KUCHING, April 27: Baram Kenyah sape elders and musicians Salomon Gau and Lian Balan kicked off the ‘Music In Tradition’ livestream programme on MYY Living Arts Facebook page by introducing the rare, unheard and long forgotten melodies of the traditional two-stringed sape instruments last Saturday (April 24).
The livestream segment which currently has more than 3,500 views also saw Salomon and Lian providing insights into the history of the sape, which was once used for ceremonies and rituals, as well as shared their views on the evolution of musical instruments.
‘Musical In Tradition’ is a livestream programme developed by Yayasan Perpaduan Sarawak (YPS) and Miri-based award-winning social enterprise and arts and culture management company The Tuyang Initiative in conjunction with MYY Living Arts, a first major public arts programme hosted by Miri that will run until September this year.
YPS, in a media release today, emphasised that more special cultural and heritage segments will be featured in an effort to instill and strengthen a sense of unity, harmony and peace among communities in Sarawak through greater understanding and appreciation for culture, heritage and values upheld by community elders.
Through the livestream segments, YPS pointed out that it also encouraged and provided opportunity for audiences to have a dialogue with skilled practitioners, creatives, talents and minds from a variety of backgrounds and skills.
Other upcoming segments to look out for in the coming months are the ‘Learning From Our Elders’ and ‘Culinary Demo & Dialogue’ that aims to give the public a chance to engage and learn the histories and diminishing traditional culture and skills from elders, practitioners, artisans and those still actively practicing cultural and traditional skills from various communities all over Sarawak.
YPS pointed out that a brand new ‘Artist-In-Heritage Fund’ has been developed to provide funding and create platforms for cultural practitioners across the board to develop new works and to be featured in MYY Living Arts 2022 as well as to build connections with regional and international platforms.
For information, visit myylivingarts.com or MYYLivingArts’s Facebook page and Instagram account. — DayakDaily
