About Sape' the traditional music from borneo island

Name: Sape > Sempeh > Sempet.

Type: Boat Lute > Plucked Chordophones.

Region: Bornao > Malaysia > South East Asia.

Dimensions: Scale length (1st specimen) 950 mm (2nd specimen) 890 mm.

Luthier: Mathew for first specimen > For second specimen -maker unknown.

Acquisition Date: 2nd specimen acquired today 2012.04.29 Sunday.

Acquisition Source: Randy Raine Reusch; Second Specimen from Ian MacKenzie.
SapeDescription: The sape is a member of the plucked cordophone family, the sape is a boat shaped lute that has a short neck. The Sape is found amongst the Dayak, Orang Olu and Penan peoples. Melodies for Sape No.2the sape are inspired from dreams there are 35 melodies in the core repertoire. There are two specific modes in which the dances are performed in "the men's long house dance" and "the woman's long house dance". Originally the sape was played for ritual music this was to induce the performers into a trance, nowadays the sape is played in social occasions. When playing the sape the player sits down in which the sape is supported by the player’s legs the sape is held close to the chest. The player mainly plucks the the lowest tuned or the bottom string and the rest of the strings are drones. Today modern sape's are often highly ornate with themes of traditional artwork from Sarawak.
Tunings of my specimens: There is generally no standard tuning, however they are tuned a fifth and an octave apart. This is achieved by placing a thumb tack on the fourth string thus achieving the octave pitch. The first playing string and the second string (first drone) are tuned in unison. The third string is tuned a fifth apart. The first specimen is tuned tuned to G G D d. The scale length of my first sape is 950 mm from nut to bridge. My first sape has 13 adjustable frets arranged in a pentatonic scale from C3 to C5 as follows C / D / E / G / A / C / d / e / g. As for my second specimen it is tuned to D D A and the scale length from nut to bridge 890 mm. The second specimen of sape has a different scale arranged from the first sape. The pentatonic scale on my first sape is characteristic amongst most sapes. On my second specimen the scale is tuned too D3 to A4 as follows D / E / F# / G / A / B / D / E / f# / a / There is a new style of sape that has 6 single strings also tuned a fifth apart, having fixed frets that correspond to a diatonic scale and also it affixed with a grounded electric pickup.
Anatomy of the Sape: The body of the sape is carved often from a single piece of wood. An indigenous species of wood is preferred for making the sape called “Tebuloh”. This species of wood is bitter and is avoided by insects. Many other types of wood can be used to make the sape. Traditional sapes have from 3 to four strings. On the top string a thumb tack is added to raise the string to an octave, according to the tuning this creates a chord when played with a melodic string. Originally the sapes had only two strings, three moveable frets, later three and four strings were added. The frets are affixed with a sticky substance called ksoot (in Thai language) ksoot is made from gutta percha. Sapes having 5 or 8 strings are quite rare. The sape has a pleasant and bright sound.
Citations: Asza.com > Sape / Rainforestmusicfestival > Borneo > Sape > Liner notes from - Masters of the Sarawakian Sape featuring Tsau Padan CD PAN 2068
original link : http://www.museumofworldmusic.com/sap.html