PANGGUL is the name of the a tool that is used to play (to hit) Balinese gamelan instruments. The name of “panggul” is specified to the name of the gamelan instruments. For Example the panggul that uses to play the gangsa gamelan instrument is called “panggul gangsa” and the panggul to play ugal gamelan instrument is called “panggul ugal,” and so on.

panggul gamelan bali gangsa
Panggul Gamelan Bali (for gangsa instrument)

The panggul on the photo above is a panggul gangsa, panggul for gangsa pemade instrument and kantilan instrument. It looks like a hammer, on the head shaped like a horn, sharp upward with a length of about 15 cm. The handle is made of bamboo with a length of about 20 cm.

The head of the panggul is generally made ​​of Kemuning wood. This kind of wood is chosen because of its fibers are stronger and also when hit on gamelan, producing a clear sound. In addition to its durability and sound, this wood is also has an ideal weight.

The panggul that purchased from panggul maker are generally filled with a red, black, and silver or gold striped ribbon. See from the photo above! Third from the left is the common panggul on its decoration.

f is used to play gamelan, so he easily understands the panggul he often used, by its look, weight, and the abah. However m has only been playing gamelan with group Gong PKK for four years, so she often got confused to recognize her own panggul. It happens sometimes that her panggul was swapped to other player in that group.

There is an interesting story here. Because most of the panggul are similar, as a marker, the ladies gamelan musicians in this woman gamelan group wrote their own name on the handle of the panggul. Some were carved. Wow..!

panggul gamelan bali gangsa
Panggul Gamelan Bali (for gangsa instrument)

m also wanted to put a mark on her own panggul. She had an idea to decorate it with a ribbon patterned fabric. Look at the photo above! Pretty good right? She decorated also almost all pangguls in her house, like on the photo above. All pangguls look cool now!!

panggul gamelan bali gangsa
Panggul Gamelan Bali (for gangsa instrument)

Oh no,, now m got confused again of which panggul that she often used!! Well then, on the panggul will be painted a sign “♥” Sweet ..