Is Tifa from the area?: History and Stages of Making Tifa

Is Tifa from the area?: History and Stages of Making Tifa - Do you know about the tifa, and where does this musical instrument come from?, on this occasion Seputartahu.co.id will discuss it and of course the things that also surround it. Let's look at the discussion in the article below to understand it better.

Is Tifa from the area?: History and Stages of Making Tifa

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Indonesia has many tribes, each of which has its own culture and unique characteristics, including traditional musical instruments.

Papuans are no exception who are expressive people, they express their artistic spirit in the form of traditional musical instruments, or carvings and dances. Every meaningful moment for them is always celebrated and accompanied by traditional music, one of which is the Tifa musical instrument.

This musical instrument has its own uniqueness, especially now that the Tifa musical instrument has become a symbol of Papua itself.

This musical equipment comes from eastern Indonesia. Specifically the Maluku and Papua regions. Tifa is a type of musical instrument that is beaten similar to a drum. The difference is, the sound of this musical equipment sounds lighter. From a physical perspective, this musical equipment is made of wood and in the form of a tube.

Generally, this tifa is used to accompany traditional ceremonies, traditional performances or dances. The appearance of this musical equipment itself is unique, decorated with carvings of great artistic value.

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History of the Tifa Musical Instrument

This musical equipment has a history behind its uniqueness. The history of this musical instrument also has several types depending on the region of origin. However, the most popular history is the story of two brothers who came from Biak.

The story is that there used to be two brothers who lived in an area in Biak, named Frainum and Sarenbayer. These two names have related meanings, making these two brothers have a very close bond.

Fraimun is a war weapon whose gangang can be used to kill enemies, whereas Saren means bow and Bayer means bowstring. So when combined these two names have the meaning of an arrow attached to a bow.

After that, these two relatives left their sinking village and lived in the Wammber area which is located in an area called North Agar. One day the two decided to hunt at night, then found opsur plants, which means wood that can make sounds in the middle of the forest.

The next day they returned and cut down the plants. Make a hole in the middle so that it forms a kind of pipe. They caught the question by calling him using the language "Hey, prisoner Bo." Until those questions finally came to an understanding and surrendered.

Then they skin the meat and the skin is dried and then used to cover the ends of the wood. This equipment was later known as the tifa musical instrument.

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Tifa Making Stages

The method for making this musical instrument is categorized as very easy and simple. The main raw materials used in making this musical equipment are lenggua wood and animal skin. Because it has carvings of great value, this musical instrument has subsequently become a very special piece of musical equipment. The following is the Tifa creation session:

• Selection of Tree Types

Select quality lenggua plants, then cut them down and cut them according to the desired dimensions. The lenggua wood is then made into a uniform shape with a drum. However, the dimensions and height are different. The size of the Tifa equipment itself is also adjusted to the type and region where it is made.

• Emptying Wood Contents

After forming the lenggua wood according to its height and size. This wood is then made into a kind of tube, the middle of the wood is hollowed out and emptied. The aim is to make a loud sound when hit. The process of emptying the contents of the wood does not take a long time because special equipment is used to make the process easier.

• Drying Animal Skins

In this session, the wood that has been built and perforated will be covered at the ends and edges The ends of this musical instrument are generally covered with animal skin, usually leather is used deer. In certain areas, the cover of this tifa equipment is made from dried soa-soa or monitor lizard skin.

• Tifa Cover Installation

After drying, the animal skin is used to cover this musical instrument. The animal's skin is then heated so that the skin is pulled taut. For the musical equipment craftsmen themselves, the more dry the animal's skin is, the better the sound it produces. When hit it will make a loud and strong sound.

• Tifa Music Equipment Engraving

After closing the end of the musical instrument itself, the final part is to provide a touch of art. The art of decorating the tifa is usually adapted to the region where it is made. The art of carving the Papuan tifa and the Maluku tifa, these two carvings have contrasting and very diverse characteristics.

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Comparison of Papuan and Maluku Tifa

TifaIndonesia's musical equipment in the eastern part, especially Papua and Maluku, understands this musical instrument itself. Interestingly, this tifa itself can be identified directly from its origin just by looking at its physical form. because Papuan and Maluku Tifa musical instruments have distinctive differences.

• Tifa Papua

Tifa musical equipment is very synonymous with Papua, especially the Asmat tribe. Tifa has become proof of the identity of the tribes in Papua, as if it has become a daily necessity like oxygen. The Papuan tifa music equipment for Malim residents is known as Kandara, in Biak it is known as the name Sirep, in Satani it is known as Wachu while for the Asmat tribe they call it by name Em.

For the tribes in Papua themselves, this musical instrument is very closely related to ancestral customs. Generally the tifa is used in ritual events, the melody played is very sacred and will be the main musical instrument dominates when ritual activities are held, because the tifa musical instrument can produce melodic beats that make the ritual more intense kushuk.

• Tifa Maluku

Tifa Maluku musical equipment has a distinctive comparison. In the Maluku region, Tifa has the shape of an ordinary tube without a handle on the side. The carvings near the tube are not just ordinary carvings but are life stories or expressions of gratitude from the creator.

Generally, Maluku residents play the tifa as an accompanist in traditional ceremonies. In particular the Cakalele dance, a traditional dance that depicts war situations. In several other areas in Maluku, the tifa musical instrument has a different term. In the Central Maluku region, Tifa is known as Tihal or Tahito.

Tifa musical equipment originating from Maluku is made from the wood of the breadfruit plant or the eh plant. This is different from the Papuan tifa musical equipment which is made from the lenggua plant. The method of playing this musical instrument is the same as the method of hitting it.

However, it can also be played using equipment such as a bat. This stick is made from the fronds of the coconut plant. The main ingredient is in the form of fronds which are approximately 60-100 centimeters long. The models and dimensions of Maluku Tifa musical equipment are also created in various ways, according to their use.

Tifa Totobuang

Tifa totobuang is original music that is in no way influenced by outside culture. This music is the typical music of people who live in mostly Christian areas. In some performances this music is generally paired with sawat music, which on the other hand can only be played by people who live in mostly Muslim areas.

Each musical instrument from Tifa totobuang has a different function and supports each other to give birth to a unique musical style. But this music is dominated by Tifa music equipment.

Consisting of the jekir tifa, basic tifa, cut tifa, cut jekir tifa and bass tifa plus a large gong and totobuang, which is a series of small gongs placed on a table, with several holes as supports.

Unfortunately, we don't enjoy this beautiful music very often nowadays. Moreover, it can be said to be a step. This music can only be performed at certain events. For example, activities to welcome special guests, artistic performances in the Maluku region outside the region or outside the country and at traditional events.

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