Description of the attraction
The Balai-Nobat pavilion was built in 1906. The pavilion is built in the shape of an octagonal tower topped with a beautiful onion-shaped dome.
The Balai-Nobat pavilion contains musical instruments of the royal orchestra (in Malay, the royal orchestra - "nobat"), mainly percussion, but there is also a flute and trumpets. And what is most interesting, the name of the pavilion in translation from Malay means “the repository of musical instruments of the Royal Orchestra”. The drums for the orchestra are said to have been donated by the Sultan of Malacca back in the 15th century.
The Balai Nobat Royal Instrument Storage was built in 1735, although there is information that the original building was built between 1854 and 1879 and consisted of 5 floors. In 1906, there was a reconstruction, after which 3 floors remained in the building. Today the building is 18 meters high and the outer walls of the tower are painted white and yellow. The pavilion is crowned with a large and beautiful dome.
Basically, there are two types of orchestras in Malaysia: gamelan and nobat. The homeland of gamelan is Indonesia, music is performed rhythmically on strings and gongs. Nobat is a royal orchestra, its music is more solemn, as the orchestra plays at the court of the Sultan. The instruments include drums (three), flutes, gongs. The leading part is led by a serunai flute.
The pavilion is very easy to find and is located opposite the Zahir Mosque, another famous landmark of Alor Setar. Unfortunately, public access to the pavilion is prohibited. But the instruments are taken out, however, only on special occasions, such as a royal wedding, accession to the throne or a royal funeral.
