1. FOLKSONGS OF THE LUZON (Lowlands)
ď Folk songs are songs written by the folk and are sung to accompany daily activities such as
farming, fishing, and putting the baby to sleep
ď Traditionally passed on orally.
ď Most Philippine folk songs have Spanish and other Western influences.
The people created melodic chants and indigenous instrument based on the materials available
where they lived.
The folk songs of Luzon lowlands are performed in their native language such as Ilocano,
Pangasinense, Kampampangan, Tagalog, Bicolano, and others.
Characteristics of folk songs are as follows:
ď§ Originally passed down orally to the family, and to other members of the community
ď§ Learned through rote
ď§ Sung in their own dialect
ď§ Begins in one key and ends in the same key
ď§ Composers and lyricists are usually unknown
ď§ Mood can be sentimental, playful, and humorous
ď§ Concepts are based on nature or peopleâs work, tradition, culture
ď§ Short and simple
ď§ Either in duple meter 2, triple meter 3, or quadruple meter 4
4 4 4
Some examples of Philippine folk songs from the lowlands of Luzon are:
ILOCANO
⢠Pamulinawen
⢠Naraniag a Bulan
⢠Manang Biday
⢠Dungdungwen Kanto
⢠Bannatiran
⢠Ti Ayat ti Maysa nga Ubing
⢠Igid Diay Baybay
⢠Diro ni Ayat
Kapampangan
⢠Atin Cu Pung Singsing
⢠Doredo
⢠Caca, O Caca
⢠Ing Bulung Lara Y Rizal
⢠Tinanam Kung Kamantigui
⢠Misan a Cayaldawan
⢠Patag a Bundoc
⢠Nung Acuing Cucutnan
⢠Y Mariang Malagu
TAGALOG
⢠Magtanim ay âDi Biro
⢠Bahay Kubo
⢠Leron Leron Sinta
⢠Sitsiritsit
⢠Paru-parung Bukid
BICOLANO
⢠Sarung Banggi â means âone evening,â a folk song from Sto. Domingo, Albay.
â for Bicolanos,this is notonly a songbut also a festival thatshowcasea variety of
cultural and religious activities that is held every 18th to 25th day of May and
performed at night.
â A tribute to its composer, Potenciano V. Gregorio Sr,
LITURGY AND DEVOTIONAL MUSIC
⢠Religious music of the lowlands of Luzon reveals the impact of Spanish colonization to the
Philippines
⢠Introduction of Christianity camethe different Western forms of music that areused for religious
rites
⢠Some of these were adapted by Filipino musicians to suit Philippine culture and traditions
â (i.e. Music used for Salubong, Senakulo, Santacruzan, Flores de Mayo)
⢠Some indigenous Philippine musical forms were incorporated to Christian practices
- (i.e. Obando Fertility Rites and Pasyon chant)
PASYON
ďˇ PasyĂłn is a Philippine narrative of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
ďˇ In a form of song with a dramatic theme.
ďˇ A book with stanzas of five lines of eight syllables.
ďˇ The whole text is chanted
ďˇ Also known as âPabasaâ and is recited during Holy Week (Semana Santa)
SALUBONG
ďˇ A religious ritual that re-enacts the meeting of the Risen Christ with His mother on the dawn of
Easter Sunday.
ďˇ Performed under a prepared arch where the veiled image of the Virgin Mary has been placed.
ďˇ 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 an angel costumes sing the âRigena Coeli
Laetare,â meaning âQueen of Heaven.â
ďˇ Church bells are rung to signify the end of Virgin Maryâs mourning for Jesus Christâs resurrection
from the dead.
FLORES DE MAYO
⢠Flowers of Mayâ is a Catholic festival held on the month of May.
⢠Performed as a devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary or âAlayâ (offering)
⢠Held in the church or chapel wherein children offer flowers to image of the Virgin Mary while
singing âAlayâ.
SANTA CRUZAN
⢠A religious-historical event that dramatizes of finding the Holy Cross by the Queen Helena and
her son, Constantine the Great.
⢠Held throughout the Philippines during the month of May.
⢠Sagalas and escorts parade the streets of the community; the musiko (brass band) accompanies
the procession with music âDios Te Salve Mariaâ.
2. SECULAR MUSIC
1. HARANA
ďˇ a serenade traditionally sung by a man to express affection to a woman.
ďˇ sang with emotion and usually accompanied by a guitar.
