Philippine Art Forms: Music and Instruments

A nose flute found in the Philippines, played to imitate a mournful voice. It has three or four holes and is used in celebrations and courtship.

War drums used by lumads in the Visayas to inspire warriors before battle, made from hollowed tree trunks and deer skin.

A jaw harp made from bamboo, used across the Philippines for communication, especially in courtship.

Philippine pop songs especially prevalent from the late 70s, featuring influences from various artists.

A lyrical song used in courtship, rooted in Mexican-Spanish tradition and based on rhythmic patterns.

A traditional Filipino song with roots in pre-colonial times, characterized by its rhythmic meter and key shifts.

A bamboo percussion instrument from Kalinga used to communicate with spirits, producing a drone when struck.

A native bamboo wind instrument similar to panpipes, made without finger holes, relies on pipe lengths for pitch.

A set of gongs arranged by pitch, played with wooden sticks during festivals and healing ceremonies in Mindanao.

A stringed wooden lute traditional to various Filipino tribes, often played for love songs.

A drum featured in the Kulintang ensemble, shaped like a goblet and intricately designed.

A xylophone-like instrument used by the Maguindanaon, made of horizontal logs and played for entertainment and communication.

A small, four-stringed guitar-like instrument from the Visayas area, used in traditional music.

A bamboo pipe closed at one end, played by blowing across it, often used in ensemble settings.

A bamboo buzzer that produces a buzzing sound used in groups to drive away spirits.

A traditional Philippine string ensemble with mandolin instruments, providing music for folk dances and celebrations.

A flat gong used in the Cordillera region, played in two distinct styles: 'toppaya' and 'pattung.'

A hand drum made from wood and animal skin, producing high-pitched sounds and danced to during festivals.

A metallophone with tuned metal plates, often used by the Maguindanaon, traditionally made of brass.

A single, narrowed rimmed gong in the Kulintang, used for keeping time within the ensemble.

Hollow wooden drum with a distinctive shape, played alongside a Kulintang ensemble.

Wooden lute with strings, played by various tribes to express love through music.

Bamboo percussion with various lengths, used to create deep sounds and communicate with spirits.

Individual pipes in Kalinga bamboo instruments, often strung together for musical performance.

A native wind instrument made of bamboo with closed ends, producing sound without tone holes.

Philippine lyrical music with a rich emotional range, shifting from minor to major key.

Drums made from hollowed trunks, used in military context among Philippine tribes for warriors' courage.

Philippine ensemble consisting of string instruments, deeply tied to folk tradition.

The traditional serenade song used during courtship rituals in Filipino culture, rooted in Spanish influence.