Rebana ensemble
While the word “rebana” commonly refers to frame drums in Indonesia and Malaysia, the Sasak-Muslim Balinese communities in Karangasem, East Bali, also call their frame drum ensembles by the name rebana. The rebana ensemble is a unique tradition of the Sasak Balinese who emigrated from the neighboring island of Lombok during the era when the Karangasem kingdom controlled it. They perform on several rebana each tuned differently so that the whole ensemble can create a melody in slendro as the drums interlock when performed. The ensemble also includes bamboo flutes (suling) and zithers (manolin) which were added after community ancestors came to Bali, while the unit of tuned rebana that makes up the core of the ensemble is believed to have been originally brought from Lombok. It is performed purely as instrumental music for entertainment.
In the past, rebana music was commonly found in Sasak-Balinese kampung around Amlapura, the center of the Karangasem regency, although during my research since 2006 I could find only two active performing groups, in Danginsema and Nyuling. It is truly sad that in Nyuling, the tradition has almost become extinct over these past few years because of the paucity of competent performers, while in Danginsema the ensemble barely persists today. In Lombok, we can also find similar rebana ensembles, in which several rebana, each tuned to a different tone, interlock to create a melody. But the repertoire and the details of their musical styles are different from those in Bali.
In the past, rebana music was commonly found in Sasak-Balinese kampung around Amlapura, the center of the Karangasem regency, although during my research since 2006 I could find only two active performing groups, in Danginsema and Nyuling. It is truly sad that in Nyuling, the tradition has almost become extinct over these past few years because of the paucity of competent performers, while in Danginsema the ensemble barely persists today. In Lombok, we can also find similar rebana ensembles, in which several rebana, each tuned to a different tone, interlock to create a melody. But the repertoire and the details of their musical styles are different from those in Bali.