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ALAT MUZIK SARUN
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Introduction and history
Sarun is a traditional musical instrument inherited by the Iranun ethnic community in Sabah, which mostly inhabits the Kota Belud and Kota Marudu districts. Sarun is a Metallophone musical instrument made of metal iron or bronze and is categorized as an Idiophone musical instrument that produces sound through metal vibrations when struck. However, due to metal and bronze being difficult to obtain in the past, the Iranun community creatively used iron from used drum barrels, which was processed into the main material for producing Sarun. This musical instrument is a hereditary heritage as an entertainment instrument played especially after cultivating rice crops in the rice fields. Meanwhile, Sarun not only reflects the cultural identity of the Iranun community but also shows unique traditional musical elements full of traditional values.
The Sarun Musical Instrument plays an important role as an entertainment tool in the daily lives of the Iranun community. After finishing agricultural activities, especially rice cultivation, the Sarun is often played to brighten the atmosphere and entertain. In addition, the Sarun also carries symbolic value in Iranun culture because it depicts the expression of art and creativity inherited from their ancestors. Even when played solo, the rhythm can fill the space with a soothing and captivating melody.
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Sarun is made of metal or bronze cut into eight pieces. However, some Iranun communities in the Kota Belud district or around Kota Marudu have difficulty obtaining metal and bronze materials and replacing them with iron from drum barrels. It is said that the iron from these drum barrels is not only an alternative material to replace metal or bronze, but it also has a melody significant to this ethnic group.
Each piece will be cut six inches long and two inches wide. Certain variations in the length of each piece will produce a different tone/beat. These iron pieces are then arranged on a wooden rack known as a ‘Kalipapa’. The Kalipapa wooden rack contains eight iron pieces arranged in a specific order or pattern to produce a unique sound harmony when played. The Sarun percussion instrument is also made from Kalipapa wood known as ‘Tabuh’, shaped like a hammer.
Sarun is usually played solo by women, who hit the middle of each iron piece using a Tabuh. This arrangement of strokes produces various types of songs and sounds that can be processed into unique and entertaining rhythms. The strokes are performed by following the tone, either fast or slow, depending on the player or the type of song being played.
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Reference Source
Lokman Abdul Samad & Asmiaty Amat. (2012). Iranun. Dalam Kntayya Mariappan & Paul Porodong (Eds.). Murut dan Pelbagai Etnik Kecil Lain di Sabah. Institut Terjemahan Buku Malaysia.
Mohammad, M. S., & Tarsat, M. (2022). Sejarah Asal Usul Iranun Dan Balangingi Di Tungku, 1840-1879: History Origin of Iranun and Balangingi in Tunku, 1840-1879. Jurnal Borneo Arkhailogia, 7(1), 178-188.
Location
State JKKN Contact Information
Encik Hassanal Redzuan
Cultural Officer
Jabatan Kebudayaan dan Kesenian Negara, Sabah
Kompleks JKKN Sabah,
Jalan Tasik off KM4 Jalan Penampang,
88200 Kota Kinabalu
SABAH
088-205070
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