Nobat is an ancient Malay art form that binds tohether an amalgamation of different cultures and beliefs, which culminates into a sacrosanct musical entity symbolizing a Sultan's power and sovereignty. This book examines the music of the Perak nobatand it uses and functions in relation to the ceremonial structure of the palace. By utilizing a mixture of different qualitative methods, including a combination of various techniques of musical analysis with the methods of anthropology and social sciences, it also aims to understand the temporal and spiritual roles of the ensemble, its unrelenting adherence to age-old taboos and how the musical performance reflects the Malay social stratification.