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The vocal music of Mindanao is regarded as one with the highest artistic and technical excellence among the
indigenous groups of the Philippines. Their songs produce melisma, ( using several notes in one syllable of
text) ,tremolo and long melodic phrase.
Music plays an integral part in the lives of the ethnic groups in Mindanao. They use music for religious
activities, for entertainment, for work and other everyday activities.
Indigenous music of Mindanao has its own unique rhythmic sound like the Tidtu and Binalig rhythmic
patterns. Their music is accompanied by indigenous musical instruments such as the hegalung, suling and
gongs.
INDIGENOUS MUSIC OF MINDANAO
Miminsad a ritual dance song and chant of Mindanao
Tud-ob a harvest song of Agusan that is composed of four notes.
Tagunggo Sulus song which is performed with four gongs
Estijiro Mindanaos ancient folk song and dance.
Kambiok a free rhythmic song of the Maranaos
Sua-sua performed as a courtship song of Jolo, Sulu
Sagayan a war dance of Bukidnon
Kissa a love song of datus and princesses of the Tausug tribe
Kandidiagao a melodious song lamenting over the dead of the Maranaos
TYPES OF KULINTANG
Kulintang a putao/kulintang a tiniok/salunay (metal)
Kulintang a kayo (wooden)
Kulintang a tamlang (bamboo)
Kulintang a gaang/galang (brass)
KULINTANG ENSEMBLE
Maguindanao kulintang ensemble is consists of;
8 gongs (kulintang)
4 gongs ( gandingan)
2 gongs ( agung)
1 Babendil
1 Dabakan ( drum)
GANDINGAN ( Idiophone)
The gandingan is a set of four graduated gongs with thin rims and short
knobs. Its diameter is only a couple of inches smaller than the agung.
The gongs are vertically hanged on a wooden frame with the knobs of the two
lower pitched gongs facing each other, and the two higher pitched ones facing each
other as well. The lower pitched pair of gongs is positioned on the left side of the
player. This instrument is played using a pair of stick with a thick rubber padding at the
ends. Traditionally, this instrument is played by a woman.
BABENDIR/BABENDIL ( Idiophone)
The babendir is a single small gong and like the gandingan it has a thin rim and a
short knob. This instrument is played using a pair of thin bamboo sticks. The babendir,
traditionally, may be played by both sexes and in some parts of Maguindanao is considered
as the main instrument of the palabunibunyan.
AGUNG/AGONG ( Idiophone)
The agung is a large kettle shaped gong of about two feet in diameter. It has a wide
rim of about a foot in length and also features a tall knob or busel. Aside from being
played as part of the palabunibunyan, it is also played by itself in some occassions such as
warning the people in times of emergency, announcing the time of the day and other
important occassions in the community.
The agung is also used during the fasting month of Ramadhan, at around three in the
morning to indicate the call to eat (called sawl) and at sunset to mark the end of the
fasting for the day. It is believed that the agung possesses supernatural powers because
of its deep, loud sound. It is believed that by striking the agung in a fast and loud rhythm
called buru-buru it can stop or lessen the jolt of an earthquake.
The agong is hanged on a tall wooden frame, the knob or the busel is at level with the
waist of the player. It is played by striking the busel with the padded end of a stick. This
stick is about half a foot long and is thickly padded with rubber at one end. Traditionally this instrument is
played by a male. Sometimes, two agungs of different pitches, suspended side-by-side facing each other are
played in the palabunibunyan.
DEBAKAN/DABAKAN ( Membranophones)
The debakan is a goblet shaped wooden drum covered with goat, lizard or snake
skin. Like the kulintang frame it is about a couple of inches taller than the seat of a
regular dining chair.
Traditionally, this instrument is played by a woman who sits on a chair as she plays.
The instrument is played by striking it with two thin bamboo stick of about a feet and a
half in length and about half an inch in width. The player must make sure that the head
is tightly fastened at the sides so that the sticks will bounce easily on it. Proper way of
hitting the dabakan's drumhead parallel to its surface with a pair of rattan.
THE PALABUNIBUNYAN
The palabunibunyan literally means an ensemble of loud instruments.
It is also the term used to call the Maguindanaon gong ensemble which consists of five instruments, namely:
the kulintang, agung, gandingan, debakan, babendir.
The palabunibunyan is an essential part of the Maguindanaon social and religious culture.: