KUALA KANGSAR: The music played by Nobat Diraja Perak (the Royal Orchestra of Perak) will reverberate through the Balairung Seri (Throne Room) at Istana Negara on July 20, accompanying the installation ceremony of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim as the 17th King of Malaysia.
The head of the instrumental ensemble, Abdul Aziz Yahya, said that it was especially significant, as the royal orchestra had also performed at the wedding of Sultan Ibrahim and Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, at Istana Iskandariah on Sept 22, 1982.
Abdul Aziz also expressed deep gratitude to Sultan Ibrahim for bringing the orchestra to Istana Negara for His Majesty’s installation, with the consent of the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah.
Abdul Aziz, who holds the title Toh Setia Guna, explained that the ensemble could only be brought out of the Perak palace and state borders with the consent of the Perak Sultan.
“We would like to express our deep gratitude to Tuanku Sultan Nazrin, for granting his consent for the ensemble to be brought to Kuala Lumpur (Istana Negara),” he told Bernama.
Bernama, in an interview with the Grand Chamberlain of Istana Negara, Datuk Azuan Effendy Zairakithnaini, reported that the request for the consent of Sultan Nazrin Shah to bring the royal court orchestra to Istana Negara for the King’s installation was very special, and conducted with utmost respect.
Azuan Effendy stated that Sultan Ibrahim personally wrote a letter, which was presented to Sultan Nazrin by the Minister of Communications Fahmi Fadzil, who chairs the Special Committee for the King’s Installation Events.
Abdul Aziz, who has been with the royal orchestra for 58 years, said that his group of seven musicians is rehearsing three times a week to ensure perfection at the installation ceremony of the 17th King of Malaysia.
He said during the ceremony, the nobat ensemble would don its official blue attire and would perform three instrumental songs namely ‘Raja Berangkat’ (upon the King’s arrival at the Throne Room), ‘Nobat Tabal’ (during the King’s installation) and ‘Raja Berangkat’ (as the King leaves the Throne Room).
“These songs have never been changed; they are the same every time they are played during the enthronement of the Sultan of Perak,” he said.
With Abdul Aziz as the leader, the other six members of the royal orchestra are two serunai (flute) players, and one each playing the nafiri (long clarinet), gendang Nobat (Nobat drum), gendang nenghara (melodic drum), and gendang penengkah (rhythmic drum).
According to the customs of the State of Perak, no Sultan is considered sovereign until he is installed with the accompaniment of the Nobat, whose members are descendants of the Kalor people in the state.
Abdul Aziz said the Nobat is also performed for the Sultan of Perak’s private occasions, including the installation of the Sultan and Raja Permaisuri of Perak, during Bersiram Tabal (ceremonial bath), and Hari Meletak (when the preparation for Perak Sultan’s birthday celebration commences).
Additionally, the royal orchestra also performed during the investiture ceremony, when the Sultan of Perak confers state honours on the public, as well as during Ramadan, Aidilfitri, and Aidiladha. The word ‘nobat’ originates from the Persian word ‘naubat,’ which means nine types of instruments. The Nobat is the royal orchestra which has been used for centuries in the Malay states, especially during installation ceremonies.
The Malay states which have a Nobat are Perak, Kedah, Selangor, and Terengganu.
