Mindanao Music: Vocal Music Types

Mindanao Music Overview

• Mindanao is home to diverse cultural communities, each possessing unique traditions.
• Music traditions are based on Islamic and Non-Islamic cultures.
• Chants and lullabies are considered majestic and serene.
• Instrumental music is significant, sharing equal importance with vocal music.

Vocal Music Types

• Vocal music expresses emotions and thoughts while instrumental music accompanies rituals and dances.
• Vocal music reflects the natural and spiritual life of Muslims, Christians, and Lumads.
• This music is considered one of the richest artistic and technical expressions among indigenous groups.
• Religious chants (lughu) are sung during Friday noon services, Molud/Mawlid, Puwasa/Ramadan and commemorations of the dead..
• Secular songs include lullabies and love or legend chants.
• The vocal music includes long melodic chanted lines with unique rhythms, like the "Tidtu" and "Binalig".
• The vocal music consist of four notes, and indigenous instruments such as hegalung, suling and gongs usually accompany the music.

Islamic Vocal Music

• The Islamic cultural community consists of Maguindanaos, Maranaos, Yakans, Samals, and Tausugs, and uses lots of vocal in practices.
• Some vocal styles vary in purpose and from village to village.
• Vocals may be performed solo, in a call-response manner, and often include embellishments, tremolo, and a nasal singing style.

Maranao Songs

• Kadikir is a song with a slow, free rhythm about verses from the Qur'an and Maranao themes, with morals, life, death and Islam.
• Kandarangen is accompanied by gongs or instruments like them.
• Kandomana combines styles of kandarangen and kadikir.
• Kapranon is a song of private sentimentality, sung softly.
• Bayok is a Maranao lullaby.
• Kandidiagao is a lament rendition that is melodious.
• Dikker are sacred songs, quoting the Qur'an.

Tausug & Yakan Songs

• Kissa is a datu and princess love song.
• Parang Sibil is a heroic song.
• Lugu accompanies readings from the Qur'an and Islamic books.
• Kalangan serenades loved ones.
• Yaya are lullabies.

Instrumental Music

• Played solo or as an ensemble to accompany dances and rituals.
• Kulintang music, the Maguindanao term for a complete ensemble is basalen or palabunibunyan.

Islamic Instrumental Ensemble

• Kulintang consists of horizontally-laid gongs for melody, suspended gongs, and drums; played using two wooden beaters on the gong bosses.
• Tagongko is parade music for male musicians in festive attire, played during ceremonies such as welcoming dignitaries and weddings.
• Tagongko is performed to attract spirits for good harvests or a bountiful catch in "kalilang sa tong".
• Kapanirong ("beside a house") is like the Tagalog harana, where young men play music by a maiden's window.

Non-Islamic Music

• Lumad refers to native Christians and non-Muslim indigenous groups in Mindanao, including Dibabawon, Tagakaola, Bagobo, Ubo, Teduray, Subanon, B’laan, Mandaya, Higaonon, Banwaon, Talaandig, Mansaka, Manguanan, T’boli, and Manobo.
• Common song themes in non-Islamic communities include nature, work, rituals, and other ceremonies.
• The Manobos use the Sinda-ay wedding chant and the Balatuking harvest song, while Subanons use the Diwata for curing ceremonies.

Non-Islamic Instrumental Music

• Kudlong is a stringed instrument played with a plectrum.
• Takumbo only produces low tones.
• Palakpak, made of bamboo, consists of two parts struck together.
• Agong a tamlang (bamboo gong) has a closed node at one end, open at the other, and tapers at the tip.
• Suling, called siloli by the T'bolis, has a palm leaf coiled at the closed end.
• Tambuli is trumpet made of carabao horns.
• Amel is made of hollow log or wood and covered in animal skin.
• Tugo is a is wide, short drum used by Tirurays.

General Information

• Religious practices and rituals influence indigenous music, combining West Asian mysticism and Southeast Asian animism.
• Religion is essential to both Islamic and non-Islamic music in Mindanao.