Subject Code: Music 1 Philippine Music

Module Code: 5.0 Texture, Forms, and Harmony in Philippine Music

Lesson Code: 5.3 Forms in Philippine Secular Music of Western-
Influences (harana, kundiman, and balitaw)
Time Limit: 30 minutes

TA ATA
Components Sample Tasks (in (in
mins.) mins.)
Target After completing this learning guide, you are expected to:
1. explains the distinguishing characteristics of 1
representative of forms in Secular Music of Western min.
influense (Harana, Kundiman and Balitaw)

Hook Did you ever experience witnessing a live-serenade activity in 3

your community? Or any related song performances of harana, mins.
kundiman and balitaw on TV or social media?

Can you identify right away what is the intention of the man
together with his friends why they do the harana? What are the
different instruments used as their musical accompaniment?

Your answers to the questions will lead and guide

you that Philippine has a very rich musical tradition that nowadays
are being observed with some modifications but intentions still the
same.

Go to the link to listen and watch a presentation of music and

dances of the Cordillera. ( from 0:01 -1:50 part)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmy9h1d9p50
“Harana at Kundiman” June 23, 2012

In this lesson, we will discuss the distinguishing characteristics of

forms in Philippine secular music of Western influence
specifically on the representative songs for harana, kundiman and
balitaw.

Ignite SECULAR VOCAL FORMS

With the coming of the Spaniards, the Filipino’s music 20

transformed with the influx of western influences, particularly the mins.
Spanish-European culture prevalent during the 17th to the 19th
centuries. The Hispanization during the succeeding three centuries
after 1521 was tied up with the religious conversion. It affected a
change in the people’s musical thinking and what emerged was a
hybrid expression tinged with Hispanic flavor. It produced a piece
of religious music connected to and outside the Catholic liturgy
and a piece of European-inspired secular music adapted by the
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 Filipinos and reflected in their folk songs and instrumental music
as disussed by Corazon Canave-Dioquino.

A non-sacred-music that common people used as a part of

entertainment purposes that expresses their feelings and
sentiments in a form of love songs, dances, dramatic artworks, or
even for political satire.

Secular folk vocal music covers a wide variety of forms, from

harana (serenade), kundiman of the Tagalog, and the song-debate
balitaw from the Visayas.

HARANA
Courtship in the days of our
grandparents and their
grandparents was a long and
arduous process filled with
interesting customs. One of the
popular courtship traditions was
Harana. Harana, also known as
Habanera Filipina, is a Philippine
Figure 1 serenade that derives its rhythmic
femagazine.com/filipino- element from the Spanish Tango
icon-harana-2/ or Habanera. While the Spanish
version has a lively, seductive
tempo, the Filipino version is romantic, lyrical, and slow. It is a
traditional form of courtship music

Harana is a way of courting a woman by serenading her. The man

would ask his friends to accompany him in visiting the woman he
likes. Together, they play instruments and sing songs of love and
affection outside the woman’s window or balcony. This was often
seen as a romantic gesture because the man is publicly displaying
his devotion to his beloved.

Although the tempo of a Harana is generally much slower, classic

Harana songs have followed the rhythm of the Spanish tango or
habanera; demonstrating the strong influence of Spanish culture on
Filipino Music.

Today, traditional Harana is still being practiced in rural areas.

However, many have modernized this courtship technique by
singing songs from popular culture instead.

The main instrument used for Harana is the Guitar. The most
famous Tagalog harana, one that you can still hear people sing
today is Aking Bituin(My Star) but it is more popularly known by
its first line: O, Ilaw (Oh, Light) and Sarong Bangui by Sto
Domingo ( One night) of the Bicolano.

In this song, the man compares the woman to a star in the dark
sky. The lyrics specifically ask her to open her window and look
out at him. It is also common for Filipinos to alternatively use sa
gabing madilim (in the dark night) instead of sa gabing malamig
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 (in
the cold night).
O ILAW

https://youtu.be/JMeJA6SkZP8
“O Ilaw Harana Pinoy Version” March 8, 2011

KUNDIMAN

A songwriter, Fely Aragon Batiloy says that “Kundiman literally

means ‘kung hindi man’ in Tagalog”. Kundiman is a form of
traditional love songs; with soulful verses and gentle melodies, its
folk sound remains timeless, allowing it to continue thriving even
in our modern cultural landscape.

