Hey what’s up guys this is Johnson for JohnsonMalaysian today is a very interesting meeting with a very interesting person who makes & plays an instrument calls SAPE.
String instrument shaped like guitar with very touching melodies. The shape of the looks like a ship or boat fashioned from a block of wood called Medang (Cinnamomum Iners) or some time called wild Cinnamon or in Malay Kayu Manis Hutan.
The land of Sarawak is a land of Hornbill birds, the largest state in Malaysia. This state comes with this interesting musical instrument called Sape. The legend of Sape creation came about from a husband seeking to cure his sickly wife. The Shaman of the village was unable to heal his wife with their magical.
Into forest
The husband did not know what to do and started to go into the forest. Almost all people of Sarawak know that the forest holds many mysteries. The husband ran into the forest to seek for a cure for his sick wife. Searching and searching in the forest for a solution or remedy, he became very tired and fell asleep under a huge tree.
Dream
In his sleep, he dreamt about the spirit being advised an instrument shaped like a boat or ship to bring his wife back from the spirit world. The husband built from a block of wood a boat shaped instrument. Using roots as string, tighten the roots and started playing. This, according to legend bring his wife from the spirit world to this world.
Peter Omar
Coming back the current reality, I met Peter and asked him about his involvement in Sape making. He said his Very good friend at his bachelor time with Matthew Ngou Jau who introduce to this practice. Today Matthew Nou Jau is world renowned Sape musician. Calling him Living Heritage of Malaysia. Watched this video see how Peter explains about the tools He uses to make Sape.
The International music festival that is held in Sarawak is called Rainforest Musical Festival it is a world class stage and gets a very good response from all over the world.
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Sape maker Peter Omar with JohnsonMalaysia

Sape musician Pete Omar with JohnsonMalaysia

Sape Orang Ulu design motif of Dragon on Sape body

Lunggak Penggraut a must have sharp tool for a Sape maker

lunggak Penggraut a must have sharp tool for a Sape maker

Bee Was is used as temporary glue fret made of bamboo for Sape

Parang is a tool to shape Sape from Merdang wood