Mr. Nyoman is a traditional music teacher from Batuan Village, Sukawati, Gianyar. Aside from being a music teacher, he is also known as a maker of musical instruments, such as the flute, Gambuh flute, and the Genggong musical instrument. Here you see Mr. I Nyoman Suwida enthusiastically playing the musical instrument, Genggong, accompanied by his nephew Made Gangga Sentana.
Simple Structure for Beautiful Sound
The traditional musical instrument Genggong is made from palm tree fronds (pupug). Genggong has a flat, elongated shape measuring 20 cm long and 2 cm wide with an inner part called Pelayah and a tip called Ikuh Capung (dragonfly) because its shape resembles a dragonfly’s tail.
The shape of the Genggong musical instrument must be symmetrical in order to produce a melodious sound. The ability to play the Genggong musical instrument is quite unique. The instrument is played by placing it in front of the mouth and then vibrating it gently on the right side. The vibration of the instrument will vary depending on the tone you want to produce.
Genggong Kutus Community
In this modern era, fewer and fewer young people are willing to learn traditional musical instruments such as Genggong. For this reason, Mr. Nyoman Suwida is now inviting the younger generation to learn musical instruments which are the ancestral heritage of the Balinese people, especially in Batuan. Nyoman Suwida himself has a Genggong music community called Genggong Kutus. The name Genggong Kutus is taken from the philosophy of the name Genggong, inspired by the sound of the Enggung or frog which has a big sound that sounds similar to the sound produced by the Genggong musical instrument. Meanwhile, Kutus is the number eight which is defined as a number that has no breaking point (infinity) with the hope that the generation of performing arts in Batuan will continue.