Kundiman belongs to the traditional

Figure 2: Kundiman Filipino music genre that began in
https://www.philstar.com/e the colonial Philippines under
nt Spanish rule. The kundiman is a
lyrical song characterized by a minor
key at the beginning and shifts to a
major key in the second
half. Mallari explains that the early
work of kundiman “uses a triple time
meter, with stanzas starting in minor
chords and progressing to major chords.” This means that the song
begins with a slow and gentle melody, then gradually shifts in tone
as it escalates to emphasize the heart-wrenching lyrics and the
singer’s emotive rendition.

Below is a sample of a musical arrangement of a kundiman song

entiteld and “ Bayan ko” at “Nassan ka Irog”.

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 The lyrics depict all sorts of stories about love from broken-
heartedness to unrequited love. As a love song, the kundiman is
tender and sweet, and passionate and sometimes gloomy. It runs in
triple meter.

The kundiman’s melody tends to transcend its metric structure. It

ignores downbeats, subtly syncopates the second beat, and
typically utilizes a rhythmic pattern of consecutive eighth notes,
making the melody float, glide, and flow over the beats. It is as if
the music is not bound by earthly gravitational law.

According to a Filipino National Artist for Music, Ramon P.

Santos in his journal article, Constructing a National Identity
Through Music pointed out that the subject of kundiman songs
would often fluctuate between matters of the heart and themes that
manifest national fervor, “The kundiman also became a popular
medium for the expression of undying love for the country during
the Spanish colonization period.”

However, modern kundiman songs such as Maalaala Mo Kaya?—

the theme song of a local TV drama anthology of the same title,
which literally translates to Will You Still Remember? in
English—are considered to be variations of the original kundiman.
“The tune formula [of kundiman] later assumed more defined
metric and rhythmic structures based on Western dance rhythms,”
Santos remarks.

https://youtu.be/lo2yg863owI
“Nasaan Ka Irog by Nicanor Abelardo” July 26, 2006

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 BALITAW

The balitaw is the song traditionally associated with the Visayas

region in the same way the kundiman is associated with traditional
Tagalog music. The music of the balitaw is usually written in
triple time.

The traditional instrument used

to accompany the balitaw was a
three-string coconut-shell
guitar; later, a harp was adopted
as the instrument of choice
because more chords could be
played on it. When performed
today in modern rendition, a
five-string guitar is used. The
balitaw is a debate or dialogue
song in which a young woman Figure 3: Balitaw,
and a young man compete to see https://www.amazon.com/Balit
who is better at improvising aw-Sylvia-
romantic verses. Torre/dp/B007FDSKF2

These verses are sometimes memorized in advance. Using song to

disguise the intimate sentiments of courtship reduces the
embarrassment involved in meeting potential mates. These witty
exchanges of balitaw used to be a prelude to courtship and
marriage, but this tradition had faded away by the 1930s and is no
longer observed in contemporary Visayan society, although the
songs are still performed for the sake of performance.

As sung in quatrain or ballad stanza in the Visayas, it is

"expansive and erotic in character" with accompaniment similar to
the bolero, a Spanish dance also in triple time, accompanied by the
dancer's singing and castanet playing (Molina in Filipino Heritage
VIII, 2029).

https://youtu.be/2x7A9NF3-wM
“Balitaw - Visayan Folk Song”

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT – 10 pts.

Navigate Write the CAPITAL letter of the correct answer.

A. Harana B. Kundiman C.Balitaw

D. Secular Music E. love songs D. Dramatic Artwork

1. The _______________ is a lyrical song characterized by a

minor key at the beginning and shifts to a major key in the
second half.
2. The _______________ is a Philippine serenade which
derives its rhythmic element from the Spanish Tango or
Habanera.
3. The _______________ is a debate or dialogue song in

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 which a young woman and a young man compete to see
who is better at improvising romantic verses.

4. The __________ is the song traditionally associated with

the Visayas region in the same way the
_________________ is associated with traditional.

5. ________________ is a non sacred-music that common

people used as a part of entertainment puproses that
expresses their feelings and sentiments in a
form,_______________ dances, ______________or even
for politcal satire.

Identify the following vocal forms by writing B for balitaw, H for

harana, and K for kundiman.

___6. Aking Bituin (My Star) or O Ilaw

___ 7. Bayan Ko by Constancio de Guzman
___ 8. Nasaan Ka, Irog by Nicanor Abelardo
___ 9. Maalaala Mo Kaya ?
___10. Sarung Bangui

The forms in Philippine secular music with Western influence and 1

are generally referred to as Philippine Folk Music consists of min.
orally transmitted genres and compositions that are performed in
Knot rural Christian communities in Luzon and Visayas. Harana,
Kundiman, and Balitaw are some of the Spanish musical
influenced which developed our instrumental and vocal music.

