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TABOH IBAN
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Introduction and history
Taboh specifically refers to the sounds produced by the traditional musical instruments of the Iban community, which consist of four main instruments: tawak, gendang, engkerumong, and bebendai.
Taboh is only played during certain significant times, especially in conjunction with the Hari Gawai Dayak celebration, which is held at the beginning of June each year. Additionally, taboh is also played during the Gawai ritual, which involves calling upon the petara or deities to descend from the sky to the longhouse, during the initiation ceremony for constructing a new longhouse, and for blessing a newly completed longhouse. Taboh is also played during the commemoration of a lunar eclipse, wedding ceremonies, rituals for bathing children in the river, and in times of adversity within the longhouse community, such as when there is a death.
Taboh features various tempos, which can be somewhat slow, moderate, or fairly fast, as well as different melodies depending on the function and cultural event. The melody or rhythm of taboh also varies among the different Iban subgroups in Sarawak.
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The tawak or large gong is the main musical instrument in taboh music. The tawak comes in various sizes, has a dark brown color, and is made from brass or bronze, as well as some other types of metal. There is a knob in the center at the top, which is typically struck using a wooden mallet wrapped in a piece of rubber. The tawak often used in rituals to call upon the petara to descend from the sky is played following the melody produced by the engkerumong.
Meanwhile, the gendang in taboh music is made from high-quality belian wood to ensure durability and to produce a pleasant sound and melody. The gendang among the Iban people is played depending on specific purposes and needs. The engkerumong is made from brass and arranged in parallel on a platform or rack in an inverted position. A complete set of engkerumong consists of eight small gongs, which are smaller than the tawak. To produce sound and musical rhythms, each small gong is struck in sequence using a pair of light mallets.
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Reference Source
https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/01/1004773/melodious-beats-iban-peoples-taboh-music
Noria, Tugang and Anna, Durin (2016) Pengamalan Muzik Tradisional Taboh dalam Budaya Iban di Sarawak. Journal of Borneo Kalimantan, 2 (1). ISSN 2289-2583
Location
State JKKN Contact Information
Encik Boniface Anak Babai
Cultural Officer
Jabatan Kebudayaan dan Kesenian Negara, Sarawak
Tingkat 5 Bangunan Sultan Iskandar,
Jalan Simpang Tiga,
93000, Kuching,
SARAWAK
019-2399682/082-422006
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