MUSIC OF THE

LOWLANDS
OF LUZON

Jayson Talanay Villena

 I. Vocal Music

Folk Song

Categories Liturgy and Devotional Music

Secular Music

II. Intrumental Music

FOLKSONGS
OF THE
LUZON
(Lowlands)
FOLK SONGS
These are songs written by
the folk and are sung to accompany
daily activities such as farming,
fishing, and putting the baby to
sleep. These are traditionally passed
on orally. Most Philippine folk
songs have Spanish and other
Western influences.
FOLK SONGS
The people created melodic
chants and indigenous instruments
based on the materials available where
they lived.
FOLK SONGS
The folk songs of Luzon
lowlands are performed in his/her
native language such as Ilocano,
Pangasinense, Kapampangan,
Tagalog, Bicolano and others.
Characteristics of Folk
Songs
 Originally passed down orally to the
family, and to the other members of the
community.
 Learned through rote.
 Sung in his/her own dialect.
 Begins in one key and ends in the same
key.
Characteristics of
Folk Songs
 Composers and lyricists are usually
unknown.
 Mood can be sentimental, playful, and
humorous.
 Concepts are based on nature or
people’s work, tradition, culture.
 Short and simple.
 Either in duple meter 2/4, triple meter
¾, or quadruple 4/4.
Some examples of Philippine Folk Songs
from the lowlands of Luzon
ILOCANO

o Pamulinawen o Bannatiran
o Narianiag a Bulan o Ti Ayat ti Maysa nga Ubing
o Manang Biday o Igid Diay Baybay
o Dungdungwen Kanto o Diro ni Ayat
Some examples of Philippine Folk Songs
from the lowlands of Luzon
KAPAMPANGAN

o Atin Cu Pung Singsing o Tinanam Kung Kamantigui

o Doredo o Minsan a Cayaldawan
o Caca, O Caca o Patag a Bundoc
o Ing Bulung Lara Y Rizal o Y Mariang Malagu
Some examples of Philippine Folk Songs
from the lowlands of Luzon
TAGALOG BICOLANO

o Magtanim ay Di’ Biro o Sarung Banggi

o Bahay Kubo
o Leron Leron Sinta
o Sitsiritsit
o Paru-Parung Bukid
LITURGY AND
DEVOTIONAL
MUSIC
 a fixed set of ceremonies,
words, etc., that are used
during public worship in a
religion
LITURGY
Technically speaking, liturgy
is a subset of ritual.
DEVOTIONAL MUSIC
It is a hymn which accompanies religious observances and
rituals.
 Religious music of the lowlands
of Luzon reveals the impact of Spanish
colonization to the Philippines which
lasted for almost three centuries. With
the introduction of Christianity came
the different Western forms of music
that are used for religious rites.
 Some of these were
adapted by Filipino musicians
to suit Philippine culture and
traditions. At the same time,
some indigenous Philippine
musical forms were
incorporated to Christian
practices (i.e., Obando Fertility
rites and Pasyon chant).
 It is a Philippine narrative of the Passion, Death,
and Resurrection of Jesus Christ in a form of
PASYON song with a dramatic theme. It is a book of
stanzas of five lines of eight syllables. The whole
text is chanted and known as “Pabasa” and is
recited during Holy Week (Semana Santa).
SALUBONG
•It is a religious ritual that re-enacts
the meeting of the Risen Christ with
his mother on the dawn of Easter
Sunday. It is performed under a
prepared arch where the veiled
image of the Virgin Mary has been
placed.
SALUBONG
A child dressed as an angel is
lowered by ropes from a high platform
to lift the mourning veil of the grieving
Mother while other children dressed in
angel costumes sing the “Regina Coeli
Laetare” meaning “Queen of
Heaven.” The church bells are rung to
signify the end of Virgin Mary’s
mourning for Jesus Christ’s
resurrection from the dead.
FLORES DE MAYO
Flores de Mayo or “Flowers of
May” is a Catholic festival held on the
month of May. It is one of devotions to
the Blessed Virgin Mary or “Alay”
(offering). The celebration is held
inside the church wherein children
bring flowers to offer to the image of
the Virgin Mary at the altar while they
sing the “Alay ng Bulaklak kay
Maria)
SANTA CRUZAN
It is a religious-historical event
that dramatizes the finding of the Holy
Cross of by the Queen Helena, and her
son, Constantine the Great. It is held
throughout the Philippines during the
month of May. As the sagalas and escorts
parade the streets of the community, the
musiko (brass band) accompanies the
procession with the music “Dios Te Salve
Maria.”
LET’S
REVIEW!!!
 1. What are the
categories of the
music of the
Lowlands of Luzon?
1. What are
the
Vocal Music
categories
of the
music of
the Instrumental Music
Lowlands
of Luzon?
2. What are the
vocal music of
the lowlands of
Luzon?
2. What are Folk Song
the vocal
music of Liturgy and Devotional Music
the
lowlands Secular Music
of Luzon?
 3. What is
folk song?
 • These are songs written by the
folk and are sung to accompany
3. What is daily activities such as farming,
folk song? fishing, and putting the baby to
sleep
4. What is liturgy or devotional
music?
4. What is liturgy
or devotional
music?
A hymn. A religious music that are used
for religious rites.
5. What are
Pasyon
the different
Christian Salubong
Practices
that
devotional Flores de Mayo
music is
being used?
Santa Cruzan
FORMATIVE
QUIZ!
IDENTIFICATION!
Instruction. Identify the term being described. Choose your answer on
the items inside the box below.

