The Timbre of sape: identifying the sound quality in music instrument making

Abstract

The sape, a traditional Sarawakian instrument played by the Dayak ethnic group, holds significant cultural value, yet its sound quality influences remain unexplored. This study uses qualitative and quantitative methods to uncover the pivotal factors in sape quality. Engaging seasoned sape experts ensures a comprehensive perspective on sound quality. Our findings highlight wood type as crucial for sape quality. Additionally, instrument dimensions and fret settings impact its overall quality. These results offer guidance for sape makers to improve instrument quality and potentially contribute to preserving Sarawak's cultural heritage. Future studies could encompass Kalimantan for deeper insights into Borneo's sape craftsmanship.

KEYWORDS:

• Traditional musical instrument
• sape
• quality of musical instrument

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study is financially supported by the University of Technology Sarawak (4/2021/06) and TEPEN International Funding (IF038-2022).