Biography
Gondang Hasapi is not one specific group, rather a type of enemble from the Toba subgroup of Batak people from North Sumatra, Indonesia. It is an indoor ensemble that plays for intimate, household rituals.
Gondang Hasapi consists of the following instrumentation:
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sulim (transverse flute), first sarune etek ("small sarune", clarinet), second sarune etek, hasapi ende (first lute), hasapi doal (second lute), garantung (xylophone), hesek-hesek (iron plate or, more typically indoors, a bottle).
Gondang Hasapi musicians have inherited the tradition begun by Tilhang Gultom, who pioneered the "Batak Opera" (a form of popular theatre set to music).
Well known Gondang Hasapi musicians are the brothers Sarikawan Sitohang and Marsius Sitohang, Kalabius Simbolon, Osner Gultom and Maningar Sitorius. These musicians also play in the type of ensemble called Gondang Sabangunan.
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.