19世紀,南移到東南亞的華人越來越多,特別是福建、廣東地區的華人,他們幾乎都是群體南下,而南下的原因有政治迫害、戰爭逃難、災荒、豬仔等,但經商除外。這個時期南下的華人成為了東南亞各國的第一代移民。隨著第二次世界大戰(1939~1945年)的結束,東南亞各國紛紛獨立,此時,土生土長的第二、三代華人已經從只是暫時居住在東南亞的華人,轉變成落地生根的華裔,因此,所謂的東南亞華人已經從中國人的概念完全轉變成當地華人,形成密不可分的關係了。 不論是什麼籍貫的華人移居到東南亞,都會帶著各自的傳統文化到這個陌生的國度。在馬來西亞,也同樣有這樣的情形,尤其是傳統戲曲和音樂,有慰藉思鄉與閒暇娛樂的作用,同時具有演戲酬神的功能性,也因此,不論在任何地方,有華人就有華人音樂與組織的存在。以砂拉越詩巫的華人音樂為例,它既有為了演戲酬神而由福州人組成的「同樂社」,也有單純為了娛樂、思鄉而存在於潮州人之間的潮州音樂,還有風靡全世界華人的現代華樂。這些華人音樂在詩巫都有它存在的歷史與意義,尤其是對於華人來說,是自身的民族文化。但是隨著生活環境的改變、經濟的成長或價值觀的改變,華人對於自身的文化重視程度,已逐漸在改變中。在經過種種不同的轉變之後,詩巫的華人音樂究竟是什麼樣貌,都是本文想要探討的議題。
In the19th century, more and more Chinese moved to Southeast Asia, especially from Fujian and Guangdong provinces. They emigrated the South in groups because of the political persecution, fleeing from the wars, famine, zhu-zai(people who were sold into labor), etc., except doing business. These emigrates moving from China during this period became the first-generation immigrants in the South East Asia. With the end of the Second World War (1939 - 1945), the Southeast Asian countries became independent this time. Their second and third generation Chinese have come into being to become the local inhabitants. These Chinese have stricken roots in the Southeast Asia to be the citizens. People from China have turned into what is called the Chinese Malaysian. Whichever part of China the Chinese emigrated from to the Southeast Asia, they would carry their own tradition of culture into this strange country. Same as the Malaysia Chinese, traditional drama and music in particular, there is solace in the role of nostalgia homesickness and leisure recreation. Furthermore, it also serves the function of conveying their gratitude to God. Therefore, wherever there are the Chinese there are Chinese music and the musical organizations. In Sibu Sarawak, Chinese music for example, acts as thanksgiving to God, so there comes the "Tong le she"(同樂社) of Fuzhou people, and as purely for entertainment and homesickness as Chaozhou music of Chaozhou people. In addition, there is modern large Chinese orchestra which swept the world of these Sibu Chinese. Therefore, music has had its long significant presence in history, especially for the immigrant Chinese. It is their own national culture. But with the changes of the living environment, economic growth or the concept of the values, their concentration on the special Chinese culture has gradually diminished. After all the different transitions, what exactly of the Sibu Chinese music is left will be our main issue to be explored below.