Rapai, Aceh Traditional Percussion Instruments

azissuloh (61)in #culturevulture • 7 years ago

Rapai geleng colossal dance at Aceh International Rapai Festival |
Image Credit to me @azissuloh

Rapai is a traditional percussion instrument that can not be separated from the life of the people of Aceh because it has a close bond both philosophically and culturally also. Rapai music tools played by society in the surau, located all over Aceh. In addition, rapai always included in a variety of cultural events in Aceh and also around the world.

Rapai has not only performed singly, the intent is not combined with other music, on some occasions, rapai has also become a proponent of a melody of music such as Seurune kale. It is usually done on staging traditional dances of Aceh like saman dance.

History of Rapai.
From a variety of sources I get, rapai music tools brought to Aceh by Sheikh Neat There is also a mention of his name with the Sheikh Rifai He was an announcer for the religion of Islam originating from Iraq. Rapai music first staged in the area of what is now called Gampong Pande in the 11th century.

Although Sheikh neat that brought to Aceh, rapai music tool yet derives a scholar of fiqh, His name is Sheikh Abdul Kadir Jailani.

Types of Rapai
Tool music rounded with the addition of animal skin as part of the beat, have multiple types, rapai types divided by size and the sound emitted when striking. These are the following types of rapai.

Rapai pasee
Rapai Geurimpheng
Rapai Daboih
Rapai Pulot
Rapai Kisah
Rapai Anak

Those are some types of rapai, each type has a different sound and size as well as different functions.

_{Rapai Pase image credit to @azissuloh}

Apart from a variety of cultural events involving the use of rapai This percussion instrument music also has other values, among these are the value of cohesiveness between the community, the value of tradition, beauty, and also the cultural values, all the values I mentioned contained in the rapai.

Since it was first played in Gampong pande, up to now the rapai has undergone many developments in the Acehnese. no accounting for the community who can play this music tool, Even so, I really hope so that the tool music rapai continue to be socialized to the next generation, so rapai continue to exist forever.