MUSIC DURING

PRE-COLONIAL
PERIOD

IN THE
PHILIPPINES
EARLY PHILIPPINE
MUSIC
›Ethnic music - the ›Filipinomusic-is quite
traditional and typically diverse as the indigenous
anonymous music that is an people in the Philippines
expression of the life of spread across hundreds of
people in a community. islands.
● Philippine indigenous music before the colonial era was largely
functional.

● Expressed either instrumentally or vocally or a combination of

both, music was deeply integrated with the activities of the natives.

● The ancient Filipinos had music practically for allocations, for every
phase of life, from birth to death.
 ● Three regions: Northern Luzon, the Central Philippine islands of Mindoro and Palawan and
the southern islands of Mindanao and Sulu.
In Mindanao and Sulu, two musical and cultural traditions may be noted –

1. the Islamic, consisting of such groups as the Maguindanao, Maranao, Yakan, Tausog and
Samal

2. the pre-Islamic which is composed of the Bagobo, Manobo, Bukidnon, Tagakaolo, Bilaan,
Mansaka, Subanon and Mandaya,among others.

● › usical styles vary among regions, as each of the more than a hundred ethnic groups
M
scattered in the islands of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao produces its own lyrics and music.
MUSIC STYLE
● O
› ften the music is Polyphonic & uses highly interlocking repeated
patterns.

● Polyphonic - having two or more voices or parts, each with an

independent melody, but all harmonizing.

● Interlocking repeated patterns- Music played by Filipinoes through

short melody/rhythm pattern simultaneously to create a complete musical
phrase.
 ● E
› thnic music in the Philippines often serves as a musical accompaniment
for various traditions such as religious ceremonies and rituals.

● It functioned as a form of entertainment during occasions such as

weddings, festivals, inaugurations, as well as funerals.
›
›
›
›
 ● N
› ature has played a great role in shaping up the music
technology and aesthetics of the various ethnic musical
traditions.
● ›Ethnic musical instruments are primarily objects of
nature as they consist mainly of bamboo, wood, shell,
animal skin and metal; just as many of the melodies and
rhythms of tribal chants imitate some aspects of natures
sounds and movements.
›
 TRADITIONAL
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

› String,
wind, and percussion, which are typically made
of bamboo, wood, or metal.
› Flutes,pipes, and panpipes are wooden or bamboo-
finished products, while gongs or gangsa are constructed
from metal.
common traditional music instruments used are
› Most
kudyapi, kulintang, gimbal, kubing, and tongali.
 ● Kubing-a jaw harp made with bamboo
-used as a way for our ancestors to communicate
through song, especially during courtship.
-played by placing the instrument between the
lips and the end is plucked to create different notes
and sound.
- Meranao & other groups in Southern Mindanao
called it Kubing
- Tagalogs(Barmbaw)
- Kapampangans ( Kulaing)
- Hanunoo Mangyans ( Kinaban)
- Ibaloi & Kalinga (Koding)
- Palawan (Aroding)
››
● Kulintang-a set of 5 to 9 pieces of gongs that
vary in size and sound used for courtship or when
trying to convey a message to one’s family and loved
ones.,
● Aligned horizontally next to each other, usually on
a rack, and are arranged in order of their pitch.
-usually played for entertainment during festivals,
weddings,and healing ceremonies.
Tongali- Noseflute
● A three- or four-holed, is a traditional
instrument used particularly in the
mountains of northernLuzon
● Played to mimic a mournful human
voice.
● Tongali often played during celebrations,
special meals, festivals, the planting season,
and In courtship.
Gambal-War Drums
● used to boost their warrior’s esteem
and get them ready for battle.
● They’re accompanied by other instruments
, especially gongs. Drums are played by
hand or by striking a wooden stick on the drumhead
.
›

›Buktot-a small, four-stringed guitar-like

instrument that’s made from a coconut husk.
-used for personal entertainment.
Luntang- It’s often used for
self-entertainment, keeping farmers
awake while scaring birds off the
fields.
-It was also used as a form of long distance
communication. The Yakan use it in
ceremonies, especially in courtship rituals.
.›Kulintang A Tiniok- metallophone that
contains
eight tuned knobbed metal plates that
are placed on top of a wooden rack.
›Babandil- This single, narrowed rimmed
gong is often used as the “timekeeper”
in the Kulintang ensemble.
- It has a diameter of about a foot, which
makes it bigger than the Kulintang gongs.
› owever, it has a sunken boos which means that it
H
has to be struck on the rim or flange to make a sharp,
distinctive metallic clang. Sticks that are made from
bamboo or rattan is used. This instrument is often
considered as a “false gong” and are traditionally
made with bronze.
KULINTANG MUSIC
● The gong ensemble was used for
entertainment and for community
interaction, since all members of the
community could participate in the playing.

● In times past, the gongs were also used

to send out danger warnings. When the
Philippines were under military authority,
the gongs were used to tell people to hide
when soldiers came to a village, as well as
helping to "protect" them from bullets.
KULINTANG MUSIC IN WEDDING
Tboli music: Utom Udei Kuleng Helef
● A traditional Tboli song called Utom
Udei Kuleng Helef, which translates to
"call of the cicada". It is played with
the Hegelung, a native 2 stringed lute
from Mindanao.
● T'boli culture is richly connected with and
inspired by nature, their dances are a mimick
from the action of animals such as monkeys and
birds. The T'boli have a rich musical culture with
a variety of musical instruments, but the T'boli
music and songs are not meant for entertainment
only.
Kudyapi
● The Philippine Kudyapi is a two-
stringed, fretted boat-lute that
resembles that of a long-necked
guitar popular amongst the
Maguindanaoan, Maranao,
Maranao music

The Maranao Traditional dance like its

music is inspired from the Maranao eic
Tale “Darangen”. It is important to most
ceremonies and celebration in Maranao
festivities, it gratifies the expression of how
nature and historic events has evolved the
Maranao custom. This art of dancing is
unconventiona
Cordillera music
Colonization may have greatly
changed the Filipino's identity, but
a group still strives to preserve
what's left of the unique music
from the Cordillera region,
Philippines.
TRIBAL MUSIC
 LET’S PRESERVE
OUR NATIVE MUSIC
BEFORE ITS GONE..

THANK YOU
talindaw