theartsdesk in Borneo: The Rainforest World Music Festival | reviews, news & interviews
theartsdesk in Borneo: The Rainforest World Music Festival
theartsdesk in Borneo: The Rainforest World Music Festival
Deep in the wilds of the forest, a great music festival
Saturday, 04 September 2010
Mount Santubong, Borneo: 'an island where you can discover exquisite cloth and finely crafted baskets along with a first-class world music festival'Photos by Iris Brooks and Jon H Davis
The group Pingasan’k “calls for good spirits”. The name refers to “a bucket to put rice in, tied with the bark of a tree”. Regardless of rice or spirits, this band touched my heart. The gentle, haunting sounds come from the bamboo tube zithers (pratuon’k) made from giant mountain bamboo, which is only cut down when they see the moon. “We do not want our instrument to smell sweet or our insects will bite it,” explains leader Arthur Kanying.
The group Pingasan’k “calls for good spirits”. The name refers to “a bucket to put rice in, tied with the bark of a tree”. Regardless of rice or spirits, this band touched my heart. The gentle, haunting sounds come from the bamboo tube zithers (pratuon’k) made from giant mountain bamboo, which is only cut down when they see the moon. “We do not want our instrument to smell sweet or our insects will bite it,” explains leader Arthur Kanying.
As I leave Borneo, my head is still very much attached and it resonates with the sounds of nature
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