Gegendingan | Cultures of Denpasar

Bali, not only rich in variety dance or customary ceremonies that are so complex. But also rich in songs or traditional song that will be eroded by times.

Well, to be able to preserve it, then it is appropriate that we know about traditional songs or Tembang Bali. Various types of song that is owned by the Balinese and their structure and function of different. The Balinese art distinguish this song into four groups. Namely Gegendingan, Sekar Alit, Sekar Madya, and Sekar Agung. Now let us discuss Gegendingan.

Gegendingan is a collection of independent sentences are sung. Its contents are generally short, and simple. Said to be free because really there is no binding. Between each sentence does not have to have the meanings that make up a story or understanding, and sometimes the sentences are formed from the words that also has no clear meaning.

There are three types of gegendingan owned by the art Tembang Bali:

1. Gending Rare

Gending Rare or Sekar Rare includes various types of songs the children are nuances of the game. This type of song is in general use simple Balinese language, is dynamic and cheerful, so it can be sung with ease in an atmosphere of play and have fun. It also teaches children at an early age how to work together, and Balinese languages.

Usually every song is complemented (or as a complement ) a game (Dolanan) the same themes. But there is also a stand-alone, as the folk songs (gegendingan) whose shape is very simple. Both children's songs and folk songs are not too bound by the law / uger-uger like Guru song or Padalingsa. Some examples of this type of song, among others, such as meong-meong, juru pencar, galang bulan, and much more.

In this gending type, there is a whole stanza is the content, and some stanzas containing sampiran some have only form without content sampiran a clear meaning.

Here I list the text or lyrics of some sekar rare that I know , so please correct if there is something wrong, I'm sure for adults who lived in Bali at least know how to rhyme and better yet, teach this song to your children, so they can pass it to the next generation.

Meong-Meong
Meong meong alih ja bikule
Bikul gede gede
Buin mokoh mokoh
Kereng pesan ngerusuhin
Juk meng… Juk kul..

Dadong Dauh
Dadong dauh ngelah siap putih
Suba metaluh reka
Minab ada limolas taluhne
Nangih lacur ada nak nepukin
Anak cerik cerik
Anak cerik cerik
Keliwat usil ipun

Juru Pencar
Juru pencar juru pencar
Mai jalan mencar ngejuk ebe
Be gede gede
Be gede gede
Di sawana ajaka liu

Putri Cening Ayu
Putri cening ayu
Nongos ngijeng jumah
Meme luas malu
Ke peken meblanja
Apang ada daharang nasi

Meme tiang ngiring
Nongos ngijeng jumah
Sambilang mempumpun
Ajak tiang dadua
Di tekane nyen gapgapin

Kotak wadah gerip
Jaja megenepan
Ane luwung luwung
Megenep isine
Apang ada aji satus

2. Gending Jejangeran

This Gending Jejanggeran same with Gending Rare and usually sung together between with one another groups . There are a Janger (daughter groups) there is a Kecak (groups of boys).

Eventually this Gending Jejangeran also sung by the adults in the spectacle with giving movements variations or lakon variations (lelampahan).

Examples of this Gending Jejangeran is putri ayu, siap sangkur, mejejangeran, and many more.

3. Gending Sanghyang

Gending Sanghyang sung to lower (nedunang) Sanghyang-Sanghyang, for example in the procession of cultural relics in the pre-Hindu sacred dance Sanghyang, which includes dance anghyang Dedari, Sanghyang Deling, Sanghyang Jaran, Sanghyang Bojog, Sanghyang Celeng, Sanghyang Sampat and so on.

System or ortenan this song same with other gending rare, the resulting understanding the contents of this gending often abstract, and uncertain because it is difficult to digest.

Examples of gending-gending Sanghyang is Puspa Panganjali, Kukus Arum, Suaran Kumbang, and others.