Typical Aceh Musical Instruments Rapai

RAPAI is a traditional percussion instrument of Aceh which is included in the frame drum family, which is played by being beaten by hand without using a stick. RAPAI is often used in traditional ceremonies in Aceh such as wedding ceremonies, circumcision of apostles, night markets, dances, anniversaries, birthdays and so on, and is an integral part of the life of the people of Aceh both philosophically or culturally. Rapai play the role of tempo, rhythm, tingkahan, jangling and make the atmosphere becomes more lively and festive. It supports choruses (melodies) from Serune Kalee or buloh longs (blowing instruments beratonval diatonic tones).

There is a pameo that is often heard containing "peunajoh timphan, piasan rapai" which means Acehnese special food is a timpan (a kind of rice powder in it contains coconut and palm sugar, or contains sarikaya / rich egg aso, wrapped in young banana leaves and steamed), then piasan rapai which is defined as an entertainment musical instrument is reach.
Based on the poetry script sung with RAPAI, this instrument comes from Syeh Abdul Kadir Jailani, the great scholar of fiqh from Persia who lived in Baghdad from 1077 to 1166 AD (470-560 Hijriah). The poem mentioned (in Indonesian):

The star's sky shines high
The light of the candlestick shines the earth
The origin of reach from Syeh Abdul Kadir
The legitimate Inilan of the creator was born earthly.

Rapai was taken by an Islamist broadcaster from
Baghdad called Sheikh Rapi (one of whom called Sheikh Rifai) and played for the first time in the Capital of the Kingdom of Aceh, Banda Khalifah (now Gampong Pandee, Banda Aceh) around the 11th century.

Rapai is played in an ensemble consisting of 8 to 12 players called a crew and paired with other instruments such as serune kalee or buloh longs. The game of the Rapai ensemble can reach the hearing from a distance due to the reflected echoes and does not require a microphone for every performance even at night in the countryside can reach hearing from a distance of 5-10 km.
Various kinds of RAPAI: