Quarter I: MUSIC

MUSIC OF LUZON (Lowlands)

Geographical
Lowlands - are places in the Philippines which are not in the mountains like Abra, Albay, Apayao, Aurora, Bataan,
Batangas, Benguet, Bulacan, Cagayan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Cavite, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur,
Isabela, Kalinga, La Union, Laguna, Mountain Province, Nueva Ecija, Nueva, Vizcaya, Pampanga, Pangasinan,
Quezon, Quirino, Rizal, Sorsogon, Tarlac etc.

2 Kinds of Music in Lowlands of Luzon

1. Vocal Music - is a type of music performed by one or more singers, either with instrumental accompaniment,
or without instrumental accompaniment (a cappella), in which singing provides the main focus of
the piece.
2. Instrumental Music - music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments.

Vocal music of Luzon (Lowlands)

A. SACRED SONGS - Music for Liturgy and Devotional Music

-Social Functions: Music for Worship and Religious festivities
-Cultural Context (History and Traditions) Spanish colonization, Christianity and Catholic religion
-Performance Styles / Techniques: Tiples
the word tiple in Spanish means the soprano voice of a boy. When members reach the age of puberty, their
voices change either to a tenor or a bass. The boys range from 8 years old to 14 and sometimes a little bit older.

Examples of Sacred songs:

- The Mass, Pabasa ng Pasyon

Mass
- is a form of sacred musical composition, is a choral composition that sets the invariable portions of the
Eucharistic liturgy to music.

Songs in Mass
a. Kyrie - is the first movement of a setting of the Ordinary of the Mass
b. Gloria - is a celebratory passage praising God and Christ:
c. Credo - a setting of the Nicene Creed, is the longest text of a sung Mass:
 d. Sanctus - The Sanctus is a doxology praising the Trinity
e. Agnus Dei - The Agnus Dei is a setting of the "Lamb of God" litany

Ang Pabasa ng Pasyon

What is Pabasa?
- Every year during Holy Week celebrations some Filipino Catholics get together. This tradition is called
Pabasa.
How do we celebrate this festival?
- Pabasa festival is more like a tradition when old folks in particular read a book called Pasyon ( The Passion
of Christ ). But instead of reading it, they chant it or read it in a tune. Singing the whole book phrase by
phrase, line per line.
Why do we celebrate this festival?
- We celebrate this festival to commemorate the death of Jesus Christ in a solemn and calm manner compared
to the other traditions.

B. SECULAR MUSIC is non-religious music. Secular means being separate from religion
- Social Functions: Music for Festivities and Recreation, Work (Planting and Farming), Courtship, Social
Commentary and Patriotism
- Cultural Context (History and Traditions) Spanish colonization

The secular music of the Lowlands of Luzon reflects the impact of the Spanish colonization which lasted
for almost three centuries. The music bears influences of Spanish culture and music and serves as reflections of
that era, as seen in the messages of the songs. These songs, mostly about love of a man for a woman, have a
deeper meaning for the Filipinos at that time. The mans longing for the love of a woman is transformed into the
countrys love and longing for a free Philippines, as embodied in the woman. As time passes by, these traditions
most of which take place in the less urban areas or on the stages for cultural purposes, get less and less attention.
But we are not wanting in cultural groups who advocate continuance of these traditions.

Folk songs a song originating among the people of a country or area, passed by oral tradition from one
singer or generation to the next, often existing in several versions, and marked generally by simple melody.
Examples of popular Filipino folk songs in Tagalog:
- Bahay Kubo, Sitsiritsit Alibangbang, Leron Leron Sinta, Paruparong Bukid, Magtanim ay Di Biro, Atin cu
pung singsing, Pamulinawen , Manang Biday etc.
TYPES OF FOLKSONGS BASED ON FUNCTIONS:
Ballad: narrative song or songs that tell a story (example: Atin Cu Pung Singsing)
Lullaby: songs for rocking the baby to sleep (example: Ili-Ili Tulog Anay, Pamuwa sa Bata)
Songs of Friendship and Conviviality: humorous songs, welcoming songs (example: Salidummay)
 Love and Courtship Songs: love songs (parental and romantic love), courtship songs (example:
Pamulinawen)
Kundiman
- is a genre of traditional Filipino love songs.
-The lyrics of the Kundiman are written in Tagalog.
Harana - was a traditional form of courtship in the Philippines wherein men introduced themselves and/or
wooed women by singing underneath her window at night.
Kumintang - It is a traditional Filipino love song as well. Also, kumintang is a Visayan term for the flower
known in English as rosy periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus). It is known as tsitsirika in Tagalog.
Balitaw- this genre is about a love debate in song and dance between a man and a woman, but that it is more
sung than danced.

Instrumental music of Luzon (Lowlands)

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC DURING THE SPANISH PERIOD

LAS PIAS BAMBOO ORGAN

If theres one thing that is unique about Las Pias, it is the Bamboo Organ, which is considered a
Philippine National Treasure. On November 24, 2003, it was given this recognition by the National Museum
of the Philippines since it is the only 19th century Bamboo Organ in the Philippines that has survived and is
still functioning. This unique musical instrument is composed of 1,031 pipes, and 902 of which are made out
of bamboo while the rest are metal.

RONDALLA ENSEMBLE
The rondalla was brought to the Philippines by the Spaniards. In the early Philippines, certain styles
were adopted by the natives, especially guitar and banduria used in the Pandanggo, the Jota, and the Polka.

The use of the term Comparza was common, however, during the American period in the Philippines, the
term Rondalla became more used. At present, rondalla, in the Philippines, refers to any group of stringed
instruments that are played using the plectrum or pick. The Filipino instruments are made from indigenous
Philippine wood and the plectrum, or picks, are made from tortoise-shell.
Stringed instruments composing the standard Filipino rondalla are the bandurria, the lad, the octavina, the
Twelve-string guitar.
 Instrumental Music during the American and Japanese periods
This is a picture of the Philippine Constabulary Band under the baton of Col. Walter H. Loving at the St. Louis Exposition
in 1904.

Since not everybody could afford to buy an instrument of their own, some people sought to make an
improvised symphonic band.

One good trait of the Filipinos is resourcefulness. Do you think Filipinos today are still resourceful? Why? Write about it.

END!