MUSIC OF MINDANAO
Socio-historical Context of Mindanao
Mindanao: a beautiful Philippine island, also known as the Land of Promise because of its impressive tropical rainforests, fertile
valleys and great biodiversity.
Mindanao is one of the largest islands in the Philippines. It is surrounded by four seas namely:
 Sulu Sea (West)
 Philippine Sea (East)
 Celebes Sea (South)
 Mindanao Sea (North)
This is the region that has greatest variety of development. This region has mountains and volcanoes that are complex in structure
that attracts tourist.
Mindanao is consisting of people with different languages, tribes and religion.
ISLAMIC
NON-ISLAMIC (Lumad people)
Badjao – Sulu
Bilaan – Davao
Ilanun – Sulu, Tawi Tawi
Kalagan – Davao
Jama Mapun – Sulu
Mandaya – Davao
Maguindanao - Maguindanao, Cotabato
Mansaka – Davao
Maranao – Lanao, Bukidnon
Manobo – Bukidnon
Samal – Sulu
Matigsalug – Bukidnon
Tausug – Sulu
Subanon – Zamboanga Peninsula
Yakan - Basilan
Tiruray – SOCCSARGEN Region
Bagobo – Davao Region
T;Boli – South Cotabato
Issues in Mindanao
 Mindanao wants to be independent. Government says no.
Result: Military fighting between both groups
 Environmental and Sustainability Issues
Musical Forms
The musical and cultural tradition in Mindanao is divided into two, the Islamic and non-Islamic.
Islamic Music (VOCAL MUSIC)
-Their vocal music is focused on topics dealing with life cycles, folk epic, religious chants.
Life Cycle songs
Langan Bata Bata – Lullabye of Tausug
Tarasul – Tausug song of advice to wedded
couple
Dekir – Death Song of Maranao
Dekil – Maguindanao Chant in Vigil
Religious Chants
Salathul juma – Friday prayer chant
Tarawe – chant during the ramadan
Folk Epic
Rajah Indarapatra – Maguindanao
Darangan - Maranao
Islamic Music (INSTUMENTAL MUSIC)
Aside from vocal music, the Islamic communities are also Well known because of Their very prominent musical Ensemble.
Kulintang Ensemble
Kulintang ensemble is compose of the following
instruments:
1. Kulintang
2. Gandingan
3. Agung
4. Dabakan
5. Babendil
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Kulintang - It is composed of a set of 8 gongs arranged in a row.
Gandingan -is a set of four large hanging gongs.
Agung -is one or two suspended hanging gongs.
DABAKAN -is a single headed Philippine drum that looks like a goblet used by the Maranaos.
BABENDIL -is a single, narrow-rimmed Philippine gong.
Kulintang
Gandingan
Agung
Dabakan
Babendil
Non - Islamic Music (VOCAL MUSIC)
The non-Islamic communities of the Mindanao region also Love to sing songs about Nature, life, marriage, work or occupation,
rituals, epic, And even about death
1.
2.
Subanon Tribe – Is the biggest group of Lumad of
Zamboanga.
Their vocal music includes the following:
1. Chants
2. Different types of song
Love song, Funeral song, Lullaby song
Manobo Tribe – Are from Sarangani Island.
-Their vocal music includes the following:
Ritual songs, Narrative songs, Lullabies, Song of Nature
-Most of the singers use their armpit as the rhythmic sound
while they are singing.
T’Boli - Are tribes of South Cotabato.
-
They reflect their closeness to nature through the
imitation of natural sounds.
Sounds of animals, sound of nature etc.
T’Boli - Are tribes of South Cotabato.
They reflect their closeness to nature through the imitation
of natural sounds.
Sounds of animals, sound of nature etc.
Mansaka - Are the tribes from the provinces of Davao del
Norte and Compostela Valley.
-Their musical Forms include the Saliada that is similar to
ballad (narrative song) and Bayok or songs of love and
adventure.
MINDANAO FOLK SONGS
Ayaw kaw Magtangis - This is an example of Mindanao Folksong which is about the man requesting woman to stop crying because it
also breaks his heart.
Sua Ko Sua - is a song and dance that relates the sua's (pomelo) gentle leaves, attractive fruits, its fragrance and slender body to
that of a lady.
Musical Instruments of Mindanao
KUDYAPI- is a guitar with two
strings. It is about 1 1/2 m long
and made of wood.
Kubing – Is made up of bamboo.
It is held horizontally with the
bamboo tongue in front of the
open mouth. It can be played in
solo or in an ensemble.
Sahunay - is a bamboo flute,
leaving six holes for the fingers
and trumpet made of coconut
leaf.
Palendag- Is a lip-valley flute and
one of the most common
aerophones of the Maguindanaons.
Suling - Is also called the ring
flute. It is the smallest bamboo
flute of Maguindanao.
Kagul - is a Maguindanao bamboo
scraper gong or slit drum with a
jagged edge on one side.
NAME:__________________________________________
DATE: ___________________________
GRADE & SECTION:________________________________
SCORE:__________________________
MUSIC:
Activity 1: True-false: Indicate whether the following statements are true or false by placing a T or F in the space
preceding the statement.
___________1. Mindanao is a beautiful Philippine island, also known as the Land of Promise.
___________2. Langan Bata Bata is a Lullabye song of Ifugao.
___________3. Agung is a single headed Philippine drum that looks like a goblet used by the Maranaos.
___________4. Kulintang composed of a set of seven gongs arranged in a row.
___________5. Dekir is a death Song of Maranao
___________6. Tarawe is an Islamic chant during the ramadan.
___________7. Peace and order are problem in Mindanao.
___________8. Islamic vocal music is focused on topics dealing with life cycles, folk epic, religious chants
___________9. Dekil is a Maguindanao Chant in Vigil.
___________10. The musical and cultural tradition in Mindanao is divided into two, the Islamic and non-Islamic.
Activity 2: Matching Type: Match the instrument with its description by placing the letter of the definition in the space preceding
the instrument name.
