Stage Productions
Latest : “A Taste of Folk Music” 9th July 2022 (a collaboration with Neko Music studio and other music schools in Sarawak)
It was inspiring to work with this enthusiastic team of professional musicians, music students and teachers (average age in the thirties although actual range from 14 to 70). Delighted to received feedback from the audience, especially from those of Kenyah and Japanese descent. One of the Japanese tourists attending told us : “What you have shown us is the culture we miss. Unless it’s an official event, young people (in Japan) don’t seem to be interested …. Thank you for reminding me of the songs I’ve known since I was little”.
https://www.newsarawaktribune.com.my/soothing-melodies-of-kenyahs-strike-a-chord/
Choir performances and musical dramas (2004-2019)
Pek Lin has directed numerous choir performances, and co-directed, composed songs and choreographed dances for musical dramas involving ITE Batu Lintang students. Many of these performances featured the ethnic music of Sarawak such as:
(a) An evening at a Kenyah longhouse by ITE Batu Lintang choir and dancers in conjunction with the closing of the 2nd Sarawak-Borneo International Music conference, 2004, Kuching.
(b) Dayang Petri dan Beras Ajaib (Dayang Petri and the Magic Rice), based on an Iban folk tale is an original musical drama, co-written and co-directed by Angelia Lee and Chong Pek Lin and performed by students of ITE Batu Lintang. The team emerged champions in the inter-college musical drama competition in February 2007. The story is based on an Iban folk legend about the origins of rice. The goddess Dayang Petri and her nephew Sigi search for “magic food” which they eventually encounter as “magic rice” at the farm of Ini Rajah Pipit . The drama features original songs written by Pek Lin and incorporates folksongs from Sarawak. The video clip below shows excerpts from Scene 3: Dayang Petri and Sigi at the Kenyah village. Here Lee Yik Kang sings “Telu Tiang” a song transcribed from Long Moh in 1996.
(c) ITE Batu Lintang Choir performed a medley of Kenyah and Kadazan songs during Majlis Pelancaran Bulan Bahasa (Launching ceremony for National Language Month) held in Kuching, Sarawak October 2009. This was a National level event, held at the sarawak State Indoor Stadium.
(d) International Music Night, MV LOGOS (April 2015) Kenyah and Kadazan songs dance and music, Batu Lintang Institute ensemble)
(e) Rainforest Fringe Festival 2017 (Kuching July 2017)
https://news.nestia.com/detail/-/91009 (Channel News Asia report). As the article is no longer accesible in full, see pdf version (click button below)
Det diet ensemble (consisting of a a team of ITE Batu Lintang students with Pek Lin) presented Kenyah songs and dance accompanied by sape, jatung utang and lutong for the event “Forgotten sounds” which featured during the opening night dinner for the Rainforest Fringe Festival , 7th July 2017.
(f) Kenyah Mini-Opera “Love Triangle in Ulu Baram” November 2017
A seven minute mini-opera featuring seven Kenyah songs was staged in November 2017 during a concert at TAZA auditorium, ITE Batu Lintang in November 2017. Although the songs were performed with the original Kenyah lyrics, the storyline was made clear to the audience through dramatization. Accompanying instruments used were : sape, jatung utang and piano
(g) Another Mini-opera “Ilun Kuai” based on a Kenyah legend performed during Malam Budaya, ITE Batu Lintang (April, 2019).
The drama was based on a Kenyah song “Ilun Kuai “ feauturing the Argus pheasant, known in the Kenyah language as kuai. According to the song, the male kuai possesses the power to invoke rain. In the scene above Lawai is mesmerized by the beauty of the magic feather and is told of its power to invoke rainfall. He is filled with a desire to capture the beautiful bird for himself and gain its magical power.
The musical accompaniment was a combination of sape, jatung utang, piano and cello
The male and female Kuai (argus pheasant)were depicted in dance
(h) Medley of Kenyah songs and dance, featured during the concert “The Gifts” (November 2019). Produced by Neko Music centre. This item directed by me. Songs in the medley : Lan-e, Along and Sayang Dau. Performers: students, teachers and friends of Neko Music Centre.
The following performances feature four songs performed under my direcation , produced aby Nejo music centre. They were recorded as seperate video files and posted on face-book.
Kuai Maping(with jatung utang accompaniment)
https://www.facebook.com/nekomusiccenter/posts/301763251449200
I learnt this song from Helen Paya of Uma Sambop. It is sung in a group and performed with actions imitating the kuai (Argus pheasant), a bird with beautiful long feathers. Normally sung a cappella, we have added accompaniment on the jatung utang
Argus Pheasant males clear dancing rings on the forest floor, removing all leaves, seedlings, and stones. They call from these dancing grounds in the morning, and give a visual display to visiting females by raising and fanning the tail and wings, somewhat like the display of a peacock (Sarawak forestry website)
Bampa lale (with cello and piano accompaniment)
https://www.facebook.com/nekomusiccenter/posts/301825818109610
Cultural Context: This is a pensive song, sung in honour of friends, or guests. Perhaps it is tinged with sadness as visitors to upriver longhouses often do not stay long, and may not come by again for a long time. The lyrics, as in many belian dado’, are improvised spontaneously. In this verse, although Sigau Langat is one of the most highly respected singers in Long Moh, he humbly disparages the quality of his voice.
Lunde’ Along (with flute and piano accompaniment)
https://www.facebook.com/nekomusiccenter/posts/302313694727489
I originally documented this when it was crooned pensively by Baun Bilung of Long Moh while doing beadwork on the veranda. It is an example of a category of songs termed belian meno’ (“wistful songs”) sung while resting between heavier chores, or while doing craftwork. The singer, as if telling of her sorrow to her pet munia, expresses her yearning for an absent sweetheart. Thus, this arrangement for voice, flute and piano, depicts a conversation between the singer and a bird (as represented by the flute).
Ateklan (with jatung utang accompaniment)
https://www.facebook.com/page/105100244448836/search/?q=Ateklan
This is a typical Kenyah choral song sung in two-part harmony. Traditionally performed a capella, here we have added accompaniment on the jatung utang
(Kenyah xylophone in the pentatonic scale)