MUSIC IN THE

PHILIPPINES
Zone Four
 GONG MUSIC

Two types of gong music

Gangsa-the flat gong commonly known as gangsa
and played by indigenous groups in the Cordillera
region of Northern Philippines
Bossed Gongs-bossed gongs played among the
Islam and animist groups in the Southern Philippines.
Kulintang
Kulintang refers to a racked gong chime instrument
played in the southern islands of the Philippines, along
with its varied accompanying ensembles. Different
groups have different ways of playing the kulintang.
Two major groups seem to stand-out in kulintang
music. These are the Maguindanaon and the
Maranaw.
 Harana and Kundiman
Harana and Kundiman are
songs popular in the
pine Islands dating back to the
sh period.
Harana
Harana are traditional courtship songs in
the Mexican-Spanish tradition based on
the habanera rhythm while the
Kundiman, which has pre-colonial
origins from the Tagalog region, uses
triple meter rhythm.
Kundiman
Kundiman is also characterized by a
minor key at the beginning and shifts to
a major key in the second half. Its lyrics
depict a romantic theme, usually
portraying love, passion, or sadness.
Rondalla
The Rondalla is performed on ensembles
comprising mandolin instruments of various
sizes called banduria composed on the
Iberian tradition. Other instruments including
guitars, is also performed.
PHILIPPINE MUSICAL
INSTRUMENTS
Aerophones
“Bulungudyong”
Bamboo flute with a
chip on the mouth hole
wrapped with plastic
straw. There are three
holes on top of the flute
and one hole
underneath.
Tongali

A node of bamboo with

hole at one end and open
at the other. There are
three holes on top and one
hole underneath. There are
incised designs on the
body. It is played by putting
the blowing end on one
nostril
Tulali

A vertical flute with 6

fingerholes on top and
one hole under used in
samar
Chordophones
 It belongs to the cittern family of
instruments. The Spanish and Cuban
instruments have six double courses
in unison (i.e. twelve strings in pairs);
the Philippine instrument has 14
strings with some courses singled or
tripled. A similar, but smaller
instrument, with a shorter neck, is
the bandurria, which also exists in
12- and 14-string versions.
Octavina
The octavina or Philippine
octavina is a guitar-shaped
Filipino instrument with a
tuning similar to the laúd.
Originally a Spanish
instrument, the octavina was
soon incorporated into other
cultures, notably including
Filipino culture.
Kulintang
Kulintang is a modern term for
an ancient instrumental form
of music composed on a row
of small, horizontally laid
gongs that function
melodically, accompanied by
larger, suspended gongs and
drums.
Membranophones
The KAGUL is a type of
Philippine bamboo scraper
gong/slit drum of the
Maguindanao and Visayans
with a jagged edge on one
side, played with two beaters,
one scarping the jagged
edge and the other one
making a beat.
Agung a Tamlang

The Agung a Tamlang is

a type of Philippine slit
drum made of hollowed
out bamboo in imitation
of the real agung. Pitch
is determined by the
length and depth of the
slit.
Gambal
The gambal or the gadang are
war drums that are played to
boost the warrior’s esteem and
get them ready for battle. It is
made of hollowed out tree
trunks and deerskin for
drumheads. It is not played
alone but accompanied by
gongs. It is played by hands or
by striking a wooden stick on
the drumhead.
Idiophone
 Kubing
 The kubing is traditionally
considered an intimate instrument,
usually used as communication
between family or a loved one in
close quarters. Both genders can
use the instrument, the females
more infrequently than males who
use it for short distance courtship