Sarawak Sapeh [ Borneo Lute ]

Introduction The sape is one of the string instruments from the lute family, which has a short neck.It is made from soft wood, usually the meranti's. The sape has quite an elongated body which is hollowed out and functions as a resonator. The shape of the body looks like a sampan and is often called 'the boat lute' in the west. History The sape is a traditional lute of many of the Orang Ulu or "upriver people", who live in the longhouses that line the rivers of Central Borneo. Sapes are carved from a single bole of wood; many modern instruments reach over a metre in length. It is famous among the Kayan and Kenyah tribes of East Malaysia. It is used in entertainment and to accompany dances such as 'Datun Julud and 'Ngajat' (one of the warrior dances associated with headhunting according to legend). Originally , sape strings were made from the Sago tree but now these have been replaced by nylon strings. Tuning One of the systems that are usually used are as follows: String 1: Tune like the middle C of the piano String 2:Tune like C one octave lower than middle C String 3: Tune to A, a minor third below middle C String 4: Tune to F, a perfect fourth above middle C Playing All the strings are plucked using the thumb and only one of the strings is used to play the melody. The rest of the strings function as drone strings, playing only open strings. The strings are fixed across the body, supported by a bridge which is movable, for tuning purposes. Songs The sape repertoire comprises songs like: Sambe Main Daton, Jempen Letoh, Kabun, Kelewah, Eng-tang Takoh and Nau-hu. The Kelewah is usually performed for the purpose of entertainment of the residents of the longhouse. The sape is usually played in a duet, playing in two registers, low and high. Sape music is best known through the works of the late, great Tusau Padan. The tradition of Sape at present remains in the good hands of Uchau Bilong and Mathew Ngau Jau. Construction Initially the sape was a fairly limited instrument with two strings, three strings and four strings. Its use was restricted to a form of ritualistic music to induce trance. It gradually became a social instrument, used

as accompaniment for dances and as a form of entertainment. Today, three, four or five-string instruments are used, with a range of more than three octaves. Application Musically, the sape is a simple instrument. One string carries the melody, the accompanying strings are struck rhythmically to produce a drone. In practice, the music is quite complex, with many ornamentations and thematic variations. There are two common modes, one for the men's longhouse dance and the other for the woman's longhouse dance. There also is a third rarely used mode. Sape music is usually inspired by dreams; there are over 35 traditional pieces with many variations. The overall repertoire is slowly increasing.

SAPE The sape (sampet, sampeh, sapeh) is a traditional lute of many of the Orang Ulu or "upriver people", who live in the longhouses that line the rivers of Central Borneo. Sapes are carved from a single bole of wood, with many modern instruments reaching over a metre in length. Initially the sape was a fairly limited instrument with two strings and only three frets. Its use was restricted to a form of ritualistic music to induce trance. In the last century, the sape gradually became a social instrument to accompany dances or as a form of entertainment. Today, three, four or five-string instruments are used, with a range of more than three octaves.

Two men playing electric Sapes. Technically, the sape is a relatively simple instrument, with one string carrying the melody and the accompanying strings as rhythmic drones. In practice, the music is quite complex, with many ornamentations and thematic variations. There are two common modes, one for the men's longhouse dance and the other for the woman's longhouse dance. There also is a third rarely used mode. Sape music is usually inspired by dreams and there are over 35 traditional pieces with many variations. The overall repertoire is slowly increasing. Sapes are still being made in Borneo, and modern innovations like electric sapes are common.

SAPE Sape is the only musical instrument of the indigenous ethnic groups of Sarawak which still flourishes and has made its presence stronly felt both at home and internationally.It is carved from a tree trunk which is of medium hardness and the Meranti species are the favoured wood.The shape is elongated rectangular with a homogeneous neck extending from one end of the body. The top side of the long narrow body is usually decorated with carvings or painted motifs of the Kayan,kenyah and Penan groups.The back side of the body is always left open.The present day Sape usually has 4 wire strings running parallel from one end of the body to the end of the neck,much like the guitar.In the olden days when wire strings were not available, finely split rattan were used.Many sape are also decorated or attached with the head of the hornbill or dragon at the end of their necks, making them more splendid and appealing.The Sape is usually played in pairs and accompanied by a group of both male and female dancers adorned in their finest costumes.

