Malaysia is located in Southeastern Asia, peninsula bordering Thailand and northern one-third of the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia, Brunei, and the South China Sea, south of Vietnam
Malaysia is a multi-racial country that is strategically located at the heart of Southeast Asia’s crossroad. Merchants from around the world traveled to Malaysia in search of spices, precious metals and rare forest products as early as the 15th century.
Malaysian Music
Malaysia’s music is a reflection of the various ethnic groups and nationalities that have settled in the area for centuries: Malays, Indians, Chinese and aboriginal tribes in Borneo. Malaysian music includes Arabic-influenced pop; Indian bhangra, Bollywood music and Indian classical; Chinese dances, indigenous music of the Orang Ulu people and various forms of world fusions.
Gong Orchestras
Gongs, especially vertically-hung ones, used to be found in every village in Sarawak (Malaysia), where they were highly valued for their religious and economic value. They were played at festivals, occasional healing ceremonies, receptions for important visitors, used as signals of danger or a request for help when a person is about to die or at childbirth. Various villages own the individual gongs and derive their status from this ownership. When a person dies, the gongs that belong to his family may not be played during the mourning period.
The music played by a gong orchestra is not very well known outside the Bisaya villages or kampungs which are mainly found in Limbang. A full orchestra would consist of the dumbak, bebandil, agong, tawak and gulintangan. (source: Bisayah Gong Orchestra)
Sape Music
The sape is a boat shaped lute found in Sarawak, Borneo. The thumb-plucked sape is predominantly performed by Orang Ulu musicians. In recent years, the sape and its characteristic strongly accented melodies have gained significant recognition beyond the borders of Sarawak. This instrument holds the status of being the most popular among the various Orang Ulu groups. Typically crafted from soft woods such as jelutong, gita, or adau, the sape is traditionally played by men. It can be performed either as a solo instrument or in a duet, often accompanying dancers of both genders.
Malaysian Musicians
AkashA
Aseana Percussion Unit
Asika
At Adau
Darmas
Diplomats of Drum
Kani’d
Kinabalu Merdu Sound
Lan-e Tuyang
Malaysian Dhol Federation
Mathew Ngau Jau
Mohd Kamrulbahri Hussin
Mohd Fuad Mohammad
Sayu Ateng
The Abonation
