rizky-anindya: Gendang Beleq (The Big Drum)

Gendang Beleq (The Big Drum)
War Music of the Sasak tribe

A. Origin

Sasak is the name of the tribe that inhabited the island of Lombok, it’s also called the Little Sunda on the time of the Dutch colonization. Gendang Beleq is one of the many cultural tradition arts that the Sasak has. Some call it Gendang Beleq music and some call it Gendang Beleq dance, this is because the drummers dance while playing the Gendang Beleq. The both opinions are true, because music and dance expressed through sound and motion in the Gendang Beleq’s show. However, nowadays, we could find on some Gendang Beleq group, who dancers and the Gendang Beleq drummers played by different people.

The main instrument of Gendang Beleq music is Gendang Beleq (The Big Drum), made of huge logs “meranti” wood, shaped cylindrical with a large hole in the middle diameter of approximately 50 centimeters long and 1.5 meters, the hole’s closed with a wooden cow or goat skin that has been tanned. At the right end of the left drum mounted hooks to attach a rope or a scarf to the neck or shoulder, In Sasak language “Beleq” means large. Thus Gendang Beleq means Big Drum, the drum is larger than any other traditional drum usually used in Lombok traditional musical and other areas in Indonesia.

According to Mamiq Hidayat, one observer and practitioner of Sasak’s art, it’s named Gendang Beleq because;

"In addition to its large size, as well as the loudest voice, while performance, the position of the drummers are in the front of the other musician, even at the old times, artist who stood just a few drummers and dancers only, another instrument was played while sitting" (Interview, March 2009).

Besides the Gendang Beleq, Gendang Beleq music is also equipped with a gong, terumpang, pencek, oncer, and flute. When played at a glance will sound irregular noise, and crowded. Impression first heard, rhythm, rhythm and sound flute music looks like in Bali. History records that the Lombok Balinese kingdom once ruled by the Klungkung (17th century) and Karangasem (18th century) in a very long timescales (Suhartono, 1970). In the 17th century, the struggle between King Lombok, Bali, and Makassar, Karangasem, Sumbawa. At the beginning of the 17th century, the Balinese from Ubud crossed the Straits of Lombok and founded several villages and to build political control region of the West Lombok. at the same time, people across the Straits of Makassar from Sumbawa founded political control in the territory of East Lombok (Kraan, 1980: 2). Historical background of colonization of the Balinese was quite long enough, it leaves their mark on this Beleq drum music. Setyaningsih (2009) writes in her thesis that the traditional Sasak like Merariq, Gendang Beleq, and Perisean are the influence of the kingdom of Bali.

It’s said that in the old times, Gendang Beleq’s used as martial or war music, to accompany and encourage the Lombok royal knights and soldiers who went or returned from the battlefield. Gendang Beleq’s also as a ceremonial music like “Merariq” (marriage), “Ngurisang” (cut baby's hair), or cut “Besunat” (circumcision), also “Begawe Beleq” (ceremony/feast/party). Nowadays Gendang Beleq is also shown for entertainment such festival, the anniversary of the city, and the anniversary of the province. The audiences will usually waiting, standing at the curb, went along with dancing, or just cheering.

Gendang Beleq music played by two players called Sekaha. In the old times Sekaha from the community was selected by the senior Sekaha. Currently Sekaha’s recruited by inviting anyone who wants to be trained as a Sekaha (usually at home of the existing sekaha leaders), there’s also a Sekaha that passed down the knowledge to his children, so they now become sekaha because formerly the father or grandfather was a Sekaha too.

One thing concerns of the elder of Sasak tribe nowadays is the difficulties to find young people to be trained as a Sekaha, because the young now are more attracted to the modern life style, speeding on motorcycles, hanging out on the street or alley, spend time in front of the television watching a soap opera or popular music events. Gendang Beleq music managed by the community independently, usually they established cultural communities in some villages of Lombok. Public finance their activities from the fee of performance on cultural festivals, birthday of the city, and most often to accompany “Merariq” (marriage) ceremonial. It was different from the old times where Gendang Beleq were numerous in the villages of Lombok.

