MUSIC OF MINDANAO
RD
3 QUARTER
I. MORO / ISLAMIC MUSIC
A. Vocal Music of Mindanao
The Islamic community in the Philippines consists of ethno-linguistic groups:
- the Maguindanao of Cotabato
- the Maranao of Lanao and Cotabato
- the Samal and Jama Mapun of the Sulu Islands of Sibutu and Cagayan
De Sulu
- the Tausug of the Sulun Islands of Jolo, Siasi, and Tawi-Tawi
- the Yakan of Basilan and Zamboanga.
EXAMPLE MUSIC OF MINDANAO
1. CHANTS- a lyrical rendition of different improvised text.
(Yakans do their chantings through solo and counter or group singing.
a. Lugu – chants that they use in reading their Qur’an and
other books they use in their Islam region.
b. Kalangan – songs used for serenading loved ones.
c. Sa-il / Lunsey – an important chant to be sung by wife-to-be
during the ceremony that talks about married life.
MARANAOS’ EXTENSIVE VOCAL REPERTOIRE:
OTHER CHANTS
a.
b.
Dikker – sacred songs highlighted by quotations from the Qur’an.
Bayok – semi-generic term for a lyrical rendition of different improvised
text.
Video
2. LULLABY – a chant-style or chant formula use in rocking a baby to
sleep.
a. Ya-ya – song of the Yakans to put the baby to sleep, sung in
a relax / slow manner, soft and soothing while rocking the baby.
b. Bayok – is also a Maranao term for Lullaby.
B. INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC:
1. Kulintang Ensemble – Gong based ensemble used by the
Maguindanao and Maranao of Western Mindanao, the Tausug, the
Yakan, and the Sama-bajao of the Sulu Archipelago.
2 Types of the Kulintang Ensemble:
• Kulintangan(Manobo Cotababto)/Kwintangan – ensemble of 6-8 hanging
melody gongs in a row, hung on ropes in pyramidal order, with the smaller
and higher-pitched gongs near the top.
• Tahunggo, Agung, Salmagi, BlowonSemagi – suspended gong ensembles (911 gongs, played a melody and drone player) in various names according
to each tribe; ensemble maybe completed with 1 or 2 drums.
2. Bamboo Ensemble – different manners in playing bamboo
instruments include; blowing(aerophones), shaking or hitting(idiophones),
and plucking(chordophones).
Examples of Bamboo Ensemble:
• Gabbang – a native xylophone in Sulu, a bamboo keyboard on top,
constructed out of wood.
• Seronggagandi – a guitar like made of bamboocut before 1 nod and after
next.
3. Solo Instruments:
• Kudyapi – a two string plucked lute instrument made of wood which
resembles and elongated guitar usually having 2 strings.
• Suling – (Maguindanao and Yakan’s)is made mainly of “tamiang” bamboo,
a long, thin walled bamboo tube. The mouth piece of the Suling is circled
with a thin band made of rattan near a small hole.