Description: The Keluri is a free-reed instrument in which is related to the Chinese sheng, the Hulusi, the Hulusheng, and the Japanese sho. This instrument is found mainly among the Iban people. In the 20th century only a very few are playing the keluri and the tradition may become die out in a matter of 10 years. The type of keluri you see in the photo is used by the Orang Ule people or "The Up River People". They inhabit the interior region of Borneo the "Enkulurai" a very close brother of the Keluri.
The Enkuluari is played by the Iban people who live closer to the coast of Borneo. Some of the Iban variations of the keluri may also reach up to 6 feet in length in length. While the average length for the keluri is usually 2 feet or close to 1 meter in length Traditionally the keluri were played for "long dances" in which these dances were often associated with head-hunting. These instruments nowadays are seldom played or made and the tradition at this rate will die out in a matter of a few years.
Anatomy of the Keluri: The main body of the keluri is the gourd in which each individual bamboo pipes are inserted into. The pipes are cut according to pitch in which the keluri is tuned roughly to a pentatonic scale. One whole for playing is carved into the individual tubes. Each of the tubes are` then bound together by the ksoot (a pitch like resin used in many of the South Asian wind and stringed instruments).