Lesson 1 Music of Cordillera

Figure 1. Music of Cordillera

Learning Objectives
 Describe the historical and cultural background of Cordillera,
 Identify the different representative music and instruments of
Cordillera, and;
 Explain the distinguishing musical characteristics of the music of
Cordillera.

Materials and Equipment’s Needed

 Laptop, Map of Luzon

Learning Activities (Activating Prior Knowledge)

Hi student! How are you today? Today’s lesson will be interesting
because we will be exploring the culture and music of Cordillera. But before
we start, I want you to answer the following. Choose your answer from the
box.
 1. 2. 3.

Bungkaka Tongatong
Saggeypo Tongali
Diwdiw-as Gangsa

4. 5.

Learning Probe (Analysis)

How was the short quiz? Did you answer it all correctly? Don’t worry
because we will know more about them today!

Learning Time (Acquire New Knowledge)

Cordillera is the only land-locked region of the Philippines. The region
consists of the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga,
Mountain Province and Apayao. Its rugged terrain and breath-taking
topography have been home to the sturdy and industrious indigenous tribes
collectively called the Igorot, while its climate has bred an equally unique
culture distinct from that of the country’s lowland colonized regions. It is
located in the North-Central part of Luzon and encompasses most of the
areas within the Cordillera Central Mountain range of Luzon. It is the country’s
only land-locked region. It has a mountainous topography and dubbed as the
“Watershed Cradle of North Luzon” as it hosts nine major rivers that provide
continuous water for irrigation and energy for Northern Luzon.
Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) is rich in ancient culture. It is
the home of the indigenous tribe called the Igorot. The way of life of the
people in this region existed way back to ancient Filipinos before the Spanish
colonization.
Musical Characteristics of the Music of Cordillera
1. Music is very much part of life and living
2. Has rich variety of songs and music performed on instruments
3. Often performed in groups, all members of the community are
welcome and encouraged to join the singing, dancing and playing of
instruments
4. Their music is communal and participatory
5. Songs are usually in unison of pentatonic melodies
6. Music and other components of their culture are transferred from
generation to generation through oral tradition.
Vocal Music of Cordillera
Representative Music

SALIDUMAY BAD-IW OGGAYAM

 Song from  From the tribe  Seven-tone
Cordillera of Ibaloi scale modal,
specifically for wide range,
 An example of non-metric, fast
the people of
responsorial tempo,
Ifugao, Bontoc monophonic in
singing
Provinces texture, and
 Sung strophic in form.
 Sung in alternately by  Friendship,
weddings, different cooperation,
festivals, and persons. and unity are
the major
rituals.
 Sung phrase by virtues that
phrase, and most Kalinga
also re-echoed exhibit.
 It is the phrase by  Used by a solo
response song phrase. performer in
of young counselling,
women to the storytelling and
kalkalimusta entertaining the
community in
songs of men
any occasion.
during the
weaving
season.

 It has a sweet
melody and it
also expresses
gratitude.

Cordillera's Musical Instruments

1. Gangsa Ensemble
is a single hand-held smooth-surfaced
gong with a narrow rim. The number of
gangsa in a set varies with availability,
and depends on the tradition of a
particular ethnic group of the Luzon
Cordillera.
Each musician plays one gong consisting of gangsa tuned to
different notes.

Two Ways of Playing the Gangsa

Toppaya Style Pattung Style
The musician plays the The gangsa is suspended
surface of the gangsa with from the musicians left
their hand while sitting with a hand and played with a
single gangsa resting on padded stick held by the
each lap. right hand.
2. Bamboo Instruments (Solo or Ensemble)
Kubing (Jews Harp)
- The instrument is held horizontally
with the tongue in front of the
opened mouth while the left end is
either strummed/plucked by the
hand.

Saggeypo
- A bamboo pipe that is closed on
one end by a node with the open
end. It is held against the lower
lip of the player as it is blown
directly across the top.

Diwdiw-as
- Five or more different sizes of slender
bamboos that are tied together.

Tongatong
- A set of five to six bamboo tubes with one hole on top and
comes in graduated sizes.

Bungkaka
- Bamboo buzzer, played by striking
against the palm of one hand.

Patatag/Pateteg
- Bamboo xylophone, bamboo of
different sizes for varied timbre that is
split in half and is struck by a wooden
stick while rested on the lap.

Tongali
- A nose flute played with the extreme
forward edge of the right or left nostril.

Solibao
- Is a hallow wooden Igorot drug topped
with pig skin or lizard skin this is
played by striking the drum head
using the palm of the hand.

Kullitong
- is a bamboo polychordal tube
zither from Bontok, Kalinga,
Philippines with six strings that
run parallel to its tube body. The strings are numbered from
one to six, from lowest to highest pitch.
Patangguk
- Instrument built in Bamboo with
two holes in the lower part of the
barrel. When the thumb and index
finger of the right hand closes the
hole, the sound produced is
serious, when the holes remain
open it is more acute.

Paldong
 - is a traditional lip-valley flute of the Kalinga tribes in the
Philippines.

References:
http://car.da.gov.ph/regional-profile/
http://musikocordillera.weebly.com/musical-instruments.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=IWgwgIxpDH4&list=WL&index=21&t=596s