a. Liturgy and Devotional Music d. Folk Song

b. Pasyon e. Flores de Mayo
c. Salubong f. Santa Cruzan
___ 1. These are songs written by the folk and are sung to accompany
daily activities such as farming, fishing, and putting the baby to sleep.
IDENTIFICATION!
Instruction. Identify the term being described. Choose your answer on
the items inside the box below.

a. Liturgy and Devotional Music d. Folk Song

b. Pasyon e. Flores de Mayo
c. Salubong f. Santa Cruzan
___ 2. This is a celebration held inside the church wherein children
bring flowers to offer to the image of the Virgin Mary at the altar while
they sing the “Alay ng Bulaklak kay Maria”.
IDENTIFICATION!
Instruction. Identify the term being described. Choose your answer on
the items inside the box below.

a. Liturgy and Devotional Music d. Folk Song

b. Pasyon e. Flores de Mayo
c. Salubong f. Santa Cruzan
___ 3. It refers to a vocal forms of music that is religious in nature.
These are religious songs that are used for religious rites.
IDENTIFICATION!
Instruction. Identify the term being described. Choose your answer on
the items inside the box below.

a. Liturgy and Devotional Music d. Folk Song

b. Pasyon e. Flores de Mayo
c. Salubong f. Santa Cruzan
___ 4. It is a religious ritual that re-enacts the meeting of the Risen
Christ with his mother on the dawn of Easter Sunday. Children are
dressed in angel costumes and will sing the “Regina Coeli Laetare”
meaning “Queen of Heaven.”
IDENTIFICATION!
Instruction. Identify the term being described. Choose your answer on
the items inside the box below.

a. Liturgy and Devotional Music d. Folk Song

b. Pasyon e. Flores de Mayo
c. Salubong f. Santa Cruzan
___ 5. It refers to a Philippine narrative of the Passion, Death, and
Resurrection of Jesus Christ in a form of song with a dramatic theme.
KEY TO CORRECTION!
1. d. Folk Song
2. e. Flores de Mayo
3. a. Liturgy and Devotional Music
4. c. Salubong
5. b. Pasyon
ADDITIONAL
ACTIVITY!
Make an advance reading about Secular Music of
the lowlands of Luzon.
THANK YOU!
SESSION 2
REVIEW!
REVIEW!
REVIEW!
 PICTURE
ANALYSIS!
 1

