The rebab (Arabic: ربابة, rabāb, variously spelled rebap, rabab, rebeb, rababa and rabeba, also known as جوزه jawza or joza in Iraq[1]) is a type of a bowed string instrument so named no later than the 8th century and spread via Islamic trading routes over much of North Africa, the Middle East, parts of Europe, and the Far East.
In #mak yong
The main melody producing instrument, aside from the human voice, is the rebab, a 3-stringed bowed- lute which is most likely derived from Middle Eastern .
The long fretless neck, slightly elongated and triangular-shaped body, the elaborately carved and decorated head piece (kecopong), along with the use of three strings and lateral tuning pegs distinguish this rebab from others in the Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian worlds.
The three strings are supported by a small moveable bridge located near the top of the front of the body, and a small lump of beeswax is attached to the body near the bridge to slightly mute the sound.
The strings are bowed with an intricately carved wooden bow with nylon string attached (these replace the coconut fibre strings used in the past) which are usually coated with resin to enable smooth bowing on the metal strings of the instrument as the player’s hand tautens the bow strings.
The rebab player provides highly
ornamented melodic lines in a heterophonic relationship with the singer’s voice.
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