MORO/ISLAMIC MUSIC: Vocal Music of Mindanao The Islamic community in the Philippines consists of ethno-linguistic groups: -the Maguindanao of Cotabato -the Maranao of Lanao and Cotabato -the Samal and Jama Mapun of the S ulu Islands of Sibutu and Cagayan De Sulu -the Tausug of the Sulu Islands of Jolo, S iasi, and Tawi- Tawi -the Yakan of Basilan and Zamboanga
The uniqueness of the cultures and his/her musical practices that make up the larger Islamic society in Mindanao and Sulu belongs to one single tradition.
Similarities do exist in some vocal styles within the large society, but theoretical concepts, functions, aesthetics, and repertoires differ from c ulture to culture, and even from village to village belonging to one language group. 1) CHANTS – CHANTS – a a lyrical rendition of different improvised text Yakans do his/her chantings through solo and counter or group singing. His/her three famous everyday style chants are the: a.
Lugu – Lugu – chants that they use in reading his/her Qur’an and other books they use in his/her his/her Islam religion b. Kalangan – Kalangan – songs songs that they use for serenading his/her loved ones c. Sa-il / Lunsey – Lunsey – an an important chant to be sing by the wife-to-be during the cerenomy that talks about married life. Maranaos have an extensive vocal repoertoire such as: a. Dikker – Dikker – sacred songs highlighted ny quotations from the Qur’an b. Bayok – Bayok – semi-generic semi-generic term for a lyrical rendition of different improvised text. B. Instrumental Music 1. Kulintang Ensemble – Ensemble – Gong-based 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 they are mostly used for ce lebrations / rituals and are mainly divided into two types:
Kulintangan (Manobo Cotabato)/ Kwintangan – Kwintangan – ensembles ensembles of 6-8 hanging melody gongs in a row, hung on ropes in pyramidical order, with the smaller and higher-pitched gongs near the top.
Tahunggo, Agung, Salmagi, BlowonSemagi – suspended gong ensembles (9-11 gongs, played a melody and drone player) in various names according to each tribe; ensemble maybe completed with 1 or 2 drums.
Kulintang – is an important social property. This instrument of the ensemble is a highly valued priceless heirloom that can command a high price as dowries. The ownership of these instruments indicates high social status and cultivated taste. Agung – a large, deep-rimmed gong, vertically suspended, hanged in wooden frames.
2. Bamboo Ensemble – According to Philippines 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 were made for this purpose while some were also used for entertainment and personal expression. The different manners in playing bamboo instruments include: blowing (aerophones), shaking or hitting (idiophones), and plucking (chordopohones). Gabbang – a native xylophone in Sulu, a bamboo keyboard on to p, constructed out of wood. Ordinarily, its main body is shaped like a coffin; keyds are struck with 2 malets, each with a strip of rubber fastened to its underside. Seronggagandi – a guitar-like made of bamboo, cut before one nod and after next. Two cor ds are slit loose side by side from the outer skin fibers of the bamboo itself and these a re holes is then cut into the bamboo just under the 2 cords, to serve as resounding base. Kudyapi – is a 2-string plucked lute instrument made of wood which resembles and elongated guitar usually having 2 strings. It varies in sizes, but normally it is about one and a half meter s long -
It is held in the performer’s lap like a guitar, the left hand slides back and forth along the melody string between the frets; the middle finger of the right hand plucks both the melody and drone strings with a rattan plectrum or kubit.
Suling – (Maguindanao and Yakan’s) is made mainly of “tamiang” bamboo, a long, thin-walled bamboo tube. The mouthpiece of the suling is circled w ith a thin band made of rattan near a small hole.
