The nobat in early Malay literature: a look into the Hikayat Patani

The Hikayat Patani (Story of Patani), is a Malay court chronicle that was written between the 17th and the 18th centuries but relates to events much earlier. Generally regarded as a historical chronicle, the hikayat not only narrates the genealogy of the royal house but also attempts to establish the Patani sultanate as a proud, sovereign Malay polity with its own distinct identity. It is also the only work of Malay literature that details the musical instruments of the regalia in the royal inventory, a complete repertoire of pieces and instructions on how to perform them. In short, it can be argued that the Hikayat Patani is the only available classical Malay work on music. This article discusses the hikayat in relation to the history and development of the nobat (royal ensemble), to discern the ensemble’s function and role in the political culture and manoeuvrings of a thriving Malay polity under Siamese influence