MINDANAO – is one of the largest islands in the Philippines.

It is surrounded by the four seas:

Sulu Sea to the west
Philippine Sea to the East
Celebes sea to the South
Mindanao Sea to the North
MINDANAO’s ethnic music is based on two musical and cultural traditions namely:
Islamic
Non- Islamic Culture
ISLAMIC CULTURE – are observed among Maguindanaon, Maranao, Yakan, Samal, Tausug.
NON-ISLAMIC – are practiced by the Manobo, Bagobo, Subanon, Bilaan, Tiruray, T’boli, and other ethnic
groups of Lumad.
WHAT IS MINADAO MUSIC IN RELATION TO INDIGENOUS MUSIC?
 Music is an important part of the lives of Mindanao’s ethnic groups. It became part of their daily
routines such as birth, work, entertainment, courtship, wedding, death, and indigenous activities.
 Sacred rituals and practices are accompanied by music both Muslims, and non- Muslims.
SUA-SUA is a popular song and dance performance in Jolo. It is done during courtship, weddings, and
other important occasions. Muslim groups play music using drums as they dance to celebrate weddings.
TUB-OD practice of the Lumad of Agusan to celebrate their rice harvest occasion by means of singing.
ISLAMIC MUSIC
The vocal music is considered the oldest form of music since it only needs the human voice. It does need
any musical accompaniment. The Vocal music of Mindanao is known to be highly artistic and technically
excellent.
The vocal music of Mindanao has 2 types:
1. Music for religious activities such as the lughu, performed by the Tausugs during Ramadan.
2. Music for entertainment such as love songs, lullabies, legends, chants, and courtship.

EXAMPLES OF CHANTS:

1. DARANGEN – a dance song that is also chanted as people walk before the altar.
2. MIMINSAD – an epic song, which includes w wealth of knowledge about the Maranao people
living in the Lake Lanao region of Mindanao.

3. ULAGING- the most important type of vocal music. It recalls the adventure of the main hero Agyu
and his siblings.

WHAT ARE THE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC OF MUSLIM MINDANAO?

 KULINTANG – A modern term for an instrumental form of music on a row of small, horizontally-laid
gong kettles or knobbed gongs that are played melodically, accompanied by larger suspended gongs and
drums.
 Kulintang is an ensemble composed of a set of eight graduated size-gongs arranged in a row. It is also
considered as women’s instrument.

GANDINGAN – A set of four

large hanging gongs which is
played as part of the kulintang
ensemble of Maguindao.

AGUNG – is one or two

suspended gong/s.

DABAKAN – is a single-headed
Philippine drum that looks like a
goblet used by the Maranaos.

GANDINGAN – A set of four

large hanging gongs which is
played as part of the kulintang
ensemble of Maguindao.

BAMBOO MUSICAL INSTRUMENT OD MINDANAO

KUBING – 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 a lip-valley
flute and one of the most
common aerophones of the
Maguindanaons.

KAGUL – is a Maguindanaon
bamboo scraper gong or slit
drum with a jagged edge on one
side.

NON- ISLAMIC MUSIC

LUMAD is a Visayan word for “native” or “indigenous.” It refers to the non-Christian and non-Muslim
ethnic groups of Mindanao.

The following are the Lumad tribes in Mindanao with their sample social functions:
1. SUBANON – is the biggest group of Lumads in Zamboanga Del Norte and Zomboanga Del Sur.
Their vocal music is characterized by the following:
Chants
Different types of songs like:
Odonli – love song ogiloy- funeral buwa- lullaby

2. The Manobos are from Sarangani islands. They are the largest ethnc group in the Philippines that
belong to this family of languages. They came from the provinces of Bukidnon, Agusan del sur, and
Cotabato. Their vocal music includes ritual song, narrative songs, lullabies, and songs of nature.
3. The Mansaka are tribes from the provinces of Davao del Norte and the Compostela Valley. Their
musical forms include the saliada that is similar to ballad bayok depicting love and nature.
4. The T’boli are the tribes of South Cotabato. They perform different songs in different occasions and
sentiments, like weddings and fishing, and when they are joyful or sad. They reflect their closeness
to nature through imitation of natural sounds.