A two-stringed spiked fiddle held upright and played with accompanying bow. The body of the rebab is constructed of wood and covered with animal hide. The back of the body is lavishly ornamented with leather, small mirrors and plastic jewels. The bow has ornate carvings at one end and is adorned with small gold beads and red fabric ornaments. The rebab is one of the distinguishing instruments of the gamelan gambuh, which is differentiated from other gamelan ensembles by its inclusion of the suling (bamboo flute) and the rebab. The Gamelan Gambuh is a Balinese gamelan ensemble dating back to the 16th century, when it was used to accompany sacred court dance dramas. In addition to the suling and rebab, Gamelan Gambuh includes a group of percussion instruments that play fixed interlocking patterns.
I Wayan Sinti and the University of Washington Gamelan Gambuh Ensemble. June 9, 2004, Meany Studio Theater, University of Washington. Video recording by Chee Hoo Lum. UW Ethno Archives 2004-11.
The first Mandolin Orchestra in North America, the Spanish Student Mandolin Orchestra. Henry Eugene Abbey's "Humpty Dumpty Combination." Image of February 3rd, 1880 performance in Manhattan. The group introduced the mandolin orchestra craze to North America.
