Tifa totobuang
A tifa totobuang is a music ensemble from the Maluku Islands, related to the kulintang orchestra. It consists of a set of a double row of gong chimes known as the totobuang (similar to set of bonang gong chimes) and a set of tifa drums. It can also include a large gong.
A Tifa totobuang ensemble, a traditional musical instrument from the East Indonesia region | |
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| Developed | Indonesia (Maluku) |
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| Pelog and Slendro scales | |
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| bonang, kenong, canang, keromong, kromong, kethuk, trompong/terompong, rejong, khong wong yai/khong wong lek, khong toch/ khong thom, khong vong, krewaing/krewong | |
| More articles or information | |
| Music of Indonesia |
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| Regional music |
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The name comes from the instruments' collaboration. The ensemble can accompany the Maluku Island's Sawat Lenso dance.
The custom dates back at least to the late 17th or early 18th century. Gong-chime and drum ensembles, labeled tifa totobuang, were mentioned by François Valentijn, a Dutch army cleric who served in the Dutch army in Ambon, Maluku in two tours, 1686-1994 and 1703–1713. Valentijn talked about hearing "some Javanese lasses sing to the sound of a gong and a tifa (i.e. drum) and of a native zither...a large number of gongs and tifas."