Music of Mindanao

The coastal and lowland areas of western Mindanao are homes of the Islamic cultures. Folk culture and court music dating way back in the 10th century or even much earlier are integrated in the musical traditions of the pre-Islamic culture. Music is frowned upon the fundamental Islamic view, but the influx of foreign Islamic cultures of the Arabs and Persians, has changed this view. The musical practices of the people in the coastal and lowland areas of Western Mindanao are vital element in their social life are the main source of their ethnic identities. The musical practices of these indigenous people are a mixture of Western and Non-western ideas.

The Three Classic Traditions of Mindanao

The Magindanao, Maranao, and the Tausug are the three classic traditions of Mindanao.

The MAGUINDANAO KULINTANG ENSEMBLE is made up of five instruments - the kulintang, agung, dabakan, gandingan, and babendil. PALABUNIBUNYAN is the term given to the Maguindanao kulintang ensemble. It means an ensemble of loud - sounding instruments and is heard on various important occasions like wedding (KABILANG), water baptism (PAIGO or RAGAT), the curing rite (KAGAGIPAT).

THE MAGUINDANAO KULINTANG ENSEMBLE also called Palabunibunyan

1. two agung - one player each agung

2. one babendil - one player with two flexible sticks

3. one dabakan - played with two flexible sticks

4. four gandingan - played in pairs, one player to a pair

5. one kulintang - one player using two sticks of one inch diameter

TWO AGONG


ONE BABENDL



ONE DABAKAN

THE MARANAO KULINTANG ENSEMBLE called as the Pangkat Kulintang

1. 2 agong (panaggis-an and pumalasan) - two players
2. 1 babendil - one player with one stick
3. 1 dabakan - one player with two sticks

THE TAUSUG KULINTANG ENSEMBLE  is also called Pangkat Kulintangan

1. two dadabuan - played as a pair by one player with padded stick
2. two gandang - one player for each
3. one kulintangan - played by one with two sticks
4. one tungagalan - an agong played with padded sticks



the Tausug Kulintang Ensemble

link: http://www.kipas.nl/Instruments/Kulintangensemble.htm

reference: Developing Mind and Body Through MAPEH II pp39-41
                  Mind Builders Publishing House 1999, Project 3, Quezon City

Images from Google Images