ďˇ some popular Filipinoharana songs are âAng Tangi Kong Pag-Ibig,â âO Ilaw,â âDungawin Mo Hirangâ.
ďˇ in duple or quadruple meter in danza menor or habaneratempo.
2. KUMINTANG
ďˇ originated from Balayan, Batangas
ďˇ in triple meter with themes of love and courtship
ďˇ in 1926, when Pasig became the venue of carnival performances, Nicanor Abelardo was inspired to
compose the âMutya ng Pasigâ in kumintang tempo
ďˇ the mutya expresses her feelings under the light of the moon, she is mourningthe loss of her love, which
symbolizes the countryâs loss of freedom
3. PANDANGGO
ďˇ a dance formthat canbe found inthe different islands of Luzonsuchas Batanes, Ilocos, and Tarlac, and
parts of the Visayas.
ďˇ a variation of the spanish word fandango.
ďˇ became popular in the 19th century among the elite of Manila.
ďˇ a form of entertainment in the Tagalog regioncalled Pandangguhan is performed during social celebrations.
ďˇ a courtship dance but it can also refer to a type of song to entertain the farmers in the ricefield.
ďˇ the singers of the folk song called pandanggeros and pandanggeras.
4. POLKA
ďˇ originatedfrom a Bohemiandance that became popular inEurope and America in the early 19th Century.
ďˇ it was performed in elegant evening gatherings at the heights ofits popularityduring the Spanish colonial
period.
ďˇ the tempois inquick duple meter while the melody is supported by the chords/harmonies of tonic (I),
dominant (V) and sub-dominant (IV).
ďˇ some Philippine folksongs that are in polka rhythmlike Pamulinawen(Stone-hearted), MagtanimAyâDi Biro
(Planting Rice Is Never Fun) and Leron-leron Sinta (Leron the Beloved).
5. BALITAW
ďˇ a dialogue or courtshipsong in triple meter, mostly in 2 and 3 parts forms and arranged with counter
melodies.
ďˇ Example are: âSa Libis ngNayon,â âBakya Mo Neneng,â composed bySantiago Suarez and â Arimunding-
munding,â composed by Severino Reyes.
6. KUNDIMAN (Art Song)
ďˇ came from the word âkung hindi manâ
ďˇ it melody, lyrics, and expressive singing, the kundimanconveys a selfless andspiritualattitude, intense love,
longing, caring, devotion, andonenessnot only witha romantic partner, but also with a parent, child, a
spiritual figure, or the motherland.
ďˇ in musical context, kundimanusuallystarts ina minor keythen goes to the major key and in triple meter.
ďˇ some famous Filipinokundiman composers are FranciscoSantiago, Nicanor Abelardo, Bonifacio Abdon,
Francisco Buencamino, and Angel PeĂąa.
ďˇ among the famous kundiman performers in the early 1900âs are:
⢠Atang de la Rama
⢠Jovita Fuentes
⢠Conching Rosal
⢠Ruben Tagalog
ďˇ some examples of the kundiman are:
⢠âPilipinas Kong Mahalâ by Francisco Santiago
⢠âNasaan Ka Irogâ and â Huling Awitâ by Nicanor Abelardo
⢠âJocelyn an Baliwagâ byanunknown composer inspired revolutionaries in Bulacan during the
1896 revolution
⢠âSa Sariling Bayanâ by V. Tolentino
⢠âIyo Kailan Pa Manâ by Angel PeĂąa
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
1. BRASS BAND
ďˇ brass bandis anensemble of woodwind, brass, and percussioninstruments in the Philippines.
ďˇ usually played in fiestas, religious, and civic celebrations
ďˇ repertoire may include folk songs, popular music, dance music.
ďˇ bands were so remarkable that everytown used to have two or more bands. They sometimes
participate and even compete in many town band competitions.
ďˇ most fiestas are celebrated invarious provincesof the Philippines to honor their patron saints.
ďˇ town fiestas i made more lively by band music.
ďˇ a parading brass band is called a marching band.
ďˇ provinces like Rizal andLaguna, and schools in the Philippine Military Academy are home to
prominent brass bands in the Philippines.
