AgungBeat The word agung can be closely associated with gongs, classified under the idiophone family and is a type of percussion instrument. The instruments used in AgungBeat are gamelan instruments which consists of instruments like metallophones, drums and gongs. Agung also carries the meaning of “King”. Beat however, stands for basic unit in music and is related to concepts like meter, rhythm, tempo and groove. Therefore, we chose the name AgungBeat for it represents the meaning of our whole ensemble.

“To those who’ve not heard of it, our music is played by mostly gamelan traditional instruments, which consists of metallophone and drum instruments. However our style of playing is like traditional meets modern style, involving a very percussive and rhythmic based performance. Yes, we are different especially in our style of playing by mostly young beautiful locals. Is a contemporary mixture between traditional gamelan music, Sabah/ Malay ethnic music, Jazz, and Rock. It is all experimental actually.

 We are definitely more inclined to Malaysian gamelan. Although gamelan originated from Indonesia, our instruments are made and tuned in a pentatonic major scale, unlike Indonesia’s Javanese scale. We play quite a number of Sabah traditional songs in our own style of arrangement”Roslee Haji Wahid [Founder & Music director of AgungBeat]

AgungBeat featuring DayangNoraini Be ready to expect a whole new level of gamelan brought to you in a different and modern style with lots of percussive concepts & beautiful singing by our resident guest artist DayangNoraini . There is also dancing and singing involved. We do have modern instruments like the bass and guitar as well, but our main highlight is still the gamelan instruments & the mesmerizing performances by the lead vocalist.

About DayangNorainiChampion & best performer of Sinaran Passport [Tv3] 1999, 2 compilation albums [Puteri-puteri Sinaran] 2000 & 2001,Champion [Best performer] Juara Carta Lagu Artis Sabah (CLAS) RTM, 2011Performed in UK, Brunei & Indonesia (2003-2011)Performed @ KK International Jazz Festival [with UMS Big Band] 2010 & 2011[with AgungBeat]Performed @ Rainforest World Music Festival, Sarawak 2011 [With AgungBeat]Performed @ Sabah Music Festival (voices of Asia)@ Tip of Borneo 2011Performed @ Mountain Music Festival 2011 [with AgungBeat]Nominated for Muzik-Muzik, TV3 2011 [Kelawar o’ Kelawar]Launched DayangNoraini solo album, March 2010 Launched DayangNoraini Joget Di pagi Raya single, September 2011

About AgungBeat

Performed in numerous shows, concerts & corporate dinner functions & royal weddings gigs,Attended as participants for the World Gamelan Festival in Terengganu 2010,

Performed @ IPTA, Malaysia Gamelan Festival in Terengganu 2010Performed @ KK International Jazz Festival 2011Performed @ Rainforest World Music Festival, Sarawak 2011Performed @ Sabah Environmental celebration for Sabah Tourism 2011Performed @ Mountain Music Festival 2011 in Kundasang,Performed @ Gambus + the concert by Lembaga Kebudayaan Sabah, 2010

AgungBeat’s SHOW/GIG/PERFORMANCES RATES 1. AgungBeat feat. DayangNoraini [Gamelan, vocal & rhythm Section]

4 – 8 songsRM 6000.00

2. AgungBeat [Instrumental with Bass & guitar/Drums] 4 – 6 songs

RM 2600.00

3. AgungBeat [only traditional gamelan music – instrumental]

4 – 8 songsRM 2000.00

To Contact :Mr Roslee Haji WahidBachelor Degree in Music(Uitm), Master of Music Composition (Mus)Newcastle, UKH/p : 012-392 7473, 012 – 802 7473E mail: dieyoung7473@yahoo.com

Esquire Magazine August 2011 [RWMF Santubong, Sarawak]