Their origins may be traced through forms that have been

introduced by the Spanish colonial power and later adopted and
modified by local artists and performers. They taught the Filipinos
not only some Western songs and styles of singing but also
techniques in playing musical instruments like the guitar. This
paved the way for the development of Filipino folk songs.

Prepared by: Reviewed by:

JOEL R. REGINALES SARHA A. BAUTISTA
Position: Position:
Special Science Teacher (SST) IV Special Science Teacher (SST) IV
Campus: Campus:
PSHS-BRC PSHS-CALABARZON RC

REFERENCES:
Corazon Canave-Dioquino, “Philippine Music, A Historical Overview”, Retrieved from
https://ncca.gov.ph/about-ncca-3/subcommissions/subcommission-on-the-arts-
sca/music/philippine-music-a-historical-overview/,

De Leon, Felipe M., Jr. “The Diversity of Philippine Music Culture”s, Retrieved
from:http://himig.com.ph/features/1-the-diversity-of-philippine-music-cultures

Nicanor Tiongson , (1994), Music and Dance, http://upafrondalla.org/musicdance.html

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released to third parties with approval of management. Document is uncontrolled unless otherwise marked; uncontrolled document are
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 CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art, Volume 5, ed., Manila, Philippines: Cultural Center of
the Philippines.

Palada, Jona Joy, (2017). “Studies in Philippine Music.” A Workbook in Music (Grade 7).
Philippines: Mega TEXTS Phil., Inc.”

Santos, Ramon P. Ph.D. “ Philippine Music Forms/Composition”, Retrieved from:

http://ncca.gov.ph/subcommissions/subcommission-on-the-arts-sca/music/philippine-music-
formscomposition/

VIDEOS:
Boholic ( March 28, 2008), “Balitaw - Visayan Folk Song”, Retrieved from:
https://youtu.be/2x7A9NF3-wM, Accessed December 2020

fbpanganiban (June 23, 2012). “ Harana At Kundiman; Retrieved from

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmy9h1d9p50, Accessed December 2020

Harana Pinoy; (March 8, 2011) “O Ilaw Harana Pinoy Version”, Retrieved from:
https://youtu.be/JMeJA6SkZP8, Accessed December 2020

Jojo Menorca (October 17, 2017). Cordillera Suite (DTR), Bayanihan Alumni Association,
Retrieved from https://youtu.be/uyCFjxzQZuk, Accessed August 2020

Meinard Belarmino Y Perez (July 26, 2006 )“Nasaan Ka Irog by Nicanor Abelardo”, Retrieved
from: , https://youtu.be/lo2yg863owI , Accessed December 2020

PHOTOS/ IMAGES:
Fig. 1: [Harana]. (Pinterest Post) Retrieved from : Pinterest. URL: https://s-media-cache-
ak0.pinimg.com/564x/74/05/e1/7405e18ce7bd10ef11c816393ed1323b.jpg. (February 2016)

Fig. 2: “Harana”, Retrieved from http://jayars.tripod.com/harana.html “More Than a Love Song”

retrieved from http://himig.com.ph/features/24-more-than-a-love-song

Fig.3: “O Ilaw”, Jocelynang Baliwag. Retrieved from: Himig.com.ph. URL:

http://himig.com.ph/system/attachments/0000/0103/himig_2013-06_jocelynang-baliwag.jpg
(April 10, 2017)

Fig.4: Antolin, Janine. HARANA (meaning “to court through serenading”). (Pinterest Post)
Retrieved from: Pinoy-Culture. URL: http://pinoy
culture.tumblr.com/post/120480984441/janineantolin-june-
1-celebrating-the-month-of (April 10, 2017)

Fig.5: Nasaan Ka, Irog. Source: Himig.com.ph. URL:

http://www.himig.com.ph/system/scores/0000/0282/008-Nasaan-Ka-Irog.jpg?1267670077.
(February 2016)

Fig.6: Country Music Notes Clipart. Source: Clipartkid.com. URL:

http://www.clipartkid.com/images/683/music-floating-country-folk-guitar-royalty-free-stock-
photos-image-b8M1mk-clipart.jpg (April 10, 2017)

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