Princeton Science School Music 7

LESSON 1
Music of Mindanao
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this lesson, learners are expected to:
1. identify the musical characteristics of representative music selection from Mindanao;
2. analyze the musical elements of vocal and instrumental music selections; and
3. sing selections of some Mindanao music with appropriate elements applied.

Mindanao

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), and Mindanao Sea (North). Mindanao
also consists of people with different languages, tribes, and races. It also consists of the Moro and the
Lumad or the indigenous groups who resisted the Spanish Colonization.

The Vocal Music of Mindanao is regarded as one with the highest artistic and technical
excellence among the indigenous groups in the Philippines. Chanting is making melodic sounds with
the voice only. There are epics in Mindanao transferred from one generation to the next through their
oral tradition with the use of chanting. The indigenous Philippine folklore is characterized by sacred
rituals and practices and is made more eager and animated by the music that accompanies them.

Types of Vocal Music in Mindanao

1. Miminsad is a dance song and is also chanted as people walk before the altar. The wedding feast is
another celebration where music plays an important role. Most of the Muslim groups play music using
small and large kettledrums as their accompaniment to dancing.

2. Darangen is an epic song which includes wealth knowledge about the Maranao people living in the
Lake Lanao region of Mindanao. It is infrequently performed because of the present lifestyle of the
people of Mindanao.

3. Ulaging is the most important type of vocal music. It recalls the adventure of the main hero Agyu and
his brother and sisters. This is sung at nighttime for at least some hours, in some cases up to several
nights.

Indigenous Musical Instruments of Mindanao

A. Kulintang Ensemble
Kulintang is a counterpart of the Malaysian-Indonesian gamelan. It is composed of a row of
small horizontally laid brass gongs that function melodically, accompanied by larger, suspended gongs
and drum. Kulintang is also considered a woman's instrument. It is said that playing the kulintang is

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associated with graceful, slow, frail, and relaxed movements that show elegance and decorum that are
common among females.

• Gandigan is a set of four large hanging gongs which is played as part of the kulintang ensemble
of Maguindanao.
• Agung is one or two suspended gongs.
• Dabakan is a drum that looks like a goblet used by Maranaos.
• Bebendil is a single, narrow-rimmed Philippine gong used as the timekeeper of the Maguindanao
kulintang ensemble.

B. Bamboo Ensemble
• Kubing/Kobeng is held horizontally with the bamboo tongue in front of the opened mouth. It can
be played in solo or in an ensemble.
• Suling also called the ring flute. It is the smallest bamboo flute of Maguindanao.
• Palendag is the lip-valley flute and one of the most common aerophones of the Maguindanao.
• Kagul is a Maguindanao bamboo scraper gong or slit drum with a jagged edge on one side.
• Kutyapi of Mindanao is elaborately designed instrument that has two strings with movable frets.
• Kulintang of Kayo is a wooden kulintang that has eight slabs and uses antangan as the rack,
and betay as beater.
• Gadding is a drum from Mindanao.
• Tungallan is a set of large gongs.
• Duwahan is a set of two paired gongs.
• Gimbal is a native drum of tree with dear skin.
• Nakuyag is an instrument resembling a Spanish tambourine
• Bonabon is an instrument resembling a flute.

Non-Islamic Music of Mindanao

Lumad is a Visayan word for "native" or "indigenous". It refers to the Non-Christian and Non-
Muslim ethnic groups of Mindanao. The music of Lumad includes a wide repertoire of sounds performed
for various occasions. They also make use of a general array of musical instruments that includes
Agung.

Tribes of Lumad in Mindanao and their Social Functions

1. Subanon is the biggest group of Lumad in Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur. Their
vocal music is characterized by the following:

Chants

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Different type of songs like:

• Donli for love song
• Buwa for lullaby
• Giloy for funeral

Subanon musical instruments include the agung, kulintang, and durugan.

2. Manobos are from Sarangani Island, Davao Region, Agusan Province, and Bukidnon. Their vocal
music includes the following:
• Ritual songs
• Narrative songs
• Lullabies
• Songs of nature

Most of the singers use their armpits to produce rhythmic sound while they are singing.

3. T'boli is the name of one of the tribes of South Cotabato. They perform different songs from different
occasions and sentiments, like weddings and fishing, and when they are joyful or sad. They reflect their
closeness to nature through the imitation of natural sounds.

4. Mansaka is the name of one of the tribes from the provinces of Davao del Norte and Compostela
Valley. Their musical forms include the saliada that is like ballad and bayok on or songs of love and
adventure.

Ayaw Kaw Magtangis is an example of Mindanao Folksong. It is a song about a man who is
requesting the woman to stop crying because it also breaks his heart.

Reference/s:
Lacia, F., et. al. (2015). The 21st Century MAPEH in Action 7. Rex Book Store, Inc. (RBSI).
Sampaloc, Manila. pp. 41-47.

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