PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: The ethnically diverse gamelan group from Sabah, Agungbeat, practising for their debut.
KUCHING: One of the only two Malaysian groups to perform at this year’s Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) is from our neighbouring state, Sabah.
AgungBeat is a nineteen-member gamelan ensemble that performs new arrangements of traditional Sabahan music, as well as their own contemporary compositions.
Led by composer and lecturer Roslee Wahid, the ensemble’s members are from a variety of ethnic backgrounds such as Kadazan, Dusun, Chinese and Malay, all majoring in music performance at University Malaysia Sabah (UMS).
AgungBeat has been actively performing in numerous festivals and events in the region such as the Festival Gamelan IPTA and the Festival Gamelan Sedunia. This also happens to be the first gamelan performance at RWMF.
The gamelan is an ensemble of metallophones, xylophones, drums and gongs native to Malaysia and Indonesia. Each region has its own particular style and repertoire, with gamelan ensembles ranging in size from five or six persons to more than two-dozen performers. Depending on the region, style and function, gamelan music can range from trance inducing floating melodies to fiery displays of virtuosity.
GUARDIAN OF CULTURE: Malick Pathe Sow was brought up with the music of the Peul, a nomadic people from the north of Senegal.
Alongside the gamelan, catch traditional African music at the RWMF under the talented ministrations of Malick Pathe Sow, an extremely talented Senegalese artiste.
He comes from a large family of what is known as African ‘griots’, the bards and oral historians of West Africa. Sow was brought up with the music of the Peul, nomadic people from the north of Senegal.
Following loyal service as one of Baaba Maal’s main musicians, he embarked on a solo career after he arrived in Europe. Maayo Men is his fourth CD and it marks a return to his acoustic roots.
AgungBeat will be the very first performer to heat up the RWMF stage on July 8. They will also be performing at the daily music workshop at Dewan Lagenda that will involve all drummers and dancers. A unique ‘Drum Dance’ workshop session will be a mixture of musical performances by other musicians from Canada, Georgia, Kenya, the UK and the US.
Special promotional tickets are now offered only at the Sarawak Tourism Board’s Visitors Information Centres (VIC) in Kuching (082-410944) located at the Sarawak Tourism Complex, Sibu (084-340980) located at Jalan Tukang Besi and Miri (085-434180) located at Jalan Melayu. A limited offer of RM180 for a 3-day ticket is valid only from June 20 – 26. After this promotion period, the 3-day ticket will return to its original price at RM300.
For more details about the RWMF, log on to www.rainforestmusic-borneo.com.