MUSIC OF MINDANAO

I. MORO / ISLAMIC MUSIC

• A. Vocal Music of Mindanao
The Islamic community in the Philippines consist of
ethno-linguistic groups:
- the Maguindanao of Cotabato
- the Maranao of Lanao and Cotabato
- the Samal and Jama Mapun of the Sulu Island of
Sibutu and Cagayan De Sulu
- the Tausug of the Sulu Islands of Jolo, Siasi, and
Tawi-Tawi
- the Yakan of Basilan and Zamboanga
1. CHANTS – it is a lyrical rendition of the
different improvised text.
The Yakans famous style of chants are:
• A. Lugu – chants that they use in reading his/her
Qur’an and other books they use in his/her Islam
religion.
• B. Kalangan – songs that they use for
serenading his/her loved ones.
• C. Sa-il / Lunsey – an important chant to be sung
by the wife-to-be during the ceremony that talks
about married life.
• Maranaos have an extensive vocal repertoire
such as:

• A. Dikker – sacred songs highlighted by

quotations from the Qur’an.

• B. Bayok – semi-generic term for a lyrical

rendition of different improvised text.
2. LULLABY – a chant-style or chant
formulause in rocking a baby to sleep.

• A. Ya-ya – is a song of the Yakans to put the

baby to sleep, sung in a relax/slow manner, soft
and soothing while rocking the baby.

• B. Bayok – is also Maranao term for lullaby.

II. Non- Islamic
• Migrants / Christians
• The people who migrated from Luzon and Visayas were mostly
Christians.
• Lumad – a collective term for groups of indegenous people from
Mindanao which means “native.”
• Bagobo- Davao Gulf and Davao Region
• B’laan – Davao Gulf
• Kalagan – Davao Gulf
• Mandaya – Davao Region
• Mansaka – Davao Region
• Manobo – Bukidnon, Agusan Del Sur, Cotabato
• Matigsalug- Bukidnon
• Subanen- Zamboanga peninsula
• Tiruray- SOCCSARGEN Region,
• T’boli – South Cotabato
Vocal Music
• Life Cycle
• Bua - Lullabye of Subanon.
• Uyug- Uyug – Lullabye of Mansaka.
• Yadadang - Lullabye of Bilaan
• Manambay - Chant on circumscision ritual of Subanon
• Kambong - love incantation of Manobo
• Sinda-ay - Weddingchant sung before inviting the
groom’s party to enter the bride’s house.
• Balow – song for a dead husband of Matigsalug.
• Iring Iring - Manobo song sung on wakes
• Ulag Ing - lament song of Manobo
• Occupational Song
• Gago Napu - song for either hunting or fishing
of Subanon
• Balatuking – Manobo harvest song Ritual Song
• Diwata - for curing ceremony of Subanon
• Pamasag - for victory celebration of Manobo
• Pangan Do - for thanksgiving of Manobo
The Musical Instruments of Mindanao
• Kulintang ensemble – a gong-based ensemble used by the
Maguindanao and Maranao of Western Mindanao, the Tausug,
the Yakan, and the Sama-Bajao of the Sulu archipelago. They
have varied functions but are mostly used for celebrations /
rituals and are mainly divided into three parts:

• 1. Kulintang Ensemble
• 2. Bamboo Ensemble
• 3. Solo Instruments
1. Kulintang ensemble
• Kulintangan (Manobo Cotabato) / Kwintangan – ensemble of
hanging melody gons in a row, hung on ropes in pyramidal order with
the smaller and higher-pitched gongs near the top.
• Kulintangan – is an important social property. This instrument of the
ensemble is highly valued. The ownership of these instruments
indicates high social status.
• AGUNG – a large, deeprimmed gong, vertically
suspended, hanged in wooden frames.
• Tahunggo, Agung, Salmagi, Blowon Semagi
• - suspended gong ensembles (9-11 gongs, played a melody and
drone player) in various names according to each tribe; ensembles
maybe completed with 1 or 2 drums.
2. Bamboo Ensemble - according to Philippine legends,
the first man and woman are born out of bamboo. Bamboo is
also considered among early Filipinos as a spiritual connection
from our physical world to the spiritual. Many bamboo
instruments are made for these purposes, but some are made
for entertainment and musical expression.
-Bamboo Ensemble – have different manners in playing bamboo
instruments include: blowing (aerophones), shaking or hitting
(idiophones), and plucking (chordophones).
• Gabbang – a native xylophone in Sulu, a bamboo keyboard
on top, constructed out of wood. Ordinarily, its main body is
shaped like a coffin; keys are struck with 2 mallets, each with a
strip of rubber fastened to its underside.
• Seronggagandi – a guitar like made of bamboo. Two
chords are slit loose side from the outer skin fibers of the
bamboo itself and these are given tension by means of
bridges. A hole is cut into the bamboo under the 2 chords that
serves as resounding holes
• 3. Solo Instruments – these are instruments that can be
played alone or in a solo performance.
• Kudyapi – is a 2 string plucked lute instrument made of wood
which resembles an elongated guitar usually having 2 strings. It
varies in sizes, but normally it is about one and a half meter long.
It is held in the performer’s lap like a guitar, the left hand slides
back and forth between the frets; the middle finger of the right
plucks both the melody and strings with a rattan plectrum or
kubit
• Suling – (Maguindanao and Yakan’s) is made mainly of
“tamiang” bamboo, a long, thinwalled bamboo tube. Its
mouth piece is circled with a thin band made of rattan
near a small hole.