Sape popular di rumah panjang Tahukah anda, sape ialah sejenis alat muzik tradisional yang digunakan cukup meluas di kalangan Orang Ulu atau 'upriver people', mereka juga adalah masyarakat yang tinggal di rumah panjang di sepanjang tebing sungai Borneo Tengah. Ia juga disebut sampet, sampeh atau sapeh. Sape diukir daripada sebatang blok kayu dengan menggunakan instrumen moden dan panjangnya boleh mencecah sehingga hampir satu meter. Pada mulanya sape adalah alat muzik yang agak terhad fungsinya kerana sifathya yang mempunyai dua tali dan dengan hanya tiga fret. Penggunaannya adalah terhad untuk majlis khas ritual sebagai muzik yang mampu membuat seolah seseorang itu dipukau atau tidak sedar diri. Bagaimanapun, kini pada zaman ini, sape secara berperingkat menjadi instrumen sosial untuk mengiringi penari atau juga sebagai satu bentuk hiburan. Hari ini, instrument tiga, empat dan lima tali digunakan, dengan laras nada melebihi tiga octaves. Secara teknikalnya, sape secara relatif adalah instrumen muzik yang sangat ringkas, hanya satu tali mengalunkan melodi dan tali selebihnya sebagai pendukung ritma. Secara praktikalnya, muzik yang dihasilkan sape adalah agak kompleks, ia perlu didatangkan dengan banyak hiasan dan variasi yang bertema. Terdapat dua kaedah yang biasa di mainkan, satu untuk tarian khusus bagi kaum lelaki di rumah panjang dan satu lagi ialah untuk tarian kaum wanita. Muzik sape biasanya diinspirasikan menerusi mimpi dan terdapat lebih 35 gubahan tradisional yang pelbagai. Secara keseluruhan, repertoire gubahan ini semakin lama semakin berkembang. Sape sehingga kini masih dibuat di Borneo, dan dengan wujudnya inovasi baru dan moden, sape elektrik kini bukan lagi suatu perkara yang pelik.

Sapeh

Pengenalan
Berbentuk seperti gambus panjang bertali empat. Badannya panjang dan berbentuk hampir empat segi dan diperbuat dari kayu jokuvang. Dipermukaan sapeh ini kebiasaannya didapati ukiran bermotif orang Iban Sarawak serta diwarnakan samada merah atau hitam. Sape mempunyai empat utas tali. Pada masa dahulu, tali-tali sape diperbuat daripada rotan yang diraut halus. Kini, dawai-dawai halus pula digunakan sebagai tali sape kerana lebih mudah diperolehi dan bunyinya lebih mantap. Diperbuat daripada kayu. Badan sape berbentuk bujur dan panjang. Bahagian muka sape rata sahaja manakala bahagian belakang sape pula ditebuk sebagai kotak bunyi. Sape dimainkan dengan cara meribanya seperti gambus. Tali sape dipetik menggunakan jari. Kemudian jari tangan yang satu lagi menekan tali-tali pada batangnya. Melodi hanya dimainkan oleh satu tali sahaja. Tali yang tiga hanya menghasilkan dengung. Sape dimainkan untuk hiburan, mengiringi upacara berubat dan mengiringi persembahan tarian tradisional seperti ngajat. Fungsi

Alat ini popular di kalangan kaum Kenyah dan Kelabit di Sarawak.

Cara Bermain

Sapeh diriba seperti gitar dan dipetik dengan jari-jari sebelah tangan manakala jari-jari sebelah tangan lagi menekan tali-tali pada berbagai peringkat mengikut alunan iramanya.