All Sekaha in Gendang Beleq performances must wear a traditional Sasak clothes and its attributes. Fabric patterns “batik” used as “Sapuq” (headband), “Dodot” (belt), and “Bebet” (cloth that lines the waist like in the Minangkabau Malay dress). These attributes is considered important, because it is the only identity that distinguishes it from the modern music. But now because of the influence of modern times, Sekaha wear shirt and pants of different colors and patterns between groups, even sometimes according to the orders of the commercial sponsors, such as “Dji Sam Soe cigarettes”.

Some groups of Gendang Beleq are currently making their own uniforms, placing embroidery or screen printing group names written on the back of the uniform. Seeing this condition, certain people (elder of the Sasak tribe) considers this as a negative behavior. They consider Gendang Beleq group like this does not preserve the culture, for not wearing a uniform customs. Scorn is often directed to the young aged Sekaha, that put on “sapuq”, “dodot”, and “bebet” recklessly, wearing earrings or just wearing t-shirts.

B. Instruments

1.Gendang Beleq

Made of huge logs “meranti” wood, shaped cylindrical with a large hole in the middle diameter of approximately 50 centimeters long and 1.5 meters, the hole’s closed with a wooden cow or goat skin that has been tanned. At the right and the left side of the drum mounted hooks to attach a rope or a scarf to the neck or shoulder of the Gendang beleq player.

2. Terumpang

Its shape is like a large wok, at the middle there is a small roundabout in the form of lumps. Terumpang is made of brass, in Gendang Beleq, there are two Terumpangs.

3. Gong

Almost the same with “terumpang” but the size is larger, made of brass or copper, if it’s hit will result a buzzing sound.

4. Kenceng (pronounced like the word marbles)

Made of brass as well, shaped like a plate with a central bulge outward and given a rope to handle. Kenceng consists of two pairs, each man holding a pair. The sound and rhythm of this “kenceng” that makes Gendang Beleq music sounds similar as the Balinese Traditional music.

5. Suling (Flute)

Made of bamboo with small holes. There are two models of flutes used in Gendang Beleq, its length is approximately 50 centimeters and 30 centimeters.

6. Oncer or Petuk
Shaped like a “gong” but its size is smaller than “terumpang”, made of brass or copper.

7. Pencek
Shaped like “kenceng” but smaller and placed on a wooden board hanged on the neck.

C. Players or Sekaha

Gendang Beleq player are male, because of the male have strong arms in carrying the heavy drums. Ranging from small children aged 7 years to adult aged 60 years. Women as the dancers only.

In one Gendang Beleq music group contained approximately 17 sekaha, sometimes 20 or more, with reserves for sekaha drummer or piper. There are also group Beleq drum equipped with a special group of dancers, so it looks a lot of personnel. Clearer description below:

1. Four sekaha Gendang Beleq drummer, usually chosen Sekaha has a bigger body because it is considered strong, but this is not a must, there are also Sekaha with average body or even thin.

2. Two “sekaha terumpang” player.

3. Four “sekaha Gong” player.

4. Six player “sekaha kenceng”, “kenceng” is played by a tap, like cupping two plates simultaneously.

5. One sekaha for flute or whistle blower.

6. Two “sekaha petuk oncer” player, with one sekaha reserves. Among these instruments, “petuk” is easy to play, because the monotonous rhythm.

7. Two “sekaha pencek” player, with a spare one sekaha.

Gendang Beleq in the mind of Sasak people has become very important, prestigious, and noble things. It contains a beauty, precision, perseverance, patience, policies and heroism. Based on this, Sasak people even considered it as a sacred thing. Gendang Beleq has become a symbol of the Sasak tribe’s tradition and become a pride that will raise the social status in the society (if a family held a Gendang Beleq performance during a Marriage ceremonial or others). For the nobility Sasak (Lalu, Baiq, Raden or Dende), having this kind of music during their ceremonial occasion is a must. Perhaps I could say something like this, For The Sasaks, having no Gendang Beleq on a traditional ceremony is like having a life without love. (Hehee,,)

Gendang Beleq in action: