Tambourine

Rebana

Note: The following text is taken from a 19th-century collection catalog and, in its language and perspective, partially reflects colonial thought patterns. We present the text in its original version to make the collection's history transparent and promote a critical examination of the colonial legacy. Certain terms and formulations may be perceived as problematic today. A 2009 research project concluded that most descriptions are factually correct and still usable; only a few details were found to be inaccurate or incorrect. The results of this project were published in the following collection catalog: https://khm-wmw-tm-library.on.worldcat.org/oclc/1457155265

"461. Tambourine
Made just like the oriental instruments and brought from there by the Arabs. The drum skin is stretched over a wooden ring on one side; richly gilded rings which are painted brown are set on the sides with metal discs so that they make a tinkling sound when shaken. In Java they are usually used with music for dancing but are not hit by the dancers, as in the Orient. It is hit by a man who crouches down on the ground who shakes it and beats a certain rhythm with his fingers or palm of his hand. All sorts of instruments are used to make dance music in Java. Besides the tambourine there are different sized metal cymbals and metal plates and the unavoidable violin. Dancing is called "tandak" in Java and consists of the artful turning of the body, especially the hips, the twisting of the arms in their joints and especially here, the hands and wrists; the feet have the least work - the dancers hardly leave their place. Dancing is a profession and is not done for pleasure. The pleasure is in the watching of the dance and not the dance itself. In Java there are the following kinds of dancers: first the "Serimpi", the court dancers, four of them who are princesses by blood usually determined by the wives of the prince; they only dance for the prince and are adorned with rich clothing and jewellery. The "badaja", also court dancers, nine in number, also from high birth but from a lower rank than the previous ones. They are lent by the Prince to nobles, i.e., natives who are Dutch officials, but never more than seven at a time. Many princes and regents have their own "badajas", but they are not allowed to have more than seven and these are from lesser ranks and birth. If no suitable girls can be found, then seven boys are hired as (women) dancers, wearing women's clothes. Finally there are the common type of dancers, the "ronggeng", the real "badajas" of the Javanese. They are public dancers who appear at festivities and are called to houses, but they also dance on the street for money. Their dancing is accompanied by an unpleasant monotone singing, usually "pantuns", typical little songs of erotic and immoral content. These dancing girls are either scantily dressed or dressed in an extravagant manner. The heads are always adorned with large Indian crowns of gold tinsel."