Instruments
The Suling Lembang flute

The  "Suling Lembang" bamboo flute from Tana Toraja in Sulawesi is a sacred object.  It is used for entertainment as well as for the important funeral ceremonies. This special flute is 64 cm long, 2.4 cm in diameter and has six finger holes on the top and no thumb hole on the back.   Opening hole by hole, the following scale sounds: C - Eb - E - F - G - A - B   Depending on the quality of the flute and the abilities of the performer, other scales, even with quarter steps are possible. The end of the flute is sometimes covered by a buffalo horn, but actually players prefer a wooden bell. The sound of the Lembang is associated with the human voice, and most of the players agree that the wooden bell sounds more "human."

* Video 01 *     * Video 02 *

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