Brass Band Instrument
Woodwinds
Piccolo
ďˇ shorter than the flute
ďˇ the sounds it
produces is thinner thanthe
flute
Clarinet
ďˇ has a single-reed
mouthpiece
ďˇ a straight cylindrical
tube withcylindrical bore, anda flaredbell
Alto Saxophone
ďˇ commonlyusedin
classicalmusic concert bands,
chamber music, andsolorepertoire,
militarybands, marching bands and
jazz bands
Tenor Saxophone
ďˇ a medium-sized
member of the saxophone
family
ďˇ uses large
mouthpiece, reed andligature
than the alto and soprano
saxophones
ďˇ easilydistinguished
bythe bendinits neck, or its
crook near the mouthpiece
Flute
ďˇ an earophone (wind instrument) that produces its sound from the
flow of air across an opening
ďˇ sound it produces is thin in timbre
3. BRASSWINDS
TROMBONE
ďˇ sound is
produced when the
playerâs vibrating lips
(embouchure) cause the air column inside
the instrument to vibrate
ďˇ the name means â large trumpetâ
ďˇ pitch is produced by sliding the valve
TRUMPET
ďˇ has the
highest register in the
brass family
ďˇ played by blowing air through almost-
closedlips, producing a âbuzzingâ sound
that starts a standing wave vibration in
the air column inside the instrument
EUPHONIUM
ďˇ a valve
instrument
ďˇ current models
are piston-valved
ďˇ it is a non-
transposing instrument
ďˇ known for its
distinctive tone color, wide range, variety
of character and agility
SOUSAPHONE
ďˇ known as the
bass, is a type of tuba
designedto be easier than
the concert tuba to play
while standing or marching
ďˇ widelyemployed
in marching bands and
various other musical genres
ďˇ the bell is above the tubistâs head and
projecting forward
FRENCH HORN
ďˇ commonly known as the horn
ďˇ a brass instrument made of tubing wrappedintoa coilwiths flared bell
ďˇ qualityof the sound mayalsobe controlledthroughthe adjustment of
lip tensionin the mouthpiece and the operation of valves by the left hand
PERCUSSION
CYMBALS
ďˇ consist of thin, normallyround plates
of various alloys
ďˇ used in many ensembles ranging
from the orchestra, percussion
ensembles, jazz bands, heavy metal
bands, and marching groups
ďˇ the heavier the cymbals the louder
the volume
ďˇ thin cymbals have a fuller sound,
higher pitch, and faster response
SNARE DRUM
ďˇ known as a side drum is an ever-present
percussion instrument known for its cylindrical
shape and powerful, staccato sound
ďˇ often used in orchestras, concert bands,
marching bands, parades, drum lines, drum
corps
ďˇ played with drum sticks or brush
BASS DRUM
ďˇ produces a note of low definite and indefinite pitch
ďˇ known as percussion instrument and vary in sizes
âLupang Hinirang,â was
ďˇ originally entitled âMarcha Nacional Filipina.â
ďˇ composed byJulianFelipe inmarch time tempoandinitiallyperformed by the San Francisco de
Malabonbandat the Proclamationof Philippine Independence onJune 12, 1898 in Kawit, Cavite
ďˇ consideredas anâincidental musicâ which means a background music set into a particular
event/occasion in a dramatic mood
ďˇ year after, Jose Palma wrote the lyrics adapted from the SpanishpoemâFilipinasâ and entitled it
âHiimno Nacional Filipinoâ.
LAS PIĂAS BAMBOO ORGAN
ďˇ as the Philippine National Treasure, the BambooOrgan canbe foundin St. Josephâs Church, Las
PiĂąas City.
ďˇ It is made of902 bamboo pipes completed in 1824 under the supervision of Fr. Diego Cera.
ďˇ Every February, the city celebrates the International Bamboo Organ Festival. A number of
established foreignandlocal artist participate inthe cultural event. It aims to pursue anddevelop
the rich cultural tradition of Las PiĂąas City.
MUSIKONG BUMBONG
ďˇ Musikong Bumbong is Filipino marching bands that use bamboo woodwind instruments
ďˇ The shapes and the sizes are similar to brass band instruments but have different sou nds
ďˇ DâOriginalMalabon Musikong Bumbong started as a plain Banda de Boca (meaning bibig or
mouth) in Barrio Tonsuya, Malabon in 1896.
ďˇ Felix Ramos was boththe founder andinventor of the bambooinstruments. The first members of
the band were all Katipuneros.
ďˇ The band was renamed several times but is currently known as Musikawayan under the
leadership of P/Lt. Col. Gilbert M. Ramos.
ďˇ Pangkat Kawayan, popularlyknown as the âSingingBamboos ofthe Philippines,â is an orchestra
that plays music using non-traditional bamboo instruments, founded in 1966.
ďˇ The groupâs musical instruments, numbering more than a hundredare made of six kinds of the
versatile bamboo in various sizes, shapes and designs.
