KUCHING: Local traditional music band At Adau is determined to revive the Orang Ulu tradition of playing the ‘selingut’ or ‘keringut’ – a flute played using the nose instead of the mouth.
Band member Ezra Tekola said while normal flutes consist of four to five holes, the selingut – made from bamboo sticks – only has three or four holes.
“Unlike the well-known traditional string instrument ‘sape’, the selingut is unknown to many. Also, there are not many Orang Ulu folk playing this instrument.
“As far as I know, I am the only one trying to revive and showcase this instrument to the world,” said the 28-year-old, during an interview following a press conference on this year’s Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) here recently.
In a musical sense, Ezra said the notes produced by the instrument is in a pentatonic scale.
He added that he hopes flute players will be willing to learn playing the nose flute in order to keep alive the dying tradition.
The six-member At Adau will be performing during RWMF 2019 at Sarawak Cultural Village in Santubong, near here from July 12 to 14.