Kongahyan Explained

A kongahyan is an Indonesian musical instrument played by drawing a bow across one or more strings. Kongahyans are similar to the rebab, which can be found in Java, Bali and Sunda Islands. This musical instrument is played for shows on those islands. The kongahyan is smaller than two other Indonesian instruments, the tehyan and sukong.^[1]

History

Nowadays, kongahyans are adapted from Chinese musical instruments,^[2] specifically the erhu.^[3] The erhu spread from China into Eurasia.^[4]

Material

Kongahyans were made from bamboo until the 1950s, when bamboo was replaced by coconut shell, which produces a harder sound.^[2]

Usage

Kongahyan is used for:

• Gambang Kromong
• Lenong
• Ondel-ondel
• Topeng Betawi

Notes and References

1. Nurhayati E, Suherman Y, Suryana A, Laelasari E. 2013. Seni Budaya untuk Sekolah Menengah Kejuruan. Bandung: Grafindo Media Pratama.
2. Adi W. 2010. Batavia, 1970: Menyisir Jejak Betawi. Jakarta: Gramedia Pustaka Utama.
3. Kusuma, Joel, Wijaya J. 2009. Analisis perbandingan er hu dengan sukong, tehyan dan konghayan. [thesis]. Jakarta: Bina Nusantara University.
4. Studymode. 2011. Erhu [terhubung berkala]. http://www.studymode.com/essays/Erhu-698294.html [27 Apr 2014].