siter
The Javanese siter and celempung are plucked string instruments used in Javanese gamelan. They are related to the kacapi used in Sundanese gamelan. The siter and celempung each have between 11 and 13 pairs of strings, strung on each side, between a box resonator.
siter
Tropenmuseum · Collectie Wereldmuseum (v/h Tropenmuseum), part of the National Museum of World Cultures · Wereldmuseum Amsterdam · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Name
- Siter
- Field
- musical instrument
- Region
- Indonesia
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Documentary summary
The Javanese siter and celempung are plucked string instruments used in Javanese gamelan. They are related to the kacapi used in Sundanese gamelan. The siter and celempung each have between 11 and 13 pairs of strings, strung on each side, between a box resonator.
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wikidata · Q7531816 · wikipedia · Siter
In this article
Overview
Overview
Typically the strings on one side tuned to pélog and the other to slendro. The siter is generally about a foot long and fits in a box (which it is set upon while played), while the celempung is about three feet long and sits on four legs, and is tuned one octave below the siter. They are used as one of the elaborating instruments (panerusan), that play cengkok (melodic patterns based on the balungan). Both the siter and celempung play at the same speed as the gambang (which is rapidly). The name "siter" comes from the Dutch word "citer", which corresponds to the English word "zither". "Celempung" is related to the Sundanese musical form celempungan. Not to be confused with Sundanese celempung is a different instrument, made of bamboo and played by beating the bamboo strings cut from the bamboo skin. The fingers of both hands are used for the damping, with the right hand below the strings and the left hand above them. Siters and celempung of various sizes are the characteristic instrument in Gamelan Siteran, although they are used in many other varieties of gamelan as well.
Celempung, beginning of 20th century
Bertramz
Celempung Tunggal
Idham · Dikirim melalui WA
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Siter • Classification — *String Instrument • Chordophone • Developed — Indonesia
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Indonesia
Country
siter is associated with Indonesia.
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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20,755 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
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