Genggong
- Margaret J. Kartomi
- , revised by Andrew C. McGraw
Extract
Jew’s harp of Indonesia. In the most common bamboo and palmwood varieties a rectangular lath is split to produce a long vibrating tongue that narrows at one end. Held in the left hand, it is placed in front of the player’s half-open mouth while a finger of the right hand vibrates the tongue by either plucking it or rhythmically pulling a small cord attached to it. The name ‘genggong’ is found in many parts of Indonesia and in the Malay peninsula, but there are also many local names.
The duri or druri bewe of northern Nias is made of an almost rectangular piece of aren palm 10 cm long and 2 cm wide. In Flores the robe (genggo, ego) is made of either palmwood or bamboo. It is shaped like a bottle, about 15 to 20 cm long and 2 cm wide, and split to produce the vibrating tongue which narrows towards one end and is activated by a string. The ...
