Origin of the Philippine Music
Philippine Music
Filipinos are known to be great musicians worldwide. This is due to their
dedication and intense love for music. Even from its pre-Hispanic life,
Filipinos expressed themselves through their ethnic musical
instruments.
These early settlers in fact played variety of musical instruments
including flutes, nose flutes, and guitars to play appropriate songs in
celebration of courtship, marriage, harvest and offerings.
The music of the Philippines is a mixture of
Indigenous, Asian, European and American
Influences.
Spanish and Mexican colonizers left their musical mark on the Philippines,
introducing another rich culture, Christianity and its attendant religious music. The
guitar and other instruments, as well as zarzuela (a form of operetta) were popular and
soon became an important part of the customs and traditional elements of the culture
of the Philippines.
Awit and Kurido or Corrido (The earliest foreign-influenced Filipino entertainment) a musical show of dances and songs replacing the ancient epics during the conversion
of early Filipinos to Christianity. Local talents adapted and performed this musical
form into several dialects such as Pampango, Ilokano, Ilongo, Tagalog and Bicol.
Sarswela (Zarzuela), a pleasing show of combined acting and singing
introduced by the Spanish in the late 19th century along with the
arrival of American productions. That time, Zarzuelas were performed
as a means of political protest and criticism against the colonizing
Americans. Today, Zarzuelas are common festival shows taking part in
commemorating the country's rich traditions.
Harana
And
Kundiman
are lyrical songs popular in the Philippine Islands
dating back to the Spanish period. Harana are
traditional courtship songs in the MexicanSpanish tradition based on the habanera rhythm
while the Kundiman, which has pre-colonial
origins from the Tagalog region, uses triple meter
rhythm. Its lyrics depict a romantic theme,
usually portraying love, passion, or sadness.
Phlippine culture and traditions is presented not only in music but also in
dance, literature, architechture and fine arts.
These are some examples of Philippine folksongs
popularized according to the country's ethno-linguistic
groups:
TAGALOG:
Paruparong Bukid
Paruparong bukid na lilipad-lipad
Sa gitna ng daan papagapagaspas
Isang bara ang tapis
Isang dangkal ang manggas
Ang sayang de kola
Isang piyesa ang sayad
May payneta pa siya -- uy!
May suklay pa mandin -- uy!
Nagwas de-ohetes ang
palalabasin
Haharap sa altar at mananalamin
At saka lalakad na pakendengkendeng.
Bahay kubo
Bahay kubo, kahit munti
Ang halaman doon ay sari-sari,
Singkamas at talong Sigarilyas at
mani
Sitaw, bataw, patani
Kundol, patola, upo't kalabasa
At saka meron pang
Labanos, mustasa
Sibuyas, kamatis
Bawang at luya
Sa paligid nito puno ng linga.
Magtanim ay di biro
Magtanim ay di biro
Maghapong nakayuko
Di naman makatayo
Di naman makaupo
Bisig ko'y namamanhid
Baywang ko'y nangangawit.
Binti ko'y namimintig
Sa pagkababad sa tubig.
Kay-pagkasawing-palad
Ng inianak sa hirap,
Ang bisig kung di iunat,
Di kumita ng pilak. Sa umagang
pagkagising
Lahat ay iisipin
Kung saan may patanim
May masarap na pagkain.
Halina, halina, mga kaliyag,
Tayo'y magsipag-unat-unat.
Magpanibago tayo ng lakas
Para sa araw ng bukas
(Braso ko'y namamanhid
Baywang ko'y nangangawit.
Binti ko'y namimintig
Sa pagkababad sa tubig.)
Dandansoy
Dandansoy, bayaan ta
icao
Pauli aco sa Payao
Ugaling con icao
hidlauon
Ang Payaw imo lang
lantauon.
Dandansoy, con imo
apason
Bisan tubig di magbalon
Ugaling con icao uhauon
Sa dalan
magbobonbobon.
Sarung Banggi
Sarung banggi sa higdaan
Nakadangog ako hinuni nin sarung gamgam
Sa luba ko katorogan
Bako kundi simong boses iyo palan
Dagos ako bangon si sakuyang mata binuklat,
Kadtong kadikloman ako nangalagkalag
Si sakong pagheling pasiring sa itaas
Naheling ko simong lawog maliwanag
ILOCANO:
Pamulinawen
Pamulinawen
Pusok imdengam man
Toy umas-asug
Agrayo ita sadiam.
Panunotem man
Dika pagintultulngan
Toy agayat, agruknoy ita emmam.
Itdem ta diak kalipatan
Ta nasudi unay a nagan,
Uray sadin' ti ayan,
Lugar sadino man,
Aw-awagak a di agsarday
Ta naganmo a kasam-itan
No malagipka, pusok ti mabang-aran!
T i ayat Ti maysa nga ubing
Ti ayat ti maysa nga ubing,
Nasamsam-it ngem hasmin
Kasla sabong nga apag-ukrad
Iti bulan ti Abril
Ti ayat ti maysa a lakay,
Aglalo no agkabaw,
Napait, napait, napait a makasubkar.
Anansa a tao lelong,
Agsapulka tay balo
A kapadpad ta ubanmo
Ken dayta tuppolmo
Ta bay-am a panunuten
Ti ayat ti maysa nga ubing
Aglalo, aglalo no addan
makin-aywanen .
KAPAMPANGAN:
Atin cu pung singsing
Atin cu pung singsing
Metung yang timpucan
Amana que iti
Quing indung ibatan
Sancan queng sininup
Queng metung a caban
Mewala ya iti
E cu camalayan.
Ing sucal ning lub cu
Susucdul king banua
Picurus cung gamat
Babo ning lamesa
Ninu mang manaquit
Quing singsing cung mana
Calulung pusu cu
Manginu ya caya.
Rondalla
is performed on ensembles
comprising mandolin instruments of various sizes
called banduria composed on the Iberian tradition.
Other instruments including guitars, octavina, laud
and double bass.