AMM3083 Malaysian Traditional Music

Dr. Clare Chan Suet Ching

The musical instruments in the folk music of Sabah and Sarawak are made up of
knobbed gongs (gong chimes), lutes, xylophones, wind instruments (flute), jews
harp.
Folk music also comprise of songs, instrumental pieces, and dance
Types of Ensemble
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.

Gong-Chime Ensemble
Large Gong Ensemble
Idiophone Ensemble
Chordophone Ensemble
Solo/ musical instruments
Singing / Vocal

A. Gong-Chime Ensembles (Gong Chime)

1.1
Kulintangan (Sabah)(pg189) Ensemble Kuri-Kuriyan Bertitik
1.2
Engkerumong (Sarawak)(pg 160)
The gong-chime ensemble consist of:
i.

A row of small gongs (5-8) is placed horizontally on top of two strings

stretched across a wooden frame. These gongs are struck on the knob by
with padded beaters.
ii. 1-2 drums (ketebong, dumbar or long drum)
iii. 2 or more knobbed gongs
a. Tawak (padded beater, a large gong with a thick rim beater)
b. Bandil / Bandai (a wooden beater of sharp timbre, large gong, or
gong moderately thick rim, the rim is not thick)
Example of Gong-chime ensemble:
1.1

Engkerumong Sarawak (pg. 160)

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.

An Iban musical ensemble

Gawai Day accompanied by gendang gawai
Ngajat Dance (War) accompanied by gendang ngajat
Gendang Berumah accompanies the construction of a house
ceremony
v. gendang ngambu bini accompanies weddings
vi. These were once perforemd by females only, however, everyone can
perform it

AMM3083 Malaysian Traditional Music

Dr. Clare Chan Suet Ching

1.2

Musical instruments
i)
ii)
iii)
iv)

Engkerumong
Dumbak (drums) or ketebong
Bandai / Selegai
Tetawak

Music
i)
ii)
iii)
iv)

Texture: Layered, staggered entrances (step-by-step entry)

Rhythm: The rhythm is repeated (in dance)
Meter: Duple
Rhythm is more important than melody, overall (total) effect

Figure 1 Ensemble Engkerumong Sarawak

AMM3083 Malaysian Traditional Music

Dr. Clare Chan Suet Ching

Example 1 Music Ensemble Engkerumong Sarawak

AMM3083 Malaysian Traditional Music

Dr. Clare Chan Suet Ching

2. Large Gong Ensemble

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.

Large knobbed Gongs

Accompany dance, celebrations and rituals such as funerals
Performed during Gawai Day
Large gong is family heritage, of high value
Thick bronze walls
Padded beaters/ wooden beaters

Examples of the types ensemble

i. Large Gong Ensemble by The Kajang-Sekapan (pg 198)
ii. Large Gong Ensemble by Bidayuh (pg215)
iii. Ensemble Sopogandangan in Sabah (pg 203)
Musical instruments
Tawak (tawag)
Large gong, thick wall, deep rim, 1 or 2 knobs, padded
rubber beaters
Agong (gong)
Bandil (selegai)

Gong large, thin walls, narrow rim, 1 or 2 knobs two wooden

beaters
Average size drums, narrow rim, one knob, one wooden
beater

Canang (gan)

Small sized gong, narrow rim, one knob, one wooden beater

Katoa

Cylindrical drum, single headed drum, one pair of wooden

beaters

Katoa

Diagram 2 Large Gong Ensemble

AMM3083 Malaysian Traditional Music

Dr. Clare Chan Suet Ching

Music Sample 2
Large Gong Ensemble by the Kajang-Sekapan group

C.

Idiophone Ensemble

AMM3083 Malaysian Traditional Music

Dr. Clare Chan Suet Ching

Made from wood or bamboo

Percussion Idiophone and stamping idiophones
Beaten/ Struck

Earliest tools in Sarawak; associated with work activities; planting rice, repelling
rodents / insects in the long house, healing the sick or parade for guests
Example of an ensemble:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.

Alu (Alok) and Tangbut (pg 223)

Kesut (pg 227)
Togunggak / Togunggu (pg 232)
pestle and mortar (pg 234)
Lansaran Floor (pg 233)

Other tools idiophone

vi) Tigarlerg / krumboi (snail shells)
vii) Jatung Utang
Music

Polyphonic: multi-layered
Rhythm: interlocking
Resultant Rhythm pattern

Diagram 3 Alu (Alok) and Tangbut

AMM3083 Malaysian Traditional Music

Dr. Clare Chan Suet Ching

Example 3 Rhythm Music Alu (Alok) and Tangbut

4. Chordophone Ensemble
Musical Instruments
Sapeh (pg 342)
Tongkungan (pg 339)
Sundatang (pg 345)
Gagayan (pg 345)
Serunai
Terunjang

Plucked lute, 3-4 metal stings, rectangle-like body,

plucked with fingers
Plucked bamboo tube zither
2 plucked strings, long neck, fretted
2 plucked strings, very long neck, fretted
1 string, bamboo resonator is framed with monkey skin,
strings are made from rattan
2 strings made from nylon (previously rattan), made from
wood, bamboo resonator, skin made from diaphram of
goat or monkey. Plucked with a wooden pick.

Example of ensemble
Ensemble Jatung Utang and Sapeh
* Jatung Utang (tuned wooden xylophone, a pair of wooden beaters)
Sapeh 1 & Jatung Utang (melody)
Sapeh 2 - drone / ostinato
Meter duple
Scale anhemitomic, pentatonic

AMM3083 Malaysian Traditional Music

Dr. Clare Chan Suet Ching

E. SOLO MUSICAL INSTRUMENT

Keluri/ Engkerunai (pg 311)

6-7 yg bamboos wrapped in a circle (pentatonic

scale)

Sompotan (pg 315)

Suling/ Seruling (pg 319)

8 bamboo in two parallel lines (pentatonic scale)

Open ended cylindrical tube, blown with breath
from the mouth, 4-6 finger holes, one thumb hole

Jews harp (pg 350)

Tong (Kajang, Sarawak)
Ruding (Iban of
Sarawak)
bungkau / uriding
(Dusun, Sabah)

Idiophone that has a flexible slit. This slit sounds

when it is plucked with a finger

Tun-ton

Made from bamboo. The strings are made from 34 bamboo slits (idiochordic)

F. Vocal Singing
i. Pantun (Sabah and Sarawak) (pg 295)
ii. Wa (Kajang, Sarawak) (m / s 300)
Greeting guests, funeral, travelling and healing, building a new home, hunting
animals and rituals associated with rice cultivation.
Performed during weddings, childbirth and lulling child to sleep or receive a
regular member.