serunai

Serunai is a traditional double-reed wind instrument from the Malay world, most closely associated with Brunei, Malaysia, and parts of Indonesia. It belongs to the family of aerophones and is typically built from bound bamboo tubes or wooden pipes, played together with a double reed at the mouth. The number of pipes and the exact construction vary by region, but the instrument is generally played by one musician who uses finger holes along the pipes to shape melodies.

The serunai produces a bright, piercing, nasal timbre that can carry over other sounds in an ensemble. It is commonly used to lead melodic lines within ceremonial and courtly music, as well as in traditional dances and weddings. In performance, it may be played solo or as part of a small group, often alongside other traditional instruments such as drums, gamelan-like ensembles, or stringed instruments.

Historically, the serunai has been a prominent feature of Malay and Bruneian musical culture, with roots in pre-colonial courtly entertainment. While modern orchestration and Western instruments have influenced many contemporary ensembles, the serunai remains an emblematic element of traditional repertoire and is revived in cultural heritage performances and music education to preserve regional musical identities.

See also: Southeast Asian double-reed instruments, Malay traditional music, Brunei music traditions.