North Sulawesi is one of the regions located on the north side of Sulawesi island. It has beautiful scenery and so many traditional cultures that exist from time to time. Both of these beauty becomes the most interest in tourism visit there.
Commonly, tourists enjoy the most to North Sulawesi to enjoy their traditional cultures, includes their traditional musical instruments. They have kept the instruments from their great ancestor to every descendant up until now.
Most of the instruments from North Sulawesi can be play by both the youth and adult generation. Now, let’s see some of them below!
1. Sasesahang
Sasesahang is one of the famous traditional musical instruments of North Sulawesi that made from bamboo. It should be played by punch the body of it with a specific hammer wrapped in rubber. The bamboo should be pierced so that the sound can be controlled by it.
Sasesahang consists of about five bamboos that tied one to another. The bamboo should be parted and formed as the tuning fork. The sound is similar to the tuning fork but has a deeper sound.
You can find the Sasesahang in most North Sulawesi festivals or ceremonies. It used to be played by some farmers after finished the harvest time. But, as time goes by, people using it for welcoming guess both for local or governance events.
2. Santu
Santu is one of the famous traditional musical instruments that come from North Sulawesi which is made of bamboo. It is attached by two strings as part of the melody to make the perfect rhythm.
Santu can be played by pick the strings up or punch the body with a specific hammer. It has a unique sound that perfect for following some traditional dances from North Sulawesi. That is why you can find these instruments in the most important events in North Sulawesi.
3. Paree
Paree is one of the most popular traditional musical instruments from North Sulawesi that made of bamboo. It is similar to the Sasesahang but has a smaller size and higher sound.
Paree should be played by punch the body with your bare hand. That is why the sound is different and mostly depends on how you punch it rhythmically. This instrument used to play in some neighborhood to keep their leisure time.
As time goes by, the government decide to preserve the Paree and should be playing in most of North Sulawesi events.
4. Salude
Salude is one of the most popular traditional musical instruments from North Sulawesi that made of bamboo. It looks similar to the Santu and has two strings attached to it but should be punch by the midrib of the betel nut.
Salude commonly plays to following some traditional song or dances from North Sulawesi. That is why you can simply found it some music and art festival there.
5. Tetengkoren
Tetengkoren is one of the most popular traditional musical instruments from North Sulawesi. It comes from the famous Indonesian tribe of Minahasa which richest with so many traditional cultures.
Tetengkoren is made of bamboo which similar to the Kentongan in the most traditional Javanese musical instrument. You should punch the body of it to make a great sound.
Tetengkoren used to be an important tool for the farmer to avoid the pest came to their harvest. On a daily duty, people will use it as the communication tools in their neighborhood before it became the traditional musical instruments of North Sulawesi.
6. Yori
Yori is one of the most popular musical traditional instruments of North Sulawesi that come from the Kulawi tribe. It is similar to the mouth harp but has a deeper voice to hear.
Yori can also make from the midrib of the palm rib, wood or bamboo then tied up neatly. It commonly plays in the lunar or solar eclipse time by the tribe with some specific ritual.
7. Tutuba
Tutuba is one of the most popular musical instruments of North Sulawesi that comes from the To Wana tribe. It is made from bamboo with some strings attached to it which is similar to the Santu, Salude, and also the Guntang from Balinese traditional musical instruments.
Tutuba should play to following some traditional dances from North Sulawesi in so many important events. The instrument also plays with other instruments from North Sulawesi as the perfect integration to make a great rhythm.
8. Arababu
Arababu is one of the most popular traditional musical instruments of North Sulawesi. It looks similar to the common Indonesian Rebab such as in the traditional musical instrument from Aceh, but it only has one string attached. It is made of coconut shell, bamboo, and the string is specifically made from the banana Hote’s fiber.
Just like other traditional musical instruments in North Sulawesi, Arbabu also plays in some important event to following their traditional songs or poems.
9. Momongan
Momongan is one of the most popular traditional musical instrument that comes from North Sulawesi. It is so popular in the Minahasa tribe which looks similar to the Gong in most Javanese instruments as a part of the history of gamelan Indonesia.
Momongan usually plays with other North Sulawesi’s instrument so that it has a good rhythm to hear. It is made from metal so that the sound can be so loud to hear. That makes this instrument is perfect for following some traditional dances in North Sulawesi.
So, there some glances about the traditional musical instrument from North Sulawesi. Most of them are still exist with a great performance by North Sulwasinese performers both youth and adult nowadays.
