| Those of us in western civilizations are | | | | intrument is from Bengal. |
| accustomed to a large variety of instruments. | | | | Another unique string instrument is the Veena |
| However, there are many types of instruments | | | | from southern India. This instrument has |
| that you will never see in any orchestra. They | | | | resonance chambers at each end. The Veena |
| are, however, worth your consideration, both for | | | | (also called Vina) is somewhat like a lute and has a |
| their uniqueness of structure, but of sound. | | | | sound like a very mellow sitar. |
| One of the things that I really wanted to do in | | | | There is one type of instrument that you may |
| Borneo was bring home a number of the stringed | | | | already have and not realize it. That is the rain |
| instruments that I saw in the shops of Kuching, | | | | stick. It is made of a hollow tube of wood - often |
| Sarawak - the sape. But, I did not have enough | | | | bamboo - with beeds or seeds in it. You tip it |
| money at the time.The sape or sapeh is a guitar | | | | back and forth to make a soothing sound. |
| type instrument shaped somewhat more like a | | | | Another type of instrument that is commonly |
| lute. It normally has four strings, but occaisionally | | | | taken home without thinking of it as being a |
| has 3 or 5. | | | | musical instrument is the thumb piano or kalimba. |
| Several of the tribes in Borneo use this | | | | These strange instruments are made by attaching |
| instrument. I saw one man in the Sarawak | | | | strips of metal into a sounding board. These are |
| Cultural Village that made them. He gave us a | | | | then plucked in a downward motion of the thumb |
| short concert that was simply enchanting.The | | | | to make a tone. They are different sizes so that |
| sound that was much more common in our | | | | a melody can be played. |
| travels in Sarawak was the combination of brass | | | | Something that I've tried to play a couple of |
| gongs and drums. The gongs are sold by Chinese | | | | times is the didgeridoo. I would love to become |
| traders up and down the rivers and so at least | | | | adept at playing this unique instrument. It is |
| one set is found in every longhouse. A set of | | | | basically just a tube that the Australian aborigines |
| these gongs would be a good addition to any | | | | use to produce a delightfully soulful sound by |
| musical instrument collection. | | | | blowing in it. This one definitely goes in the rhythm |
| Musical instruments are typically found in three | | | | section because there is not really any tune |
| different groups - string, wind, and percussion. | | | | possible. |
| They can be further divided by the type of | | | | Drums come in all shapes and sizes and make |
| material they are made of and whether they are | | | | noise in more ways than you can imagine. You |
| designed to play melody or for rhythm. | | | | could make a very interesting collection just of |
| One unique string instrument that would make a | | | | these instruments. |
| great collectors item would be the gopichand. This | | | | You may not decide to make a large collection of |
| unique instrument has a single string and it is held | | | | unique musical instruments, but you should |
| tight by two strips of bamboo. The bamboo is | | | | definitely put them on your list of things to |
| then squeezed together to change the tone of | | | | consider bringing home. |
| the note. It is typically used for rhythm. This | | | | |