Orang Ulu's Legend

Belawan Burieng

The staging of a theme play based on a Kayan (Orang Ulu) legendary warrior entitled “Belawan Bureing-Hercules of Keliman River. This legendary half-man, half-deity with many wives was staged in a 45-minute themed play with perfectly choreographed dances, war scenes, beautiful costumes and soothing traditional music in conjunction with World Harvest Festival 2007.

The theme play is staged outdoor where the natural ambience and the traditional structures around the Sarawk Culture Village lake is be fully utilised as it had added an unique flavour to the play. It had spice up my weekend with the explosive drama and cultural passion, highlighting the beautiful folk songs, sape and gong music and traditional costumes of the Kayan people.

Tales of Belawan Bureing the son of Belarik Ubong Do the God of Thunder and Lightning, have entertained the Kayans of the Balui River and enlivened their evenings for centuries. Despite the blood and violence, the polygamy and back stabbing, the tales of Belawan Bureing ultimately centre around one universal theme - the triumph of good over evil.

Sape

Sape, Trully an Orang Ulu Lute. Hard to say that it's very rare to see alive Master Sape Player in this modern world. Easy for us to call it a Kayan Kenyah unique guitar, played before head hunting begin in the old day War.. But generally, it's describe just as ...........

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 Originally , sape strings were made from the Sago tree but now these have been replaced by nylon strings.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:

Dak Baling

Dak Uro

Dak Urai Ujong Avang

Dak Tekjun Lake'"Surat

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. But trully hidden Master of Sape Player is still alive....... Mr. Ukong Mering. Really admired him a lot!!

Good to remember.. Kamah Lejo