How do Balinese use a kulkul for communication in the community?

A kulkul is a centuries-old communication tool which is used to spread basic information long distances within the Balinese community. Made of a hollow tree trunk with a long slit cut into one side, it is almost identical to a Polynesian slit-drum, except it is hung rather than placed on the ground. To make it sound, it is hit hard with a large wooden stick. The sound of a kulkul can be heard over long distances and certainly before the era of motorized transportation, for miles and miles.
 
Kulkul are positioned in a special tower in front of the banjar (traditional community centre) called a bale kulkul. Every banjar has one of these towers which houses between one and three kulkul. One is for the needs of the banjar, one for the youth group and one for art groups such as the gamelan club. Each kulkul is of a different size and sound and has special function and way of being struck. The one for the banjar is larger and produces a lower, more bass-like sound compared with the other two. The smallest and highest pitched one is usually used to call the art groups.
 
If there is a death in the community, the kulkul banjar is struck in a series of three hits with a pause in between each series, between three and nine series generally. If it is hit over and over quickly without a break, it means that there is something generically dangerous happening in the area. This could be a natural disaster, an emergency, a fire or a thief. If the kulkul is hit in a series of one beat with a long pause in between, this means that a meeting is being called or the people are being summoned to carry out community work.
 
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