MUSIC OF LUZON (LOWLANDS)

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
What are the different musical instruments
in a Rondalla?
Rondalla is an ensemble of stringed instruments
with the pick. It originated in Spain but became
most popular in Philippine folk music after their
introduction to the islands during the 19th
century. The word rondalla came from the
Spanish word ronda meaning serenade.
Sometimes rondalla is played with percussion
instruments like the drums and marimba.
 Banduria Laud
 a 14  a 14 stringed
stringed pear pear shaped lute with
shaped lute with a f-shaped sound holes
round sound hole and played with a
and played with a plectrum. It plays the
plectrum. It plays alto part or counter
the main melody in melody in rondalla. It
rondalla. is bigger than the
 a banduria.
chordophone  a chordophone
Octavina Guitar
 a 14 stringed  a6
lute which is shaped stringed
like a small guitar instrument played
and played with a by strumming or
plectrum. It plays a plucking the
counter melody or strings.
harmony fill-in for a  a
rondalla. chordophone
 a chordophone
Double Bass or Bajo de Unas
 a bass guitar which
looks like a big guitar and is played by a
plectrum.
 a chordophone
What is Brass Band?
Brass band is a musical ensemble that consists of brass
instruments, most often with a percussion section. The
brass band in the Philippines consists of a group of
brass and woodwind instrumentalists marching and
playing on the street. It rose to popularity in the 20 th
century during the Spanish period, when men trained
and conducted Spanish army bands. It was a great
honor for an individual to be affiliated with an army
band, most especially to be a conductor, because
Filipinos were not allowed to organize their own bands.
Instruments Used in Brass Band:

Trumpet
 Highest register in the brass family
 Played by blowing through closed
lips
 Aerophone

Trombone
 Derived from Italian word tromba
(trumpet) and –one ( a suffix
meaning “large”), or large trumpet
 Aerophone

Tuba
 Largest and the lowest pitched
brass instrument
 Sound is produced by vibrating the
lips into a large cupped
mouthpiece
 Aerophone
 Cymbals
 Round plates of alloys
 Percussion
 Idiophone

Snare Drum
 Unpitched percussion
(membranophone)
 Center of drum kit
 Prominent drum
 Bass Drum
 Percussion instrument
(membranophone)
 Big drum used in marching bands

French Horn
 Also known as horn
 Made of tubing more than 20ft
 Pitch is controlled by the
adjustment of lip tension in the
mouthpiece and the operation of
valves by the left hand that route
the air into extra tubing.
What is Musikong Bumbong?
The Musikong Bumbong is a bamboo band that
uses improvised instruments. It is the first
bamboo band that came out in the Philippines in
1896. It is during the revolution when the
revolutionaries who made their own instrument
played patriotic musical pieces while they were
fighting for independence from Spain.
 How did the bamboo Organ become popular in the Philippines?

Fr. Diego Cera Dela

1880 – typhoon and 1972 – Restoration of
Virgen started
earthquake damaged the bamboo organ
construction of the
the roof of the church, project began. The
bamboo organ in 1816
which destroyed the organ was shipped to
and it was finished
instruments and made Germany.
eight years after in
it unplayable for years
1824.

1975 – The 2003 – The bamboo

1992 – Prof. Armando
anticipated return to its organ was declared a
V. Salazar became the
home church and the National Cultural
titular organist of the
surrounding buildings Treasure of the
organ. He is the
were restored. The Philippines. It is the
Artistic Director of the
annual bamboo Organ popular tourist
International bamboo
Festival started to destination in Las
organ festival.
celebrate. Pinas.
The Las Pinas Bamboo Organ is Known as the
oldest and the largest bamboo organ existing in
the world today. It also commemorates the
courageous spirit of the Filipino people behind
the work and the spirit existing form the Filipino
bamboo.
What is an Angklung Ensemble?
Angklung is an idiophone musical instrument
with two or more bamboo tubes attached to a
bamboo frame. The tubes are carved to have a
resonant pitch when struck. The tubes are tuned
to octaves or making chords. The base of the
frame is held with one hand while other hand
shakes the instrument rapidly from side to side
and this causes a rapidly repeating note to
sound.
What is Himig Pangkat Kawayan?
Himig Pangkat Kawayan is also known as the
“Singing Bamboo of the Philippine”. It is an
orchestra the uses nontraditional bamboo
instruments. It has more than a hundred musical
instruments with different sizes, shapes, and
design made from a six varieties of bamboo.
The following are the musical instruments of the
Himig Pangkat Kawayan:
• Bumbong – bamboo tube
• Talungating – marimba made of bamboo
• Tipangklung – piano made of bamboo
• Tulali – flute
• Kalatok – bamboo knockers
• Bamboo rattles, drums and cymbals, gongs
and triangle made of bamboo