Prominent Musical Instruments of Malaysia

Apichet Sarungkhajorndech

     Malaysia, a country originating from the "Kingdom of Malay," has a multicultural society formed from the diverse population residing within its territorial boundaries. The country is divided into two distinct regions: the western region, which is home to the capital city of Kuala Lumpur with a significant population from Malay, Chinese, and Indian descent, and the eastern region, which is located on the northwestern coast of Borneo and is known as Sarawak. The eastern region is primarily inhabited by other ethnic groups.

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     In Malaysia, the Serunai, Rebab and Sape are some of the most noteworthy and distinctive musical instruments. To begin with, the Serunai is a traditional wind instrument of Malaysians. With a rich history, it is commonly played by the Malay community in Kelantan state, located on the eastern coast of Malaysia. The Serunai has seven finger holes on the front and one on the back, which produce sound when blown through. It is commonly used in accompaniment to a Wayang Kulit, a traditional Malay performance identical to Thailand's shadow puppetry? play. They share various similarities, for example, in terms of puppet production, presentation through shadows, and the incorporation of music and dubbing performances. However, there are notable distinctions in terms of the storylines, cultural elements, and character costumes, as well as the use of language tailored to reflect the customs and traditions of Malay society.

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     Another traditional musical instrument of the Malay people is the Rebab. It is a three-stringed instrument with a distinctive triangular solid wood body characterized by its outstretched curved shape. The instrument body typically uses wood from the jackfruit tree, and the front part of the instrument is adorned with cow stomach lining. Some small wax is applied to stick to the upper left side of the instrument to stretch the face of it. This instrument resembles the traditional Thai fiddle; however, the fiddle cannot detach from the instrument's body unlike the rebab. When playing the Thai fiddle, the player should hold the instrument at an inclined angle, while a rabab is typically played perpendicular or in an upright position. The Thai fiddle is commonly performed in the Kelantan, Terengganu and Perlis regions. On the other hand, a rabab is typically played in Mak Yong performances, or a traditional Malay dance performed in auspicious events such as weddings, circumcisions, and rice farming rituals.

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     The Sape is a traditional harp instrument of the Orang Ulu tribe, who are indigenous people along the river in Sarawak. Constructed from a single piece of hollowed and carved wood, the Sape has a rich cultural history. Historically, it was utilized in healing ceremonies but has evolved to become a prominent instrument in festive events. The Sape holds a particularly significant role in the Ngayat dance, performed by the Iban people in Sarawak, and serves as the main instrument in this celebratory dance, which honors victorious warriors.

     Malaysia is home to a diverse array of musical instruments, many of which are also prevalent in neighboring countries such as Indonesia and Brunei. This is likely due to the cultural overlap resulting from the shared borders between these nations. These instruments reflect the cultural influences present in Malaysia and its neighboring countries. As a result, they shared cultural elements and a common cultural influence in various areas, including musical instruments.

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