Ethnomusicology and The Musical Heritage of Sarawak: Implications for The Future.


 

THE SARAWAK MUSEUM JOURNAL
VOL XL NO.61 DECEMBER 1989

 
 
Title : 
Ethnomusicology and The Musical Heritage of Sarawak: Implications for The Future.

Author : 
Patricia Matusky

Abstract:
To speak of music resources in the cultural heritage of Sarawak is to speak of a very rich body of material which has only begun to be systematically documented and studied. One might say it has only begun to be “tapped”, tapped in the sense of original documentation and inventory taking, and investigation into the classification of music types and music instruments, description and analyses of musical styles, function of the music and the musicians, and the use of indigenous traditional music in the development of new music styles and in new settings (which may or may not be traditional in nature). As we speak of the musical heritage of Sarawak in the context of the present Symposium, it would seem constructive to examine the possible ways to approach and think about the indigenous musical resources in contemporary Sarawak. These resources are extremely rich and varied owing to the large geographical area and the great number of different ethnic groups involved. Because of the large number of ethnic groups and their variety and distinctness, the music of Sarawak requires long-term, indepth research by scholars highly trained in the field of ethnomusicology. Therefore, this paper will attempt to look at some aspects of the indigenous music of Sarawak using as a framework the field of ethnomusicology. In this way, we may find some clues as to the relevance of old, traditional music in a modern, contemporary society and perhaps even disover new ways to use traditional music in the process of modernization in a developing state.

DOI:
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How to cite:
Matusky, P. (1989). Ethnomusicology and The Musical Heritage of Sarawak: Implications for The Future. The Sarawak Museum Journal, XL (61): 131-150

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