How the keluri makes its sound
In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the keluri belongs to the struck idiophones: the body is struck directly – bells, gongs, xylophones and cymbals.
More broadly it is one of the idiophones, where the solid body of the instrument itself vibrates, without strings or a stretched membrane.
Its timbre – the colour that lets you tell it apart from other instruments playing the same note – comes from the mix of overtones its body and resonator emphasise.
From Wikipedia
The keluri or keledi or enkulurai (Iban language) is a free reed gourd mouth organ from Sarawak, East Malaysia and Kalimantan made of bamboo and gourd. Historically the keledi or keluri was played by the Orang Ulu people who come from Sarawak, Malaysia, the area northwest of the island of Borneo. Among the Iban people the instrument is called enkulurai. Other peoples that have played the instrument include the Kayan people and Kenyah people. In the 21st century, the instrument has largely disappeared; while not extinct, researchers have had a difficult time finding anyone making or using the instruments.
The instrument is similar to the khaen, played by the Lao people, Thai people and Muong people of Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam.
Other struck idiophones
Frequently asked questions
What does a keluri sound like?
As one of the struck idiophones, its sound comes from the way the body is struck directly.
What type of instrument is the keluri?
It is classified as struck idiophones (Hornbostel–Sachs 111.235).
Sources & credits
- Wikidata Q105701730 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Keluri – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Image by Gugus Gema, https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCWDXlMBKyTvekQrkh5lVOyA – CC BY 3.0