The Kanowit Sangoi
The Sangoi is a large size blowing instrument made of bamboo which is perforated with a single irregular orifice. There are 4 open stops, one on the underside for the thumb of the right hand. The flute has been stained red with dragon’s blood. From the end is a design made up of 4 black hands spirally twisting round the instrument, followed by two circular black bands and six dog’s tooth pattern bands. Eight diamond shaped apertures were formed. These patterns are painted on the bamboo with indigo. A small tassel of variously coloured beads hang from the distal end of the flute.
Longest Sapeh in Sarawak
The longest Sapeh in Sarawak measures 6 feet 8 inches in length with a 10 inch width.
It was made by Henry Anyie from Long Bemang, Baram in July 1997.
The wood it is made from is called Pelaie, and there are only 5 strings attached. The sounds it produces can be more melodious as the player can adjust the strings properly.
The longest Sapeh has been used for performance during Gawai Dayak (State Level) at Bau Civic Centre in 1998. It was played by Henry Anyie.
Earliest Kayan Sapeh
This was collected from Belaga, Rejang River from a Kajaman longhouse. It was catalogued in the Brooke Low collection. A similar Ling Roth collection is found in the British Museum. It was made by Long Wai (Impai).
It is 2-stringed and strummed with the fingers. It was a large heavy instrument cut out of a block of Tapang wood. It is decorated with seven white shells and at the base was an incised geometrical design typically Kayan in character, arranged on either side of a pointed ridge. The stem is straight, thickening to the head which is carved to represent the head of a dragon (asu). There are 2 tuning pegs, one end is shaped and the other split to receive the strings which pass through holes in the stem and into the split ends of the pegs. The strings are made of rattan.
The Kayan Klerdi or Now Called The Keluri
This is rather large consisting of 6 bamboo tubes open at the top inserted into a larte hole cut in a hollow gourde (Labu ayer) and the joints being tightly sealed with a coating of dammar. One bamboo is 130cm long from its point of insertion into the gourd. Its lower note is lower C, another is 75.5cm long with note lower E: a third is 75cm long, lower note F, fourth 74.6cm long with note lower G,: fifth is 74cm long, sixth may be 55.2cm long. The bundle of tubes is bounded together by an encircling band of plaited rattan.
The Sarawak Malay Kromong
These are a set of 8 small brass gongs, each with hemisperical boss and slightly raised central area. The rest on strings fastened to the wooden frame and are struck with 2 wooden beaters. These were cast in Kuching.
(To be continued)
