In KL, Rumah Gambus strikes a chord in keeping musical heritage alive

‘The gambus isn’t just an instrument; it’s the heartbeat of my lifelong dedication to the art of music,’ says Raja Zulkarnain. Photo: The Star/Muhamad Shahril Rosli

If you build it, they will come. That famous Hollywood phrase definitely applies to Rumah Gambus – a tiny shoebox of a creative space – tucked in the middle of High Street Studios (a Think City heritage project) along Jalan Tun H.S. Lee in Kuala Lumpur.

During a recent late evening visit to the “showplace”, surrounded by glass walls, visitors were welcomed by the soulful strings of the gambus, which is an instrument (a short-necked lute) used for traditional music genres such as the ghazal and zapin.