KUCHING: The Dayak Cultural Foundation (DCF) announced its latest publication entitled ‘Folk Songs of Sarawak: Songs from the Kenyah Community’,which is the second edition, written by Dr Chong Pek Lin, who has been documenting the rich vocal repertoire of the Kenyah in upper Baram and Balui for over two decades.
Well-known for their sape music and graceful dances, the Kenyah are also gifted choral singers. Their melodious songs, many in two-part harmony, are an invaluable addition to world folksong repertoire.
“As much of this repertoire is only sung by the older generation of the Kenyah in remote villages, the book represents a precious documentation of Sarawak‘s musical heritage,” said DCF in a statement yesterday.
This new edition, representing a greatly revised and augmented version of the original book by Dr Chong (published by the DCF in 1998), features 35 songs complete with musical transcriptions and arrangements with original Kenyah lyrics and translations into English and Malay. Audio-recordings of all the songs in the book are accessible from the website (www.peklinkenyah.com).
This book, enhanced by coloured photographs, will be of interest to musicians, choral directors, music teachers and lecturers, school children, college students, anthropologists as well as cultural enthusiasts.
With the publication of this book, DCF hopes that the songs will become known and loved, not only by Sarawakians, but also by school children and choirs around the world.
Priced at RM50, the book can be purchased at or ordered from the DCF, Level 6, Tun Jugah Building, 18 Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak or by contacting 082-234151 or email (dayakcultural@gmail.com or peklin_chong@yahoo.com).
