Traditional String Instruments in Malaysia

Traditional String Instruments in Malaysia

by Eunice Chern

​In this lesson you will

​Learn about the traditional string instruments that are played in Malayisa, namely:

​1) Sape

​2) Rebab

​3) Erhu

​4) Sitar

First,​Let's Review!

​String Instruments in the Symphony Orchestra

Multiple Select

What are the instrument names of the strings family in the symphony orchestra? (more than one answer)

• violin

• viola

• cello

• double bass

• oboe

Multiple Select

How are string instruments played? (more than one answer)

• bowed

• blown

• plucked

• struck

​The Sape

​The Sape is played in Sabah and Sarawak. It can be considered a local guitar of Borneo, invented by the Kenyah and Kayan orang asli.

​

The sape has four strings and is plucked. Modern sapes may have up to six strings.

Multiple Select

In which states in Malaysia is the sape played?

• Melaka

• Borneo

• Sarawak

• Sabah

Multiple Choice

The sape has _____ strings and is played by being _____.

• four, bowed

• four, plucked

• two, bowed

• two, plucked

Multiple Choice

Which of the following orang asli tribes plays the sape?

• Kenyah

• Murut

• Dayak

• Kadazan

​The Malay Rebab

​The rebab is a bowed instrument. It has two to three strings and is played in Southeast Asia, i.e., Indonesia and Malaysia.

​

This instrument is introduced to the country by Islamic traders, and is also played in many other Islamic countries.

Multiple Choice

The rebab has _____ strings and is played by being _____.

• four, bowed

• four, plucked

• two, bowed

• two, plucked

Multiple Choice

Which country's rebab is smaller?

• Malaysia

• Indonesia

​Erhu

​The erhu is a Chinese string instrument that has two strings and is bowed.

​

​The name of the instrument means "two-stringed instrument of the Hu people."

​

​It is played almost in the same way as the rebab.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following Malay instruments is the erhu similar to?

• Gambus

• Rebab

• Sape

Multiple Select

In the video, which of the following sound effects was played by the Erhu player?

• horse galloping

• horse whinnying

• dog barking

• chickens clucking

Multiple Choice

In the video, the erhu was accompanied by a European string _____.

• duo

• trio

• quintet

• quartet

​Sitar

​Th sitar is a plucked string instrument originating from India. It has 18 strings and can have as many as 21 strings.

​

​Even though the instrument is from India, its name has Persian origins:

si [three] + tar [strings]

Multiple Choice

The sitar can have as many as ____ strings and is played by being plucked.

• 18

• 6

• 21

• 4

Multiple Select

Which of the following local instruments are plucked?

• Sape

• Erhu

• Rebab

• Sitar

Multiple Choice

The erhu and rebab are string instruments played by being ____.

• plucked

• bowed

• blown

• struck

Multiple Choice

The sitar is a/an ____ instrument.

• Malay

• Indian

• Chinese

• orang asli

Multiple Choice

The sape is a/an ____ instrument.

• Malay

• Indian

• Chinese

• orang asli

Multiple Choice

The erhu is a/an ____ instrument.

• Malay

• Indian

• Chinese

• orang asli

​To conclude

​I have learned a few of the most popular traditional string instruments played in Malaysia. I know :

​- their names

​- their places of origin

​- how they are played

​- how they sound