Song, declamations, and riddles are dominant in Gayo literature. Architecture, carvings, and decorations are not conspicuous.
As regards music, Gayo people have created some instruments. “Teganing” is made from piece of bamboo and the strings are made by prying its skins. The sound is produced by hitting the strings with a sliced bamboo. The opposite side of the musical instrument serves as a drum. “Canang” is a set of musical instruments played by one player. Wind instruments include “genggong”, “bensi”, “serune”, flute and “gamang” (or harmonica).
In literature there are riddles, proses, traditional poetry, and “sebuku”. “Sebuku” is the expression of one’s feelings in the form of poems sung by a woman in special occasions, such as before the burial of the deceased.
The most popular of all traditional form in poetry is “didong”. It is a combination of music, dance and literature (poem). A group of youngsters (originally only male youngsters were allowed) consisting of 30 people compete with other group. They sit in a circle with their legs crossed. Each group has to answer, or to react against, a poem sung by the opponent. The answer or reaction should also be in a poem. The verses recited contains any information the people are expected to know or a social criticism.
At a glance, “didong” looks like “seudati” clapping of the hands perfomed uniformly accompanied with verses recited by a “ceh” who maintains the dynamics of the performance. The rhyme and contents of the poems are composed then and there. “Didong” is classified into the art of music.
“Sa’er” is a poem delivered by one person. The theme is religious.
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