WHAT IS MUSIC?

DEFIN I TI O N O F M US I C
t o f o r d e unds in
rin g to n es o r so
• the science or ar
b in a ti o n, a n d in te m p oral
succession, in com it io n h a v in g
u c e a c om p o s
relationships to prod
unity and continuity

en tal, o r m e c h an ical s o unds

• vocal, instrum
y th m, m elo d y, o r h a rm ony
having rh
- Merriam Webster
 HISTORY OF MUSIC IN THE
PHILIPPINES

Geographically, the Philippines belongs to

the East, its music has been heavily
influenced by the West owing to 333 years
of Spanish rule and 45 years of American
domination. Music in the highland and
lowland hamlets where indigenous culture
continues to thrive has strong Asian
elements.
 HISTORY OF MUSIC IN THE
PHILIPPINES
Spanish and American influences are highly
evident in the music of the urban areas. In
discussing Philippine music, three main divisions
are apparent:

(1) an old Asian influenced music referred to as

the indigenous;
(2) a religious and secular music influenced by
Spanish and European forms; and
(3) an American/European inspired classical, semi-
classical, and popular music.
 The Indigenous Traditions

The indigenous traditions are practiced

by about 10% of the population. Eight
percent of this minority comprises some
50 language groups of people who live in
the mountains of northern Luzon and
the islands of Mindanao, Sulu, Palawan,
and Mindoro in southern and western
Philippines. The remaining 2% of these
groups are the Muslims from Mindanao
and Sulu.
 The Indigenous Traditions
While there is no written information
about the music in the Philippines before
the arrival of Magellan in 1521,
subsequent reports made by friars, civil
servants and travelers include
descriptions of instrumental and vocal
music–sometimes mentioned in passing,
other times in greater detail. From these
documents, various kinds of interments
made of bronze, bamboo, or wood are
cited.
 The Indigenous Traditions

Vocal genres include epics relating:

• genealogies and exploits of heroes and gods;

• work songs related to planting, harvesting,
fishing;
• ritual songs to drive away evil spirits or to invoke
blessings from the good spirits;
• songs to celebrate festive occasions particularly
marriage, birth, victory at war, or the settling of
tribal disputes;
• mourning songs for the dead; courting songs;
• and children’s game songs.
With the coming of the Spaniards the Filipino’s music
underwent a transformation with the influx of western
influences, particularly the Spanish-European culture
prevalent during the 17th to the 19th centuries. The The spanish-
Hispanization during the succeeding three centuries
after 1521 was tied up with religious conversion. It
european
effected a change in the people’s musical thinking and
what emerged was a hybrid expression tinged with
influenced
Hispanic flavor. It produced a religious music traditions
connected to and outside the Catholic liturgy and a
European-inspired secular music adapted by the
Filipinos and reflected in their folk songs and
instrumental music.
 The American regime lasted from 1898 to 1946
during which time Philippine music underwent
another process of transformation.
The American In the newly established public school
Influenced system, music was included in the curriculum at
the elementary and later at the high school
Traditions levels. Music conservatories and colleges were
established at the tertiary level. Graduates from
these institutions included the first generation of
Filipino composers whose works were written in
western idioms and forms. Their works and
those of the succeeding generations of Filipino
composers represent the classical art music
tradition which continues to flourish today.
 The American Influenced
Traditions
Side by side with this classical art music
tradition was a lighter type of music.
This semi-classical repertoire includes
stylized folk songs, theater music, and
instrumental music. The sarswela
tradition produced a large body of music
consisting of songs patterned after opera
arias of the day as well as short
instrumental overtures and interludes.
 The American Influenced
Traditions
The strong band tradition in the Philippines,
which began during the previous Spanish period
and which continues to this day, produced
outstanding musicians, composers and
performers. Another popular instrumental
ensemble was the rondalla which superceded an
earlier type of ensemble called the cumparsa.
The latter was an adaptation of similar
instrumental groups, the murza of Mexico and
the estudiantina of Spain.
 The American Influenced
Traditions
American lifestyle and pop culture
gave rise to music created by
Filipinos using western pop forms.
Referred to as Pinoy pop it includes a
wide range of forms: folk songs,
dance tunes, ballads, Broadway type
songs, rock’ n’ roll, disco, jazz, and
rap.
 st re a m s o f P h i li p p in e
These three main n c e d
o u s , S p a n is h in f lu e
music– indigen
s a n d s e c u la r m u s ic ,
religiou ,
a n i n flu e n c e d c la s sic a l
American/Europe o m p r is e
p u l a r m u s ic c
semi-classical, and po e m u s i c .
a y a s P h il i p p in
what we refer to tod
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