Documentation and historical tracking of Malaysian leatherback (gambus)

Abstract

This paper discusses some fieldwork and research methodologies employed in a study of Malayan music. It explores the appearance of two types of lute instruments commonly known as the gambus in the Malay Archipelago. The main focus will be on the problems of documenting the early historical development of the different variants of gambus. The investigation becomes rather complex as very little research has been done on these instruments, written either in Bahasa Malay or English. This paper will examine the controversies surrounding the transmission and development of the gambus -type instruments into the Malay Archipelago.