The Sounds of Jegog Music

On an evening, when I rode my motorcycle home at around 7 p.m., I passed a grass field not far from where I live. Usually this place was dark, but this time there was light. I saw a set of jegog, or traditional musical instruments made of bamboo was placed in the middle of the field.

I stopped by the side of the road and noticed more and more people were coming to this place. Some came on motorcycles, then parked theirs by the roadside. Many people (kids, young, and old) walked to this place as well and stood by the side of the road facing the field.

It seemed that the music performance was about to start.

Some men dressed in Balinese uniforms walked to the jegog. Each of them took place in front of every instrument (xylophone) and then began to play the instrument.

The music was loud, even without loudspeakers. The bamboo instruments played together by two groups of players filled the whole field with lively sounds. Next, each group played a different melody competing with one another. Each of them tried to be louder and more captivating than the other.

I stood watching by the side of the road while thinking about why this music was so appealing to the local people. Then I realized it was not just about the music; it's about meeting people, such as friends or families, who happen to watch as well. It was more than just watching the show; it had a nice social aspect. This made the regular shows in the village even more special.

The people just stood by the side of the road or sat down on the ground. Nobody was worried about getting a chair to sit on. They were just enjoying to watch the musical performance.

Sadly, because it was getting late, I had to leave the event and ride my motorcycle home. Even though I couldn't stay until the end, the experience left me with a deep appreciation for the cultural and social connections that jegog music brings to West Bali (where I llive).