Sasando

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Sasando is a stringed musical instrument from Rote Island, Nusa Tenggara Timur (Eastern Lesser Sundas). In Rote language, "sasandu" means vibrating or sounded instrument. It's said Sasando already in use among the Rote community since the 7th century. At first glance, Sasando looks similar to other stringed instruments such as guitar, violin and harp.

The principal part of Sasando is a long cylinder commonly made of bamboo. The central is circle from the top to the bottom and there are some wedges where the strings are stretched, from the top to the bottom. These wedges give different tones to each picked string. This Sasando tube was placed in a container made from Gebang (a kind of woven palm) leaves that made like a fan. This is where the resonance of sasando comes from.

Sasando has many strings. Sasando with 28 strings are termed Sasando Engkel. Another type; Sasando Doble, has 56 strings. There's even a Sasando with 84 strings.