Rapai Traditional Musical Instruments

'Rapai' is not just a musical instrument that can be enjoyed at the show only, But reach it also contained the values of tradition, culture, moral message, compactness and beauty value for anyone who heard the boom and enjoy it.

The performance of the art of 'Rapai' is still preserved to this day, proof that the people located on the northern tip of Sumatra's westernmost island of Indonesia sought to preserve the art of reaching, even though it had disappeared during the time of Aceh's prolonged conflict, but now the roar of rapai began to re-hear the solitude of the night Aceh.

There are several types of 'rapai' such as 'Rapai' pase, rapai debus, reach geurimpheng, reach the pulot, reach small children and reach the story all of which are traditional percussion instruments played by beating with the palm of the hand, without using the tool accompanied by poetry lyunan poetry

'Rapai' Aceh made especially from the shoulders of large logs that have been hundreds of years old, no wonder crafters currently very lack of raw materials and can only be obtained in the wilderness. Wood to make rapai first soaked for more durable wood facilitate the engraving according to the desired type of rapai.

Junaidi (35), one of the artisans of traditional music instrument of type reach in Gampong Blang Weu Panjo, Blang Mangat sub-district, Lhokseumawe which continue the work of his parents to make the recognition, so far the difficulty of raw materials so that their business is increased. hatching production is hampered.

It took five to seven days to make one strait plus almost all the stages were done in the traditional way with makeshift tools," Junaidi said.

He added that small and medium sized reaches are made of membranes or membram from adult goat skin while for large sizes made from cow leather is first processed by way of drying and then tightened with rattan to produce high sounds plus metal plates on the edge of the ramp to produce a tinkling sound to be heard 10 to 15 kilometers from where the drum is played

Not only in the performance of the performance of the uroh or debus, according to him, rapai is also used in traditional ceremonies, such as marriage ceremonies, musical instruments to accompany traditional dances with instruments of wind instruments resembling a flute called Seurene Kale which continues to be hereditary in Aceh society.

This music instrument in recorded history comes from the great scholars of fiqh of Persia Baghdad from 1077 to 1166 AD or 470-560 Hijri who gave birth to several types of rapai such as 'Rapai Daboeh' (debus) is a riba that shows the action of dexterity and the supernatural power of a person is immune from the touch of sharp objects and the most extreme action is played by an invulnerable immune or those who are experts makrifat iron.

Reach Gerimpheng played while sitting, begins greeting as he reached forward and shake his body to the left and right simultaneously while hitting 'Rapai' and singing a poem or familiar called ratoeh.

'Rapai' Pulot also begins greeting and continued with acrobatic skill in forming a continuous circle accompanied by at least 30 people hit bat. Reach Children, which is small size that serves to hold a louder voice.

And 'Rapai' Acts, want to want something that is headed by an expert or known syech along with dozens of drummers simultaneously singing poems that tells the story according to the celebration that since hundreds of years into the Acehnese art heritage. @Rahmadantara.