CONTEMPORARY

PHILIPPINE ARTS
FROM THE REGIONS
Prepared by:
Ms. Jonalie M. Dalupan
CONTEMPORARY
PERFORMING
ARTS
CONTEMPORARY PERFORMING
ARTS
- Filipinos is a race that is bursting with talents. Not only do we excel in the
visual arts, we are also considered to be a source of world class
performers. In the diverse field of the performing arts, whether in Music,
Dance or Theater, there will always be Filipinos that attest to our
country’s artistic giftedness.

 MUSIC
 DANCE
 THEATER
 MUSIC
- Contemporary Music in the Philippines is a product of our indigenous
traditions and the colonial influences.

- Our music is heavily influenced by the West.

- Before the arrival of the Spaniards, the types of indigenous music

found in the country were instrumental and vocal.

- Music sounds were created by various instruments such as flutes, shell

trumpets, drums and gongs.
FLUTE SHELL TRUMPET

GONG
DRUM
- Vocals were performed by individuals or as a group.
- Musical instruments in homes during the Spanish colonial times were the
piano and the harp.
- Young ladies were often asked to play
these instruments to entertain guests.
- Musical entertainment were also enjoyed during the various stage plays,
dances and operas.

- Schools also became a venue to study other musical instruments such as

the cello, violin etc.

- The schools produced musicians that would later become leading figures
in the development of Filipino contemporary music such as Nicanor
Abelardo, Felipe Padilla de Leon and Franciscoo Santiago
EXAMPLES OF MUSICAL FORMS
 KUNDIMAN and HARANA
- The kundiman is a musical form that is a product of Spanish colonization.
- Kundiman is an art song that signifies love and affection for someone.
- Performed as a solo vocal composition combined with an instrumental
accompaniment to achieve musical harmony

- The kundiman is described

as highly emotional and
sentimental because it
expresses personal sorrow.
- It can be about love or
patriotism.
- The lyrics of the traditional kundiman made use of old and archaic
tagalog.
- The melody is often smooth, flowing and gentle rhythm.

EXAMPLES:

Nicanor S. Abelardo (1893- 1934) “Nasaan Ka, Irog?”

Dr. Francisco Santiago (1889- 1947) “Pakiusap”

- Many kundiman music were often used for traditional Filipino courtship.
- The harana is a traditional courtship ritual in the Philippines wherein the
suitor serenades his object of affection.

- Almost any love song can be sung during the harana, including
kundiman songs.

- Traditional harana also use deep Tagalog words and is used to implore
the girl to listen or give attention.
“Dungawin Mo, Hirang” and “O, Ilaw”
 BALLAD
- The ballad is traditionally a song that narrates an event in a community.
- The style varies from region to region and from one ethnic tribe to
another.

EXAMPLES:

“Idangdang” of Bukidnon
“Liyangkit parang sabil” of Tausug
“Composo” of Hiligayon

A popular example of a traditional ballad would be Yoyoy Villame’s

(1932 – 2007) “Magellan”.
- It must be mentioned that in modern times, the term ballad has been
applied to describe love songs.

- Balladeer is an artist whose set a songs are primarily romantic songs.

- Natable Filipino contemporary ballad composers are Ernani Cuenco and

Jose Mari Chan.

- Some of the most popular and successful Filipino contemporary

balladeers include Regine Velasquez- Alcasid, Sarah Geronimo, Jed
Madela and many more.
 CHAMBER MUSIC
- Chamber music is a form of instrumental music composed by a small
ensemble wherein each part is played by one player, as opposed to an
orchestra where a part is performed by a group of musicians.
- Chamber music is usually performed by a group of three to eight
musicians.
- Chamber music in the country were pioneered by Dr. Francisco Santiago
and Nicanor S. Abelardo, who received training abroad and later on
shared with the younger generation of composers.
SOME POPULAR CHAMBER MUSIC GROUPS IN THE
PHILIPPINES:
- Clarion Chamber Ensemble
- String Minstrels
 CHORAL MUSIC
- Choral music is a musical composition intended to be performed by a
group of singers called a choir.

- The choir is arranged according to voice categories such as soprano, alto,

tenor and bass.

- The early choirs in the Philippines performed in churches, singing

religious hymns during the mass.

- Schools also have their own choral groups that perform here and abroad.
The most well- known school choir is the choral group of the
University of the Philippines, the Philippine Madrigal Singers or the
“Madz”.

Some other well- known and internationally recognized choral groups

in the Philippines include the Samiweng Singers of Laoag, Ilocos
Norte, the University of Visayas Chorale and the Zamboanga Hermosa
Chorale.
 LITURGICAL MUSIC
- Liturgical music are songs intended for Christian church services.

- Its early form was inspired by Jewish chants during their religious rituals.

The National Artist Francisco F. Feliciano “Mass of Saint Andrew”

Ryan Cayabyab “Misa”
The praise and gospel songs of Gary Valenciano
 OPERA

- Opera is a combination of both music and theater.

- It is a sung drama that entails collaborative efforts of singers, dancers,

composers, choreographers etc.

One type of song found in an opera is the ARIA which is a song sung in solo that
portrays the character’s emotional state.
- The opera was introduced in the Philippines in the middle of the 1800s.
EXAMPLES:
Felipe Padilla “NOLI ME TANGERE”, the first full- length Filipino Opera
Reynaldo T. Paguio and Fides Asensio “MAYO BISPERAS NG LIWANAG”
which based on a short story by Nick Joaquin.
Notable Filipino opera singers:

Jovita Fuentes, the first Filipina to be recognized as a National Artist for

Music

Rachelle Gerodias, the female soprano

 POP MUSIC

- Popular music or pop music is used to describe music that is readily

available to the broad populace.