B.
A.
a. It is composed of a set of 8 gongs arranged in a row.
___________1. KULINTANG
b. is a set of four large hanging gongs.
___________2. SAHUNAY
c. is one or two suspended hanging gongs.
___________3. AGUNG
d. is a single headed Philippine drum that looks like a goblet used by the
___________4. SULING
Maranaos.
___________5. GANDINGAN
e. is a single, narrow-rimmed Philippine gong.
___________6. DABAKAN
f. is a guitar with two strings. It is about 1 1/2 m long and made of wood
___________7. KUBING
g. Is made up of bamboo. It is held horizontally with the bamboo tongue in
___________8. BABENDIL
front of the open mouth.
___________9. KAGUL
h. is a bamboo flute, leaving six holes for the fingers and trumpet made of
___________10. KUDYAPI
coconut leaf.
i. Is also called the ring flute. It is the smallest bamboo flute of Maguindanao.
j. is a Maguindanao bamboo scraper gong or slit drum with a jagged edge on
one side.
Activity 3: Name and classify the following instruments in the kulintang Ensemble and the other instruments from Mindanao.
6. Name:______________________________________
Classification:_________________________________
7. Name:______________________________________________
Classification:________________________________________
8. Name:______________________________________
Classification:_________________________________
9. Name:______________________________________________
Classification:________________________________________
10. Name:______________________________________
Classification:_________________________________
11. Name:___________________________________________
Classification:________________________________________
Activity 4: Differentiate Islamic music from Non-Islamic music using the Venn Diagram.
Activity 5: Multiple Choice: Write the
letter of the correct answer on the space provided before the number.
_________1. A beautiful Philippine island, also known as the Land of Promise because of its impressive tropical
rainforests, fertile valleys and great biodiversity.
A. Luzon
B. Visayas
C. Mindanao
D. Highland Luzon
_________2. The very prominent musical Ensemble of Mindanao.
A. Gamelan Ensemble
C. Dabakan Ensemble
B. Kulintang Ensemble
D. Kudyapi Ensemble
_________3. A tribe from Lumad group who uses their armpit as the rhythmic sound while they are singing.
A. T’boli
B. Manobo
C. Subanon
D. Mansaka
_________4. T’boli tribe reflect their closeness to nature through the imitation of natural sounds. They perform
different songs from different occasions and sentiments like__________________?
A. Wedding
B. Fishing
C.Joyful or sad
D. All of the above
_________5. Which of the following best describes the Kulintang Ensemble of Mindanao?
A. Kulintang ensemble is composed mostly of membranophone Instruments.
B. The ensemble is made up of five instruments.
C. The ensemble is used for entertainment.
D. The ensemble is composed of Idiophone and membranophone instruments only.
_________6. Which of the four statements best describes the music of Mindanao?
A. Music is highly influenced by the Spaniards.
B. Islamic and non-Islamic music are the two kinds of music in Mindanao
C. Their vocal music is focused on topics dealing with entertainment
D. The musical instruments of Mindanao people are mostly made of bamboo.
_________7. Kulintang is composed of a set of 8 gongs arranged in a row used to play a variety of meaningful
composition. It is classified as an ______________________?
A. Idiophone
B. Membranophone
C. Chordophone
D. Aerophone
_________8. Which of the following is the describes the role of Islamic music?
A. Life Cycle C. Religious Chants
B. Folk Epic
D. All of the Above
_________9. A Mindanao instrument composed of a set of 8 gongs arranged in a row.
A. Kulintang
B. Gandingan
C. Dabakan
D. Agung
_________10. Lumad music is about Nature, life, marriage, work or occupation, rituals, epic, and even about death.
Lumad means?
A. Badjao
B. Non-Muslim
C. Christians
D. T’boli
_________11. Which of the following elements refers to speed in music?
A. Dynamics
B. Texture
C. Tempo
D. Timbre
_________12. “Ayaw kaw Magtangis” is an example of Mindanao folk song. Which of the following best describe the
meaning of the song?
A. A humorous songs or welcoming songs to entertain guest/visitors
B. A song for rocking the baby to sleep
C. A love song used for harana
D. about the man requesting woman to stop crying because it also breaks his heart.
_________13. Which of the following instrument is not belong to Kulintang ensemble?
A. Kudyapi
B. Agung C. Babendil
D. Dabakan
_________12. Which of the following instrument is not belong to Kulintang ensemble?
A. Kudyapi
B. Agung C. Babendil
D. Dabakan
_________14. Which of the following Mindanao instrument is a Membranophone?
A. Kulintang
B. Dabakan
C. Kudyapi
D. Suling
_________15. A type of music performed by one or more singers, either with instrumental accompaniment, or
without instrumental accompaniment, in which singing provides the main focus of the piece.
A. Vocal Music
B. Instrumental Music
C. Folk Music
D. Modern Music
_________16. Which of the following tribe is not belong to Mindanao Islamic group?
A. Badjao
B. T’Boli
C. Tausug
D. Maranao
_________17. This Mindanao singers use their armpit as the rhythmic sound while they are singing.
A. Manobo
B. Subanon
C. T’Boli
D. Mansaka
_________18. Refers to a song and dance that relates the sua's (pomelo) gentle leaves, attractive fruits, its fragrance
and slender body to that of a lady.
A. Ayaw kaw Magtangis
B. Sua ko Sua
C. Pamulinawen
D. None of these