There are Rebana Hadrah, Qasidah, Marawis, Bass Alhabsyi, Bass version of Habib Syech, Rebana MAPSI, and others. Other types of musical instruments began to be directed by us next, such as: various Drums, Bedug, Drums, Band packages, Marching Band, and others. 

     Now Kaliwadas tambourine seems to have become a symbol of Kaliwadas or Bumiayu city and has been famous throughout Indonesia and abroad. The number of craftsmen has also been tens. They have their own advantages as well as with different market share.