"Folk music takes us back to the roots of our culture."- Tulsi Kumar
Original title: Ethnic music makes a wholesome life; it is therapy*
Famous Filipino composers
Music is closely associated with everyday life among village folks more than it is to us living in the city.
Dr Abe V Rotor
Lucrecia Kasilag and Lucio San Pedro, famous Filipino composers,
and ethnic musicologists
Have you ever noticed village folks singing or humming as th ey attend to their chores? They have songs when rowing the boat, songs when planting, songs of praise at sunrise, songs while walking up and down the trail, etc. Seldom is there an activity without music. Even the sounds of nature to them are music.
According to researcher Leonora Nacorda Collantes, of the UST graduate school, music influences the limbic system, called the “seat of emotions” and causes emotional response and mood change. Musical rhythms synchronize body rhythms, mediate within the sphere of the autonomous nervous and endocrine systems, and change the heart and respiratory rate. Music reduces anxiety and pain, induces relaxation, thus promoting the overall sense of well being of the individual.
Music is closely associated with everyday life among village folks more than it is to us living in the city.
According to researcher Leonora Nacorda Collantes, of the UST graduate school, music influences the limbic system, called the “seat of emotions” and causes emotional response and mood change. Musical rhythms synchronize body rhythms, mediate within the sphere of the autonomous nervous and endocrine systems, and change the heart and respiratory rate. Music reduces anxiety and pain, induces relaxation, thus promoting the overall sense of well being of the individual.
Music is closely associated with everyday life among village folks more than it is to us living in the city.
Philippine native songs are associated with rural life. Countryside scene by national artist Fernando Amorsolo
The natives find content and relaxation beside a waterfall, on the riverbank, under the trees, in fact there is to them music in silence under the stars, on the meadow, at sunset, at dawn. Breeze, crickets, running water, make a repetitious melody that induces sleep. Humming indicates that one likes his or her work, and can go on for hours without getting tired at it. Boat songs make rowing synchronized. Planting songs make the deities of the field happy, so they believe; and songs at harvest are thanksgiving. Indeed the natives are a happy lot.
Filipinos already had a rich and unique musical tradition long before westerners set foot on our native land. Music was present in every stage of our ancestors’ lives — from birth to death, in blissful or tragic times.
Ethnic musical instruments
Ethnic music continues to thrive in the Philippines, particularly among indigenous people who comprise 10 percent of the country’s population and represented by more than 100 language groups from the mountains of northern Luzon as well as from Mindanao, Sulu, Palawan, and Mindoro in southern and western Philippines.
Such instruments as flat gongs, bamboo buzzers, clappers, quill-shaped percussion tubes, and brass Jew’s harps are often seen in the north. Meanwhile, bossed gongs, ring flutes, log drums, xylophones, single-stringed violins, and suspended beams are commonly used in the south.
These musical instruments are used in various rituals, festivities, and other activities. For instance, the paldong or kaldong, the lip-valley flute of the Kalinga, is a favorite instrument for serenading.
Vocal forms, performed either responsorial (viz., leader-chorus) or solo, are also used for different purposes. They follow the sequence of natural events and human activities, from the personal to social, from the economic to the political, from the spiritual to the cosmic.
The Ibaloy ba-diw, an example of responsorial singing, is used in ceremonies for the dead called du-udyeng or ta-tamiya. In weddings, epic songs, which may be sung for one or more nights, may also be chanted to entertain guests or villagers themselves. Meanwhile songs, performed by a soloist may be accompanied by instruments and/or dancing.
Among indigenous Filipinos, one important function of music is to celebrate or commemorate important events in the human life cycle. Examples are the Kalinga dopdopit, which is sung the first time a child is bathed outside the family’s house; and the dinnayan, dawak, and paliwat, also of the Kalinga, which are sung during a ritual celebrating the rite of passage from boyhood to manhood.
The variety of musical forms, styles, repertoires, and traditions that exist mirror the rich diversity in Filipino culture. Fortunately, until today, these rich indigenous musical traditions live on. They serve as a reminder of the Filipinos’ long history of musical talent and ingenuity.
Rondalla - Philippine counterpart
of the Western orchestra
Sources:
- Hila, Antonio A. Musika: an Essay on Philippine Ethnic Music. Manila: Sentrong Pangkultura ng Pilipinas, 1992.
- Santos, R.P. “The Ethnic Tradition,” CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art, volume VI: Philippine Music. Manila: Cultural Center of the Philippines, 1994.
* Living with Nature School on Blog [avrotor.blogspot.com]
Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid (People's School-on-Air) with Ms Melly C Tenorio 738 DZRB AM Band, 8 to 9 evening class Monday to Friday
ANNEX
Composers in the Philippines
From Sources across the Web
AI Overview/Internet
Acknowledgement with gratitude
Levi Celerio:
Known for writing over 4,000 songs and recognized as a National Artist for Music and Literature, Celerio was also famous for playing music using leaves.
Nicanor Abelardo:
A highly regarded composer, Abelardo elevated the Kundiman, a Filipino love song, to a western art-song form.
Francisco Santiago:
Known as the "Father of the Kundiman," Santiago's music blended Western forms and techniques with Filipino folk materials.
A master composer and conductor, San Pedro's works often evoked the folk elements of Filipino heritage.
Ryan Cayabyab:
A contemporary composer, Cayabyab is known for his versatility across popular and classical genres, including choral works and film scores.
Antonio Molina:
One of the early 20th-century composers, Molina continued the nationalistic movement in Philippine music.Julian Felipe:
He composed the Philippine national anthem, "Lupang Hinirang".
Antonino Buenaventura:
A composer and educator, Buenaventura incorporated Philippine folk music into his compositions.
Jose Mari Chan:
A popular singer-songwriter, Chan is known for his Christmas songs and love songs.
-Felipe Padilla de Leon:
A composer, conductor, and scholar, de Leon's works often reflect Filipino identity.
Lucrecia Roces Kasilag:
A composer, educator, and cultural leader, Kasilag was instrumental in developing Filipino music.
A composer, film scorer, and musical director, Cuenco's works embody Filipino musicality.
Other Notable Filipino Composers:
- Jose Mari Chan: A singer-songwriter, he is known for his Christmas songs that are frequently played during the holiday season.
- George Canseco: A composer known for his popular songs and film scores. .
- Joey Ayala: Known for his fusion of indigenous music and contemporary styles, and for his fusion of traditional Filipino music with contemporary styles. Ayala was recently guest of TATAKalikasan AdMU with the author as one of the radio program hosts.
- Freddie Aguilar: Known for his socially conscious and folk-inspired song, and his patriotic song "Bayan Ko"
UP Center of Ethnomusicology founded by Jose Montserrat Maceda
- These composers mentioned, among many others, have made significant contributions to Philippine music, shaping its rich and diverse landscape. ~
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