Greetings
from Borneo Island
&
Welcome To "Sarawak Sape" Web Site
Also called
as Sape, Sapeh, Sampet, Sampeh, Sarawak Lute,
Sarawak
Boat Lute, Sarawak Guitar, Borneo Lute.
An Ethnic
Musical Instruments from Sarawak., Borneo island.
This
page is updated on : 15th December 2003
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WELCOME TO
ETHNIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT
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Available
FOR SALE
(Retailers, Dealers,
Collectors, Buyers from Around The World Are Welcome)
"Sape" or
"Sapeh"
Size : about 4 feets
x 8 inches (+-)
Price / Quotation :
Contact via Email (sapeborneo@yahoo.com)
FAQ :
What is "Sape" or "Sapeh" ???
THE SAPE (sampet,sampeh,sapeh)
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.
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now these have been replaced by nylon strings.
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
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.
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.
Extracted from
ASZA.COM
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.
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.
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.
CD (Compact
Disc)
Masters
of the Sarawakian Sape
- Featuring
Tusau Padan
A rare
recording of the beautifully lyrical traditional music of the sape, a boat
lute of Northern Borneo, by master musicians. Recorded by Randy Raine-Reusch
in Kuching Sarawak. (Pan Records, 1999)
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If
you are interested to buy the CD, please go to :
Click
Here
How's the
Sape music sound like, download the mp3 (sound sample) at :
Click
Here |
Contact
|
Mode
Of Payment
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Contact
Us
Email
:
sapeborneo@yahoo.com
FREE SHIPPING
(about 2 weeks via AIR MAIL) & will shipped WORLDWIDE.
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(Payment
within Malaysia)
ATM Transfer,
Bank-In / Bank Deposit, Personal Cheque, Wang Pos, Money Order.
(Payment
from Overseas)
Western
Union Money Transfer,
Wire Transfer,
MoneyBookers.com,
British
Postal Order,
Singapore
Postal Order,
Brunei
Postal Order.
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Link
http://www.mid-east.com
Name:
Mid-East Mfg., Inc.
Description:
The Ethnic Musical Instrument Company TM offering more than 500 ethnic
musical instruments at great prices!
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http://www.ancient-future.com/index.html
Ancient Future:
World Music Online. THE site for the world music movement, hosted by the
#1 Net World Music Group, Ancient Future. Features include traditional
world music education, world music and dance forums,
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