Madura Journal: encounters with strange ensembles

This field report by Jack Body recounts encounters with diverse and unusual musical traditions on the island of Madura. From street singers accompanying themselves on kentrung drums to distinctive local ensembles such as kenong telo’, tuk-tuk slit gongs, and the ginggung jaw harp, Madurese practices reveal both hardship narratives and deep spiritual expression. Body highlights the absence of wayang puppetry, the presence of unique masked dance, and the strong influence of Javanese macapat sung poetry, especially in Sumenep where court culture once flourished.