Music & Instruments
The music of the Philippines echoes the soul of the people creative, resilient, and expressive. Traditional Filipino music brings to life rituals, celebrations, and communal storytelling that have endured through centuries.
Kulintang
The Kulintang is far more than just a traditional musical instrument of the Philippines. it is a living, breathing embodiment of history, culture, and community.
Rondalla
In a standard Filipino rondalla, one would typically find the instruments bandurria, laud, octavina, guitarra, and bajo de uñas, or double bass. These instruments possess similarities in structure and are played with a plectrum made out of turtle shell.
Kudyapi
The kutiyapi, or kudyapi, is a Philippine two-stringed, fretted boat-lute. It is four to six feet long with nine frets made of hardened beeswax. The instrument is carved out of solid soft wood such as that from the jackfruit tree.
Gangsa
Gangsa is a flat gong that is played in an ensemble of two or more gongs of varying sizes. In Kalinga, that gangsa is played in a group of six. Each player strikes the surface of the gong with a beater (pattung style) or with their bare palms (topayya style) in an interlocking way manner that creates a resultant melody.