Aspects of Musical Style among the Kajang, Kayan and Kenyah-Badang of the Upper Rejang River: A Preliminary Survey.
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THE SARAWAK MUSEUM JOURNAL |
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Title :
Aspects of Musical Style among the Kajang, Kayan and Kenyah-Badang of the Upper Rejang River: A Preliminary Survey. |
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Author :
Patricia Matusky |
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Abstract:
In September, 1984 the level of the upper Rejang River was low which made travel by boat fairly easy up the Rejang River to the interior areas of Sarawak’s Seventh Division. However, upon reaching our various destinations the low level of the river made the trek from the boat itself to the longhouse tricky and even treacherous. The path from the boat consisted of narrow tree trunks laid in deep mud from the river’s edge up rather steep slopes to the first signs of solid earth and green grass near fhe top of the river bank. Precariously balancing audio and video recorders and cameras as well as supplies of tapes, batteries and notebooks, the climb to the top of the river bank was always difficult and risky in the best of times. Upon reaching the top of the river bank, however, we were invariably greeted bywarm smiles, hand shakes,a sip of rice wine and the inimitable thunder of musical sound performed bya gong orchestra awaiting our entrance into the longhouse. In the month of September, 1984 a small group of researchers1 carried out a preliminary survey of the traditional musical instruments and musical forms to be found among specific ethnic groups in the upper Rejang River Area from Rumah Kupa at Long Bah (above the Pelagus Rapids) to Uma Nyaveng at Kaki Menjawah (just below the Bakun Rapids) in the Belaga District of Sarawak’s Seventh Division. The specific longhouses at which research was carried out include the following: 1) Rumah Kupa (Punan Bah) at Long Bah, 2) Rumah Sekapan Panjang at Long Dungan, 3) Uma (or Rumah) Lahanan at Long Semuang, 4) Uma Kejaman Lasah at Long Segaham, and 5) Uma Apan and Uma Nyaveng at Kaki Menjawah.
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| DOI: XXXX |
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How to cite:
Matusky, P. (1986). Aspects of Musical Style among the Kajang, Kayan and Kenyah-Badang of the Upper Rejang River: A Preliminary Survey. The Sarawak Museum Journal, XXXVI (57): 185-230 |
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References
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