- It is an umbrella term that encompasses a multitude of different genres of

music such as RnB, Rap, Rock, Hip Hop, Dance etc.

- Many of the popular music played in the Philippines are Western imports
that become a strong influence to many contemporary singers and artists.
- Filipino musicians create their own version of pop music by combining
Western style with Filipino taste.

Fred Panopio (1939 – 2010) “ O! Ang Mga Babae”

Yoyoy Villame (1932 – 2007) “Mag – exercise Tayo Tuwing Umaga”

- Pinoy pop or Filipino pop music came about when Filipino wanted to
create music that they can call their own.

Juan de la Cruz Band “Ang Himig Natin”

• The musical group called Hotdog similarly combined Western pop with
Filipino lyrics and created what was then known as MANILA SOUND.
- these songs were light and carefree, using words and lyrics that
combined Tagalog and English

Example: “Ikaw ang Miss Universe ng Buhay ko” by Hotdog

“Mahirap Magmahal ng Syota ng Iba” by Apo Hiking Society

• Pinoy folk music is a genre of Pinoy pop that is heavily influenced by the
musical style of Western folk singers such as Bob Dylan, Peter Paul and
Mary, among others.
• Well- known Pinoy folk musicians: Freddie Aguilar, Noel Cabangon,
Grace Nono and Gary Granada.
• Rap is a music genre that became popular in the late 1980s in the
Philippines.
• It is originated from the African- Americans.

Example: “Mga Kababayan Ko” by Francis Magalona (1964 – 2009)

“Humanap Ka ng Pangit” by Andrew E.

• Hip- hop is a music genre incorporates not only rap but also includes
RnB, beatboxing and electronic and turntables as accompaniments.

Example: Gloc – 9, Abra, and Apl.de.ap

 PROTEST SONGS
• Protest songs are songs that bring to light injustices and inequality in
society.
• These seek to inspire nationalism and heroism from their listeners.

Example: “BAYAN KO” (1928)

Jose Corazon de Jesus (1896 – 1932) who wrote the lyrics that was
set to music by Constancio de Guzman (1903 – 1982)
 DANCE
• It is a way bond and share our talents with the rest of the community.

• Dancing, much like music, is very popular in the Philippines.

 AEROBIC DANCE
• Aerobic is a dance routine made into an exercise program.
• Formal aerobic dance class has three phases:
- warm – up
- aerobic dance
- capped with cool down exercises

Examples: jazzercise, aero hip- hop, ballroom dancing, belly dancing

and zumba.
 BALLET
• Ballet is both a dance and theater art.

• It originated from the European court spectacles and was later brought to
Philippines by the Americans.

• Different contemporary reiterations of the ballet form:

- modern ballet
- opera ballet
- folkloric ballet
- Modern Ballet
The modern ballet uses traditional ballet techniques and style set to
contemporary ideas and subjects.
It is a type of modern dance that uses contemporary, and sometimes
experimental attitude toward traditional dance techniques and style.
This type of ballet is not limited to the confines of the stage and can be
presented outdoors and in other unconventional venues.
The pioneer of modern dance in the Philippines is the founder of Ballet
Philippines, Alice Reyes.

Example of modern ballet: “Limang Dipa” (1981)

- OPERA BALLET (Rock Ballet)

This type of ballet combines dance and singing.

The first rock opera ballet in the Philippines was “Mahal”(1975), a

product of the collaborative efforts of Abel Labrador, Mon Faustmann,
Rahissa Lahat- Wala, and Julie and Rose Borromeo.

“Rama Hari” (1988) by Ryan Cayabyab, Bienvenido Lumbera and Alice

Reyes
- FOLKLORIC BALLET

A performance that represents subjects and themes based on the art and
culture of a community.

Examples: “Agnes” by Agnes Locsin

“Tapestry/ Bayanihan” by Alice Reyes
“Baile de Aye” by Corazon Generoso- Inigo

Three Major Ballet Companies in the Philippines:

BALLET PHILIPPINES (1969)
PHILIPPINE BALLET THEATER (1987)
BALLET MANILA (1995)
 FOLK DANCE
• Folk dance is the different dances performed by various cultural groups
throughout the country.
• It is often performed during rituals, festivals, fiestas, and other community
celebrations.

 Mimetic dances
- dance movements that imitate animals like the Kedal Blelah of the
T’boli and the Kinabuwa of the Mandaya.

- mimetic dances also depict movements that copy communal activities

such as planting rice and harvesting.
• The traditional dances have been used by the ethnic groups to celebrate
their identity and are based on their literature, legends, and beliefs.

Examples: “Tinikling” of Waray, which is considered as the Philippines’

national dance.
“Subli” of Batangas

Some Professional Dance Troupes:

BAYANIHAN DANCE COMPANY
DARANGAN CULTURAL DANCE TROUPE of Marawi
TAMBULI CULTURAL TROUPE of Tawi - tawi
 STREET DANCE
• Street dance is a term used to describe vernacular dances, or dances that
developed organically within a community.
• A dance form that began in urban open spaces, such as parks, streets,
yards, and night clubs; rather than in formal dance studios.
• Popular street dance moves in the Philippines include hip – hop routines
such as b – boying (breakdancing), popping, licking, and roboting.

Popular Street Dance Groups:

PHILIPPINE ALL – STAR DANCE CREW
XB GENSAN