Tari Zapin Lagu Alaika

Audio 7.9: Audio Example 9 in Chapter 7 of book: Margaret Kartomi, ‘Musical Journeys in Sumatra’, Champaign-Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 2012. “Zapin Melayu” is a popular Arabic-influenced dance genre brought to Malaya and neighbouring areas by Muslim missionaries during the 15th century. “Tari Zapin Lagu Alaika” (“Alaika” is a girl’s name) is an example of “zapin Melayu” and is typically accompanied by a “gambus” (a pear-shaped, fretless lute, plucked with a bone plectrum), and also a violin (“biola”), tambourine, 2-headed hand drum (“marwas”) and a frame drum (“rebana”). In this excerpt, recorded in January 1988, the lead singer, Bp Jonatin Narusi, is supported by females singing backing vocals. The song begins with a “taksim” or free-metered instrumental introduction. A short interlude in free meter occurs some bars later between the moderate-tempo rhythmic and lively verses of the song. Duration: 2 min. 21 sec.

Copyright 1988. Margaret J. Kartomi.