SEROLF ED AMOY
2

NOSAYP
GLUSABON

3
 4

NAZURCA
TANS
Secular
Music
SECULAR
MUSIC
In this lesson you will learn the
colonially-influenced secular
music in Luzon. Secular music
refers to any music that is not
religious in nature.
HARANA
It is a serenade traditionally sung by a man
to express his love to a lady. It is sung with
emotion and usually accompanied by a
guitar. Such as popular Filipino harana
songs are “Ang Tangi Kong Pag-ibig,” “O
Ilaw,” and ”Dungawin Mo Hirang.”
Harana is in duple meter or quadruple
meter in danza menor or habanera tempo.
KUMINTANG
It is originated from Balayan,
Batangas. This song is in triple
meter with themes of love and
courtship.
KUMINTANG
In 1926, when Pasig became the
venue of carnival performances,
Nicanor Abelardo was inspired to
compose the “Mutya ng Pasig” in
kumintang tempo. In this song, the
mutya expresses her feelings under
the light of the moon. She is
mourning the loss of her love,
which symbolizes the country’s loss
of freedom.
PANDANGGO
It is a dance form that can be found
in the different islands of Luzon
such as Batanes, Ilocos, Tarlac, and
parts of the Visayas. It is a variation
of the Spanish word fandango. It
became popular in the 19th century
among the elite of Manila and was
later adapted among the local
communities.
PANDANGGO
It is a form of entertainment in the
Tagalog region and called
Pandangguhan, performed during
social celebrations. Pandanggo is a
courtship dance, but it can also refer
to a type of song to entertain the
farmers in the rice field. The singers
of this folk song are called
Pandanggeros and Pandanggeras.
POLKA
It is originated from Bohemian
dance that became popular in
Europe and America in the early
19th Century. In the Philippines, it
was performed in elegant evening
gatherings at the height of its
popularity during the Spanish
colonial period.
POLKA

The tempo is in quick duple meter

while the melody is supported by the
chords/harmonies of tonic (I),
dominant (V), and sub-dominant
(IV). There are some Philippine
folksongs that are in polka rhythm
like Pamulinawen (“Stone-hearted”),
Magtanim ay ‘Di Biro (“Planting
Rice is Never Fun”) and Leron-
Leron Sinta (“Leron the Beloved”).
BALITAW
It is a dialogue or courtship songs in
triple meter, mostly in 2 and 3 part
forms and arranged with counter
melodies. Some of the examples are
“Sa Libis ng Nayon,” “Bakya Mo
Neneng,” composed by Santiago
Suarez and “Arimunding-munding,”
composed by Severino Reyes.
KUNDIMAN (Art
Song)
It came from the words “kung hindi
man.” Through its melody, lyrics,
and expressive singing, the
kundiman conveys a selfless and
spiritual attitude, intense love,
longing, caring, devotion, and
oneness not only with a romantic
partner, but also with a parent,
child, a spiritual figure, or the
motherland.
KUNDIMAN COMPOSERS
FRANCISCO SANTIAGO NICANOR ABELARDO
KUNDIMAN COMPOSERS
BONIFACIO ABDON JOVITA FUENTES
KUNDIMAN COMPOSERS
FRANCISCO BUENCAMINO ANGEL PEÑA
KUNDIMAN PERFORMERS
ATANG DELA RAMA JOVITA FUENTES
KUNDIMAN PERFORMERS
CONCHING ROSAL RUBEN TAGALOG
KUNDIMAN (Art
Song)
In musical context, kundiman usually starts in a minor
key then goes to the major key and in triple meter. Some
examples of the kundiman are:

• “Pilipinas Kong Mahal” by Francisco Santiago

• “Nasaan Ka Irog” and “Huling Awit” by Nicanor
Abelardo
• “Jecolynang Baliwag” by an unknown composer
inspired the revolutionaries in Bulacan during 1896
revolution.
• “Sa Sariling Bayan” by V. Tolentino
• “Iyo Kailan pa Man” by Angel Peña
LET’S TRY!
1.

It is originated from Balayan, Batangas. This song is in triple

meter with themes of love and courtship.

a. Harana c. Pandanggo

b. Kumintang d. Kundiman
CORRECT
ANSWER!

B
2.

It came from the words “kung hindi man.” Through its melody, lyrics, and expressive singing, it conveys a
selfless and spiritual attitude, intense love, longing, caring, devotion, and oneness not only with a romantic
partner, but also with a parent, child, a spiritual figure, or the motherland.

a. Harana c. Pandanggo

b. Kumintang d. Kundiman
CORRECT
ANSWER!

D
3.

It is a dance form that can be found in the different islands of Luzon

such as Batanes, Ilocos, Tarlac, and parts of the Visayas.

a. Harana c. Pandanggo

b. Kumintang d. Kundiman
CORRECT
ANSWER!

C
4.

It is a serenade traditionally sung by a man to express his love to a

lady.

a. Balitaw c. Harana

b. Polka d. Kundiman
CORRECT
ANSWER!

C
5.

It is originated from Bohemian dance that became popular in Europe and America in the early
19th Century. In the Philippines, it was performed in elegant evening gatherings at the height of
its popularity during the Spanish colonial period.

a. Balitaw c. Harana

b. Polka d. Kundiman
CORRECT
ANSWER!

B
THANK YOU!