3. Definition
Vocal music is a kind of music which is sung orally with or without
accompaniment. In the Philippines, vocal music is a mixture of
European, American, and indigenous sounds. All of these sounds
make up the rich culture and tradition of Philippine Music.
4. Categories of Vocal Music
1. Indigenous or Ethnic Music
2. Spanish Colonial Music
3. American & Japanese Colonial Music
4. Contemporary Music
5. Indigenous or Ethnic Music
Indigenous music is either vocal or instrumental. It is diverse in
nature and differs in form, structure, modes, styles and
terminologies.
6. Indigenous or Ethnic Music
It is rhythmic in nature rather than melodic. Vocal genre include epic
stories about gods and heroes, work songs (about planting,
harvesting, fishing), courting songs, children songs, mourning songs,
ritual songs (asking for blessings or to drive away the bad spirits), and
songs to celebrate every occasion (wedding, birth, victory, war, or
simply settling disputes).
7. Indigenous Music Describes as:
1. Rhythmical, with expressive pauses.
2. Free-flowing, improvised, and spontaneous.
3. Recitative (in between singing and reciting)
4. Uses mostly two simple musical notes.
8. Spanish Colonial Music
The Spanish colonial regime reshaped Philippine culture in general,
particularly its music. Indigenous music was replaced by liturgical and
religious music. The songs exploits of epic heroes and the rhythms of
the native drums and gongs gave way to the chants of the Christian
church and the harmonized music of the organ, harp and guitar.
9. Spanish Colonial Music
These songs can be characterized:
A. Sacred Music:
- Liturgical
- Paraliturgical
B. Secular Music:
10. Spanish Colonial Music (Sacred Music)
Liturgical Music, every Spanish expedition included a group of
missionaries tasked to bring the Christian faith to the natives.
Conversion involved not only embracing a new set of religious beliefs
but also turning away from existing cultural practices.
11. Spanish Colonial Music (Sacred Music)
Paraliturgical Music, church music is performed during the Holy
Mass. Songs related to the feasts of the Catholic Church were taught
by the Spanish missionaries and performed either during Christmas
or Lent. There are also extra liturgical devotions among Filipinos
which are widely practiced until today.
19. Spanish Colonial Music (Secular Music)
The term secular means being separate from (not associated or
concerned with) religion. Words are an important part of secular
music, and many music styles were changed by secularization.
23. American & Japanese Colonial Music
If the Spaniards tried to convert the Filipinos to their ways through
religion, the Americans did it through education. A subtle but most
effective medium of colonial education was music. Teaching the
Filipino school children songs helped much to produce an
unconscious dislike of their own culture and a high preference for
American culture.
24. American & Japanese Colonial Music
The Japanese, on the other hand, tried to use education as a means
to realize their Co-Prosperity Sphere (which consist of the
Philippines, Burma, China, Indo-China, Malaysia, Netherlands, Indies,
and Siam) which miserably failed. Their desire to propagate
Nippongo as the common language was a dismal failure.
25. Contemporary Music
This refers to the songs of the 21st century often called “OPM” or
Pinoy Pop. They are written in Tagalog, English, or Taglish like the
song “Ang Miss Universe ng Buhay ko,” by the band Hotdog which
helped innovate the manila sound.