Sangpuy • Katatepan hails from Katatipul Village in southeastern Taiwan’s Taitung County. When he was a child, the clear, distant sound of his grandfather singing left a deep impression on him and he began to sing the songs of Katatipul.
Sangpuy has spent considerable time with the older people of his village, listening to them tell of the tribal legends and sing the songs of their ancestors. His voice has been likened to those of the village elders – a voice which acts as a bridge to the ancient spirits of his village, and hints at the green mountain vistas and the smiling faces of the Puyuma people. His voice spurs the imagination and brings the listener into the faraway legends of his tribe.
A love for the music of his tribe fueled an interest in traditional instruments, spurring Sangpuy to learn not only how to play these instruments, but how to make them as well. He has combed the mountains near Katatipul in search of the ideal bamboo, wood, and other materials needed to make a variety of different wind instruments, such as wooden flutes and nose flutes. He has also spent countless hours with village elders learning how to play the jaw harp.
In addition to fostering his musical talents, Sangpuy has also participated extensively in the workings of his tribe. He was chosen the head of the village youth group, and at the men’s training hut (called “palakuwan” in the Puyuma language), he learned the wisdom of the tribal elders and taught the youth of the tribe how to sing the traditional songs of the Puyuma people. Through his efforts in passing down the music and culture of Katatipul, Sangpuy has become an example for the younger members of the tribe just like the eternal flame that is kept alive at the palakuwan in his village.