Saluang

saluSaluang is a wind instrument similar to a flute made of bamboo. This instrument is very popular in West Sumatra. Unlike an ordinary flute that has a reed or special part of one edge that can produce the sound, Saluang does not have this kind of part. It is merely a bamboo tube, about 3 cm in diameter and 90 cm long. The musicians produce the sound by blowing one edge from an angle so the wind from the musician's mouth will hit the other edge of the bamboo. There are several tone holes that produce tuning system similar to diatonic system. Darek means inland, so that Saluang Darek is Saluang that derives from inland area.

This instrument is often used in Bagurau, one of the most popular performing arts that involves all people, the artists as well as the audience. Bagurau is merely song performance accompanied by the Saluang Darek that is called Dendang. The melody of the song and Saluang are tied precisely. One of the audience may ask the singer to describe or announce a certain subject by paying the committee who holds the performance. The singer then composes the required subject immediately in a poetic form and it is sung. When another person in the audience feels that the song is addressed to him or her, he will spontaneously ask the singer to answer the first person by paying more than what had been paid by the former. Although the Dendang is used for discussions or a quarrel between one of the audience to another, there is never any physical fighting.

When the discussion through the Dendang becomes hotter and hotter, the money pours very fast. That is why this kind of performing art is often used for fund raising. The artists that consist of one or two singers and one Saluang player will be paid according to their agreement with the committee who holds the performance.

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