What is Sasando? If you are in first time hear about Sasando, you will have many questions about it.
Sasando is a traditional music instrument from Rote, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. This is similar like guitar, but Sasando is more difficult if you play it. Sasando has many variations of strings quantity. There are that has 28 strings, 56 strings, and that we sell has 32 strings.
Sasando is from Rote language, Sasandu, means vibrating or producing sounds.
Based on Rote people, Sasando had been known since a long time ago. There are many variation stories behind this instrument. There is a man, Sangguana stranded in Ndana Island when sailing. Then he is invited to meet king. King's daughter fell in love with him because he is known can make music instruments. She asked Sangguana to make a unique music instrument. Finally, when he slept, in his dream he heard and saw there are a music instrument that produce beautiful sound. After he waked up, he imediately made a music instrument that similar to it.
The other story version is Sangguana fell in love with king's daughter and the king give him a requirementto make a unique music traditional. Then he make it based on his inspiration from his dream.
The main part of Sasando is a long tubular, made of a bamboo that coiled from top to bottom where the strings streched and rested. This Sasando tube is placed in a half circular container that made from palm leaves as the resonance.
