KHAC CHI DUO FROM VIETNAM TO SHOWCASE THEIR UNIQUE AND RARE INSTRUMENTS AT RWMF
By Corporate Affairs, Sarawak Tourism Board

This is just a husband and wife band but the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) technical crew has been warned that the Khac Chi duo will be the hardest to set up for.

This is because this Vietnamese duo will be bringing with them an astonishing array of instruments, some of which are never seen elsewhere before including some which have been in existence for 4,000 years.

The band is actually named after the husband, Ho Khac Chi, a multi instrumentalist and an ethnomusicologist who now teaches Vietnamese musical instruments at the University of British Columbia in Canada.

Khac Chi will be joined by his wife Hoang Ngoc Bic, also a multi instrumentalist and a singer, at the coming RWMF which will be held at the Sarawak Cultural Village from July 13 to 15.

Together they will perform on their dan bau (a one-string zither made of water buffalo horn and wooden gourd), koni (stick fiddle found only in Vietnam), k’longput (made of bamboo and usually played by women as the legend has it that the Mother of Rice Goddess live in this instrument) and ken bau (long-necked expressive lute).

They will also perform other bamboo instruments like t’rung (xylophone), tre luc (tubes), khen be (mouth organ) and dinh pa (percussion) to name the few.

The duo last performed at RWMF stage in 2002, playing a mix of folk, classical and original tunes. This time around they will play out similar tunes and their compositions are theme around nature, love, work and relationships that exudes wit and charm.

Besides Khac Chi, other performers coming to entertain the festival goers include Tarika Be from Madasgacar, Huun Huun Tu and Malerija (Tuva and Russia), Shannon (Poland), Doghouse Skiffle Group (UK), Ensemble Kabour (Afghanistan), Inka Marka (Peru, Chile, Australia), Foghorn Stringband (USA), Tammora (Italy), Shooglenifty (Scotland), Black Umfolosi (Zimbabwe), Mas Y Mas (UK), Fady and the Band (Syria) and Randy Raine Reusch (Canada).

Malaysia’s representation came from Aseana Percussion Unit, Mah Meri, Jerry Kamit, Tabuh Pak Ainal, Anak Adi’ Rurum Kelabit and Kelapang Bamboo Band. The latter four are from Sarawak.

Organised by Sarawak Tourism Board (STB), the RWMF will be celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. And, STB is expecting a good crowd turn up with a target of more than 24,000 during the three days.

Tickets for the festival, priced at RM80 for a one-day pass and RM200 for a three-day pass for those 13 years and above, are available online at www.ticketcharge.com.my.