Philippine Music

Presented by Group 7
Three Main Streams of
Philippine Music
1. Indigenous
2. Spanish – influenced region and secular music
3. American/European influenced classical, semi-classical, and popular
music
 Indigenous
• About 10% of the population follows indigenous traditions
• 8% of this minority is made up of people from different language groups
who live in the mountains of northern Luzon and on the islands of
Mindanao, Sulu, Palawan, and Mindoro in the southern and western
Philippines
• The remaining 2% are Muslims from Mindanao and Sulu
 Indigenous
• No written record of music in the Philippines prior to Magellan’s arrival in
1521, subsequent reports by friars, civil servants, and travelers include
descriptions of instrumental and vocal music—sometimes in passing,
sometimes in greater detail
• Various types of instruments made of bronze, bamboo, or wood are
mentioned in these documents. Gongs of various sizes and shapes, drums,
flutes of various types, zithers, lutes, clappers, and buzzers are among
them
 Indigenous
• Epics relating genealogies and exploits of heroes and gods; work songs
related to planting, harvesting, and fishing; ritual songs to drive away evil
spirits or to invoke blessings from the good spirits; songs to celebrate
festive occasions such as marriage, birth, victory at war, or the settling of
tribal disputes; mourning songs for the dead; courting songs; and
children's game songs are examples of vocal genres
• This type of music is still practiced by indigenous groups today
 Indigenous
• Examples: talindaw (a boat song), the awit (a song in slow triple time), the
tagulaylay (a mournful song), the sambotani (a song sung at a feast), the
kumintang (a war song that later became a love song)
 Spanish – influenced religion music and
secular music
• 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 Hispanization during the succeeding three centuries after 1521 was
tied up with religious conversion
• It effected a change in the people’s musical thinking and what emerged
was a hybrid expression tinged with Hispanic flavor
 Spanish – influenced religion music and
secular music
• It produced religious music 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
• Examples:
• Harana (Spanish – ‘Jarana’) – Serenade
• Kundiman (Kung hindi man) – An art song about the love of man for a woman but
can also be about patriotic sentiments
• Pandanggo – originating from fandango of Spain
 American/European influenced classical,
semi-classical, and popular music
• The American regime lasted from 1898 to 1946 during which time
Philippine music underwent another process of transformation
• In the newly established public school system, music was included in the
curriculum at the elementary and later at the high school 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
 American/European influenced classical,
semi-classical, and popular music
• Their works and those of the succeeding generations of Filipino
composers represent the classical art music tradition which continues to
flourish today
• 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.
 American/European influenced classical,
semi-classical, and popular 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 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
 American/European influenced classical,
semi-classical, and popular music
• Another popular instrumental ensemble was the rondalla which
superseded 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
• 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
 Forms of Music
• Ethnic
- percussions are mainly used
- sometimes gongs are also used
• Pentatonic Scale
- Five-note scale
- Not commonly used
• Diatonic Scale
- Seven-note scale
- Much preferred over pentatonic
• Hispanic
- Banda
• Form that kept Spanish characteristics
• Much like the Spanish and Mexican-style bands
• Used as a competitive “tool” between different municipals
• Hispanic
- Rondalla
• Ensemble of plectrum instruments
• Uses overtures and arias from operas compatible with the Philippine
Music
• Shifts between major and minor chords
• Recreation or courtship usage
• Hispanic
- Sarswela
• Filipino version of the Spanish Zarzuela
• Used as theatre music or entertainment
• A form of operetta
• Filipino
- Kundiman
• Delivered with romantic lyrics and mellow melodies
• Considered as one of the most romantic Filipino love songs
• Accompanied usually by a guitar or violin
• Used for serenading
• Filipino
- Awit and Corrido
• Similar to ancient epic tale telling
• An array of songs and dances performed by local talents
• Translated and spread to different regions of the Philippines
• Modern
- Original Philippine Music (OPM)
• Songs created in the Philippines or created by Filipinos or those with
Filipino origin
• Mostly comprised of Tagalog, English or Taglish ballads
• Songs of other languages also exist and are considered as OPM because of
the composer/creator
• Modern
- Pinoy Rock (Filipino Rock Music)
• Usually in Taglish which catches the attention of most listeners due to the
use of the language for casual conversations in the Philippines
• Modern
- Choral Music
• Performance of a group through choral singing
• Made famous by the world-renown Philippine Madrigal Singers
• The Philippines is one of the most prestigious multi-awarded countries in
Asia in terms of choral singing
• Modern
- Neo- Traditional
• Modern Filipino music fused with ethnic music
• Examples are music from Joey Ayala and Pinikpikan
Renowned People
 Levi Celerio
• April 30, 1910 – April 2, 2002
• Composer and Lyricist
• Was the youngest member of the Manila Symphony Orchestra
• Known as the “Leaf Player” in the Guinness Book of World Record
• Named as National Artist of the Philippines for music
• Gained a lifetime achievement award for the film for numerous songs of
his used in movies
 Nicanor Henson Abelardo
• February 7, 1893 – March 21, 1934
• Composer
• Finished his first composition “Ang Unang Buko” at the age of 8
• Became head of the conservatory of music in 1921
• Died at the age of 41, leaving more than 140 works, including “Nasaan Ka
Irog?” , “Magbalik Ka, Hirang” and “Himutok”
• Also composed “UP Naming Mahal”
 Ryan Cayabyab
• Born on May 4, 1954, to a poor family
• Because of his mom’s dying wish, he didn’t pursue music in his college
• Had to shift his course to music to earn a scholarship offered by senator Salvador Laurel
• Taught in the Department of Composition and Music Theory at the UP Diliman for almost 20 years
• Currently the Executive and Artistic Director of the San Miguel Foundation for the Performing
Arts
• Has won numerous awards and acknowledgments like CCP Centennial Honors for the Arts,
Lifetime Achievement Award (for promoting and developing Filipino music), professional Award,
and etc.
 Francis Magalona
• Born October 4, 1964
• Rapper, songwriter, actor, director, and producer
• One of the people who popularized Pinoy Rock
• Received the Pioneer Hall of Fame Award in 2005 at the 1st Annual Hip-
Hop Music Awards
• Has his own record and production company, Red Egg Records and
Filipino Pictures, Inc.
 Nilo Alcala II
• Born February 23, 1978
• Composer and chorister
• Serye Humoresa 1: chuk d’ cheeky chat won 2nd place in the Asian Composer
League (ACL)
• He has also had other notable awards and nominations for his brilliance in Music
• Former member of the Philippine Madrigal Singers where some of his compositions
were used in their competitions
• Graduated magna cum laude in the UP Diliman Conservatory of Music
QUESTIONS
 Question #1

Another term for a serenade?

Answer:

HARANA
 Question #2

it is an art song about the love of a man for a

woman but can also be about patriotic
sentiments
Answer
KUNDIMAN
 Question #3

The __ 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
Answer

Sarswela
 Question #4

An array of songs and dances performed by

local talents
 Answer

Awit and Corrido

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