Rebab

Rebab
Rebabs
Mevlâna mausoleum, Konya, Turkey

The rebab (Arabic الربابة or ربابة - "a bowed (instrument)"),[1] also rebap, rabab, rebeb, rababah, or al-rababa) is a type of string instrument so named no later than the 8th century and spread via Islamic trading routes[citation needed] over much of North Africa, the Middle East, parts of Europe, and the Far East. The bowed variety often has a spike at the bottom to rest on the ground, and is thus called a spike fiddle in certain areas, but there exist plucked versions like the kabuli rebab (sometimes referred to as the robab or rubab). Furthermore, besides the spike fiddle variant, there also exists a variant with a pear-shaped body, quite similar to the Byzantine lyra and the Cretan lyra. This latter variant travelled to western Europe in the 11th century,[2] and became the rebec.

This article will only concentrate on the spike-fiddle rebab, which usually consists of a small, usually rounded body, the front of which is covered in a membrane such as parchment or sheepskin and has a long neck attached. There is a long thin neck with a pegbox at the end and there are one, two or three strings. There is no fingerboard. The instrument is held upright, either resting on the lap or on the floor. The bow is usually more curved than that of the violin.

The rebab, though valued for its voice-like tone, has a very limited range (little over an octave), and was gradually replaced throughout much of the Arab world by the violin and kemenche. It is related to the Iraqi instrument the Joza, which has four strings.

Contents

Construction

The rebab is used in a wide variety of musical ensembles and genres, corresponding with its wide distribution, and is built and played somewhat differently in different areas. In Southeast Asia, the rebab is a large instrument with a range similar to the viola da gamba, whereas versions of the instrument further west tend to be smaller and higher-pitched. The body varies from being ornately carved, as in Java, to simpler models such as the 2-string Egyptian "fiddle of the Nile" may have a body made of half a coconut shell. The more sophisticated versions have a metal soundbox and the front may be half-covered with beaten copper, and half with cowskin.

Arabia, Persia and the Ottomans

Najd Bedouin playing a rebab during World War II

The rebab was heavily used, and continues to be used, in Persian traditional music. There is also a bowed instrument in Persian music named Kamanche which has similar shape and structure. The Rebab is also played in other countries such as India, most likely tracing its origin to Greater Iran because of its use in the Sassanid court.

Asian heartland

Jack Hsu of The Hsu-nami's band performing on the Erhu spike-fiddle[3] to progressive rock music

The spike fiddle variants are very commonly used by many East and Central Asian ethnic groups and their diaspora around the world, such as the Huqin variety used by most ethnic groups of China, the morin khuur of Mongolia, the Byzaanchy of Tuva, the Kokyu of Japan, Haegeum of Korea, kyl kiak of Kyrgyzstan, Saw sam sai of Thailand and many others. These are generally used in playing traditional folk tunes, but have also become popular in arrangements of contemporary music, including such genres as classical, jazz, and rock.[4]

Malayan Archipelago

K.P.H. Notoprojo, famous Indonesian rebab player

In the Indonesian gamelan the rebab is an essential elaborating instrument, ornamenting the basic melody. It does not have to conform exactly to the scale of the other gamelan instruments and can be played in relatively free time, finishing its phrases after the beat of the gong ageng (the big gong that "rules" the ensemble). The rebab also frequently plays the buka when it is part of the ensemble.[5]

In the eastern Malaysian states of Kelantan and Terengganu, the Rebab is used in a healing ritual called "Main Puteri". The musician healer is sometimes taken to hospitals in cases where doctors are unable to heal ailing patients.

See also

Notes

External links

References

  • Margaret J. Kartomi: On Concepts and Classifications of Musical Instruments. Chicago Studies in Ethnomusicology, University of Chicago Press, 1990

Instruments and vocals used in Javanese gamelan

Colotomic instruments:
Balungan instruments:
Panerusan instruments:
Unpitched instruments:
Vocals and clapping:

 

Kempyang and ketuk | Kempul | Kenong | Gong
Saron panerus | Saron barung | Demung | Slenthem | Slentho
Bonang | Gendér | Gambang | Siter | Celempung | Suling | Rebab
Kendang | Bedug | Kecer | Kemanak | Kepyak
Gerong | Sindhen | Alok | Senggakan | Keplok



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Look at other dictionaries:

  • rebab — rebab …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • rebab — [ rəbab ] n. m. • 1850; ar. rabâb→ rebec ♦ Instrument de musique du monde arabe à une ou deux cordes frottées, dont la table d harmonie est en peau. Instrument voisin à trois cordes pincées d Afghanistan et d Inde. ● rabab ou rebab nom masculin… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • rebab — REBÁB, rebaburi, s.n. Instrument muzical cu două coarde, asemănător viorii, folosit de algerieni, tunisieni şi marocani. – Din fr. rébab. Trimis de claudia, 13.09.2007. Sursa: DEX 98  rebáb s. n., pl. rebáburi Trimis de siveco, 10.08.2004. Sursa …   Dicționar Român

  • Rebab — Rebab, türkisches Bogeninstrument von ziemlich rundem Corpus, welches mit einem kleinen Schalloch versehen u. mit zwei Saiten bezogen ist …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Rebab — Rebab,   Streichinstrument, Rabab. * * * Re|bab, Rabab, der; , s [arab. rabāb]: arabisches Streichinstrument …   Universal-Lexikon

  • rebab — rèbab m DEFINICIJA v. rabab …   Hrvatski jezični portal

  • Rebab — Türkische Rebabs im Mevlâna Mausoleum in Konya Das Rebab (arabisch ‏رباب‎, DMG rabāb) bezeichnet türkische und arabische Streichinstrumente mit einfachem runden Schal …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Rebab — Rabâb Sommaire 1 Vièles 1.1 Rabâb arabe et turc 1.2 Rebab malais et indonésien 1.3 Rabâb maghrébin …   Wikipédia en Français

  • rebab — noun A stringed musical instrument, related to the lute, used especially in Islamic countries A last cricket scratched mournfully at its rebab …   Wiktionary

  • Rebab — Re|bab . Rabab der; , s <aus gleichbed. arab. rebāb, rabāb> ein arab. Streichinstrument, Vorform des ↑Rebecs …   Das große Fremdwörterbuch

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