ďˇ One of the best features of this bamboobandis promoting and playing our native Philippine
folksongs to other countries. The groupâs repertoire also includes folk melodies from other
countries, modern and popular music and some light classics.
THE PANGKAT KAWAYAN INSTRUMENTALS
INSTUMENTS DESCRIPTION
Angklung
ďˇ Is a bamboo-rattle tubes attached to a bamboo frame.
ďˇ tubes are carvedto have s resonant pitchwhenstruck, each
angklung represents a note and are tuned to octaves.
ďˇ plays the counterpoints to the melody
ďˇ is played byshaking the lower part with one handwhile the
upper end holding it with the other hand steady.
Bumbong (bamboo tube)
ďˇ is made ofhollow pieces of bamboo that has been put
together and serve as the orchestraâs wind section.
ďˇ is divided into bass.
(lower) and horn (higher) sections
ďˇ each bumbong represents one note;to produce the sound
it has to be blown through a mouthpiece.
4. Kalatok
ďˇ is a percussioninstrument made of pieces ofbamboos that
are strung together with pieces of bamboo with varying
tones when struck by a rubber mallet.
Talunggating (bamboo marimba)
ďˇ is made frombamboo. it follows the musical scale and style
of the typical xylophone.
ďˇ plays the melody.
ďˇ mallets made out of rattan and rubber are usedto play the
instrument.
Kalagong
ďˇ is a wind instrument that produces a hollow gong-like
sound.
ďˇ plays bytappingthe top wholes of the bamboos bytwo flat
and flexible surface tapper.
ďˇ serves as bass of the group.
Pan pipes
ďˇ is a small pieces ofbamboo ingraduatedsmall tubes that
has been put together by a string.
ďˇ the soundandstyling of the wind instruments found in
northern philippines
ďˇ each pipe represents a note and is blown to produce the
sound.
Tulali (bamboo flute)
ďˇ is made ofbaga (one ofthe smallest bamboo varieties).
ďˇ a bamboo opening encircled by a banana leafing to a
pentatonic scale playedonfour holes, one foundbelow and
three on top of the bamboo tube.
Kiskis
ďˇ is a bamboopiece withridges and serves as a percussion
instrument.
ďˇ kiskis is a filipino word which means âto scratchâ or âto rub
against somethingâ.
ďˇ is played by rubbing a rattan stick on its ridges.
ANGKLUNG ENSEMBLE
ďˇ a small group of musicians who plays angklung bamboo instruments
ďˇ made of bamboo-rattle tubes attached to a bamboo frame
ďˇ manner of playing the angklungis byrapidlyshaking the bottompart of the frame while the other
hand steadily holds the upper part of the instrument
ďˇ angklung shakers plays only one or two pitches
ďˇ commonly accompanied by double bass, guitars and percussion instruments
ďˇ angklung has more than two and a half octaves, or around 30 pitches
ďˇ can also be a part of the other ensemble like the pangkat kawayan.
HORNBĂSTEL-SACHS CLASSIFICATION OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Idiophones produces soundbythe vibrationof its body
causedbythe waytheyare playedsuchas beingstruck,
scraped, rubbed, shaken, or plucked.
Aerophones produce sound primarilybycausing a body
of air to vibrate because of the air blown inside.
Chordophones produce sound through its vibrating
string or strings that is plucked, strummed, or usedwith
a bow.
Membranophones produce soundprimarilybywayof a
vibrating stretched membrane tapped by hands or
sticks.
Electrophones produce soundwhichare generated by
electricity.
*7 ELEMENTS OF MUSIC*
1. Rhythm
- The duration ofsound (how long or short the notes are)
- Rhythm has three parts:
ďˇ Beat -The Pulse. Arhythmic unit oftime.
ďˇ Tempo - The speed ofthe beat. How fast or slow the music is.
ďˇ Metre -The organization ofstrong and weak beats. Indicated by measures and time signature.
2. Melody
- The tune; an organized sequence ofpitches
3. Harmony
- The combination oftwo or more pitches
4. Timbre
- Tone colour/ tone quality
5. Form
- The structure ofmusic
6. Texture
- Overall quality ofsound ofa piece, mostoftenindicated by the number ofvoices in the music and by the relationship between
these voices.
- There are three types oftexture
⢠Monophonic
⢠Homophonic
⢠Polyphonic
7. Dynamics
- The volume ofthe sound (how loud or soft the music is)