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The Kulintang: Ensemble of Mindanao

The kulintang ensemble originated in Mindanao and is influenced by instruments from neighboring Southeast Asian countries like Borneo and Indonesia. It consists of several instruments played together: the kulintang, which plays the melody on a row of graduated gongs; the dabakan goblet drum, which provides rhythm; the agung, the largest bass gong; and the gandingan and babandir, smaller "talking gongs" and a timekeeping gong that help drive the rhythm. The kulintang ensemble is a distinct musical tradition in Mindanao with influences from cultural exchange with other regions.

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Ruthchel Yabo
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60 views

The Kulintang: Ensemble of Mindanao

The kulintang ensemble originated in Mindanao and is influenced by instruments from neighboring Southeast Asian countries like Borneo and Indonesia. It consists of several instruments played together: the kulintang, which plays the melody on a row of graduated gongs; the dabakan goblet drum, which provides rhythm; the agung, the largest bass gong; and the gandingan and babandir, smaller "talking gongs" and a timekeeping gong that help drive the rhythm. The kulintang ensemble is a distinct musical tradition in Mindanao with influences from cultural exchange with other regions.

Uploaded by

Ruthchel Yabo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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THE KULINTANG

ENSEMBLE OF
MINDANAO
Origin
When we hear the distinct ringing sound of the
Kulintang, we immediately think of Mindanao,
Muslims to be exact. But where does the kulintang
come from? Is it an original Filipino instrument? Is it
related to Islam? Historians say that this instrument
is connected to the other types of “gongs in a row” in
other parts of southeast Asia. Long before the arrival
of the Spaniards in the Philippines, traders from
neighboring countries in the south like Borneo and
Indonesia were actively engaged in various
commercial and cultural activities with the natives of
Sulu and other islands in the southern part of the
archipelago.
•The instruments of the
kulintang ensemble
•Kulintang
•The kulintang plays the
melody of the piece. It is
usually composed of 8 small
embossed graduated gongs
laid into a wooden frame.
This instrument has no
defined pitch because what
matters is the player’s
ability to follow the rhythm
and to make improvisations.
•Dabakan
The dabakan (maguindanaon
term) is a goblet-shaped drum.
It is carved from a single trunk
of wood. Usually its drum head
is made of goatskin. The
maranaos call this “dbakan”.
•Agung
Agung is the biggest gong
in the ensemble. The
agung may be compared
to the bass section of the
orchestra or a band.
•Gandingan
•The gandingan is also called
“talking gongs” because
traditionally they are used to
tell messages. It is composed
of four hanging slim bossed
gongs arranged from low to
high pitch starting from the
player’s left hand. Each pair
of gongs are hanged facing
each other.
•Babandir
This gong is the
time- keeper of the
ensemble. It acts as
the conductor of the
music.

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