Ulek mayang
Encyclopedia
Ulek Mayang is a pre-Islamic traditional Malay dance
which originated from the state of Terengganu
in Malaysia. It is a type of worshipping dance in which a unique song is sung accompanied with a Malay orchestra comprising drums, gong
, violin
and accordion
.
(Shaman) on a body of a fisherman
which is in a deep state of unconsciousness. It is believed that the fisherman has been put under a spell by a princess of the sea who fall in love with him. The bomoh’s attempt to bring back the soul of the fisherman caused the princess to summons more of her sisters (5 of them) to charm the fisherman. The battle between the bomoh and the 6 princesses continued until the seventh and the eldest princess appeared and put an end to it.
"I know all your origins” says the eldest princess and she commands everyone, "Let those from the sea to return to the sea, and those from the land to return to the land".
The grateful Bomoh and the fisherman’s colleagues present the princess with coloured rice as an offerings, a ritual which continued to be practiced since then until the arrival of Islam, to pay their respects to the spirits of the sea.
and creepy feelings, especially if played at the beach. Nevertheless, there are several contemporary interpretations of the song either in movies or new songs. The Malaysian rock diva, Ella
once sung the song in a rock
version, while the thrash metal
band, Cromok
produced several instrumental
versions of the song.
Note: Mayang is a coconut-palm blossom used to chase away spirits.
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
which originated from the state of Terengganu
Terengganu
Terengganu is a sultanate and constitutive state of federal Malaysia. The state is also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Iman...
in Malaysia. It is a type of worshipping dance in which a unique song is sung accompanied with a Malay orchestra comprising drums, gong
Gong
A gong is an East and South East Asian musical percussion instrument that takes the form of a flat metal disc which is hit with a mallet....
, violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
and accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
.
Origin
There are many versions of Ulek Mayang legend, according to one of them, the dance is originated from an ancient ritual of healing performed by a Malay BomohBomoh
A bomoh or dukun is a Malay shaman. The bomoh's original role was that of a healer and their expertise was first and foremost an in-depth knowledge of medicinal herbs and tajul muluk or Malay geomancy...
(Shaman) on a body of a fisherman
Fisherman
A fisherman or fisher is someone who captures fish and other animals from a body of water, or gathers shellfish. Worldwide, there are about 38 million commercial and subsistence fishermen and fish farmers. The term can also be applied to recreational fishermen and may be used to describe both men...
which is in a deep state of unconsciousness. It is believed that the fisherman has been put under a spell by a princess of the sea who fall in love with him. The bomoh’s attempt to bring back the soul of the fisherman caused the princess to summons more of her sisters (5 of them) to charm the fisherman. The battle between the bomoh and the 6 princesses continued until the seventh and the eldest princess appeared and put an end to it.
"I know all your origins” says the eldest princess and she commands everyone, "Let those from the sea to return to the sea, and those from the land to return to the land".
The grateful Bomoh and the fisherman’s colleagues present the princess with coloured rice as an offerings, a ritual which continued to be practiced since then until the arrival of Islam, to pay their respects to the spirits of the sea.
Lyrics
The Ulek Mayang song is a unique song accompanying the dance. The song is claimed by some Malaysians as haunted for it gives goose bumpsGoose bumps
Goose bumps, also called goose flesh, goose pimples, chill bumps, chicken skin, funky spots, Dasler Bumps, chicken bumps or the medical term cutis anserina, are the bumps on a person's skin at the base of body hairs which may involuntarily develop when a person is cold or experiences strong...
and creepy feelings, especially if played at the beach. Nevertheless, there are several contemporary interpretations of the song either in movies or new songs. The Malaysian rock diva, Ella
Ella (singer)
Norzila binti Haji Aminuddin or Ella is a popular Malaysian rock musician. Ratu Rock is Malay for "Queen of Rock" and this is an apt title for this female rock-star. Ella's more well-known hit songs spanned from the 1990s to today...
once sung the song in a rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
version, while the thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band, Cromok
Cromok
Cromok is a thrash metal band from Malaysia. They are known to be an otai band of thrash metal music....
produced several instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
versions of the song.
| Malay Malay language Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore... |
Literal English translation English language English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria... |
|---|---|
Ulek mayang ku ulek Ulek dengan jala jemala Ulek mayang diulek Ulek dengan tuannya puteri Ulek mayang diulek Ulek dengan jala jemala Ulek mayang diulek Ulek dengan puterinya dua Puteri dua berbaju serong Puteri dua bersanggol sendeng Puteri dua bersubang gading Puteri dua berselendang kuning Umbok mayang diumbok Umbok dengan jala jemala Nok ulek mayang diulek Ulek dengan puterinya empat Puteri empat berbaju serong Puteri empat bersanggol sendeng Puteri empat bersubang gading Puteri empat berselendang kuning Umbok mayang diumbok Umbok dengan jala jemala Nok ulek mayang diulek Ulek dengan puterinya enam Puteri enam berbaju serong Puteri enam bersanggol sendeng Puteri enam bersubang gading Puteri enam berselendang kuning Umbok mayang diumbok Umbok dengan jala jemala Nok ulek mayang diulek Ulek dengan puterinya tujuh Puteri tujuh berbaju serong Puteri tujuh bersanggol sendeng Puteri tujuh bersubang gading Puteri tujuh berselendang kuning Umbok mayang diumbok Umbok dengan jala jemala Nok ulek mayang diulek Ulek dengan tuannya puteri Tuan puteri berbaju serong Tuan puteri bersanggol sendeng Tuan puteri bersubang gading Tuan puteri berselendang kuning Umbok mayang diumbok Umbok dengan jala jemala Nok ulek mayang diulek Ulek dengan tuannya puteri Ku tahu asal usul mu Yang laut balik ke laut Yang darat balik ke darat Nasi berwarna hamba sembahkan Umbok mayang ku umbok Umbok dengan jala jemala Pulih mayang ku pulih Pulih balik sedia kala |
I croon for the Mayang Croon it with nets Croon for the Mayang Singing together with her highness the princess Croon for the Mayang Croon it with nets Croon for the Mayang Singing together with the second princess Second princess wears a slanted blouse Second princess sports a slanted headdress Second princess wears ivory earstuds Second princess has a yellow scarf on Persuading the Mayang Persuade it with nets Wanting to croon for the Mayang Singing together with the fourth princess Fourth princess wears a slanted blouse Fourth princess sports a slanted headdress Fourth princess wears ivory earstuds Fourth princess has a yellow scarf on Persuading the Mayang Persuade it with nets Wanting to croon for the Mayang Singing together with the sixth princess Sixth princess wears a slanted blouse Sixth princess sports a slanted headdress Sixth princess wears ivory earstuds Sixth princess has a yellow scarf on Persuading the Mayang Persuade it with nets Wanting to croon for the Mayang Singing together with the seventh princess Seventh princess wears a slanted blouse Seventh princess sports a slanted headdress Seventh princess wears ivory earstuds Seventh princess has a yellow scarf on Persuading the Mayang Persuade it with nets Wanting to croon for the Mayang Singing together with her highness the princess Her highness the princess wears a slanted blouse Her highness the princess sports a slanted headdress Her highness the princess wears ivory earstuds Her highness the princess has a yellow scarf on Persuading the Mayang Persuade it with nets Wanting to croon for the Mayang Singing together with her highness the princess I know all your origins Let those from the sea to return to the sea Let those from the land to return to the land I presents the coloured rice I persuade the Mayang Persuade it with nets I heal with Mayang Bringing back to health |
Note: Mayang is a coconut-palm blossom used to chase away spirits.