A Tukang Nyanyi Panjang or penutur (storyteller) is a central figure in a Nyanyi Panjang performance of Petalangan people in Kabupaten Pelalawan, Riau Province. Penutur is very important not only as the storyteller, but also as the arranger, singer, and writer of the work.

Moreover, a Tukang Nyanyi Panjang has to have the ability to make the story lively so as to allow audience (people) to really enjoy the beauty of language and music in the recitation, knowing that the rhymes, alliterations, assonances, rhythms, and parallelisms of sound can produce special effects towards the audience.

(Tunggul Tauladan/ensi/01/01-2010)

Translation by Reza Daffi (terj/08/02-10)

Reference:

• Sudirman Shomary, 2004. Nyanyi Panjang orang Petalangan Kabupaten Pelalawan. Pekanbaru: UIR Press.