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Gendang Melayu(Drum)

Gendang is one of Malay music instrument.It almost played by the Malay people.The gendang was played in theater music such as Malay gamelan.Most of this instrument can be found at gamelan groups.Gamelan word are came from Javanese word ‘gamel’ which meaning to strike or hammer.The real hammer are not use to strike the gendang but it mean a piece of rattan.It was called hammer for the gamelan.

It have two type of gendang.First is barrel drum.It look like the barrel.It have doubled head which covered with the animal skin such as the cow and goat skin.But the head are not same in size.We can played by using the ‘hammer’ or using our hand.



The second drum is frame drum.It only have one sided.It also make by the cow or the goat skin.They played by hit it by using the hand.It will produce high frequency sound when the side more tight.

The main function of gendang is as the entertainment.Long time ago the gendang was played in Gamelan,Silat and Dikir barat show.Over the year the uses of gendang in music theater become more important.The sound produce by the gendang make it unique to other.The gendang will be played with other instrument such as flute and many more traditional music instrument.When the instrument played together the peaceful and harmony sound will sounded.Sometimes it hypnotized us with the unique beat.

For me, Gendang is unique traditional music instrument.Many people accepted the traditional music must be keep in touch.This is because the traditional instrument and doing make us different between other.We as the responsible and thinker person must ensure our tradition still alive.So,we can tell other about our tradition.We must proud with our culture arts.