=Music of the Visayas=

Introduction
You will be introduced to selected vocal and instrumental music

from the Visayas. For vocal music, the Balitaw and Composo
are accompanied by the guitar and/or rondalla instrument.
It includes an introduction to the Binanog Music Ensemble of

Panay, Bukidnon, Tultogan Bamboo of Maasin, Iloilo, and

Rondalla of Silay-on, Negros. Viewing of and listening to the
said instrumental and vocal music is included.
Making improvised instruments from bamboo materials and/or

playing simple folk songs on selected rondalla instruments will

culminate the learning experience.
The wide variety of reportoire of Visayan songs includes ballads,

lullabies, harana (serenade), childrens songs, working songs,

drinking songs, nonsense songs, and a lively song-and-dance
debate called Balitaw

Visayan music is generally viewed as rich in

Spanish colonial music tradition influence.

This is proven by its use of the guitar, its
vocal/choral and instruments.
Today, there are still existing ethno-linguistic
groups from Visayas continuing to nurture and
practice music dating from the pre-Spanish
period.
Instrumental music shows a rich diversity in
the musical culture of the Visayan region. The
different ensembles, with their respective
sounds display the enthusiastic musical
involvement of the loving, expressive
Visayans. Express also their emotions,
sentiments, way of life, and interactions with
their environment and other people.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS OF THE

VISAYAS

Trigo or
Gimbal
Trigo or
Gimbal is a
two
headed
drum

Subing
The subing is a bamboo
jaw harp. Despite their
length of approximately
20-25 cm., the actual
functioning part of the
subbing is quite small
with a resultantly high
pitch. Subing are often
tuned by a small piece of
pitch or insect wax on
the tongue. Usually
subing are decorated
and come with a bamboo
case. This instrument
was collected in Manila
in 1987.

Buktot
Buktot is a word in
the filipino
language
generally meaning
a humpbacked
person. The
instrument
resonator, usually
a coconut shell,
resembles a
hunchback! The
buktot is a Visayan
Guitar

Litgit or
Litguit
A litguit instrument is a traditional
Filipino instrument that is used to
make percussion sounds that
resemble those of maracas. The
instrument has a long, thin wooden
handle, and, when it is played, it is
struck with anotherlong, slim piece
of wood to produce the distinctive
sound. Traditional musical
instruments evoke the spirit of
their "home" countries, adding
beauty and uniqueness to
traditional folk music or more
modern musical compositions.
Today, many musicians use
traditional Filipino musical

Lantoy
Lantoy, The nose
flute,another type of endblown flute, is found mostly
in northern Philippines
where the Kalinga call it
tongali, the Bontok
kaleleng, and the Ifugao
ungiung. It is found
sporadically in some areas
of the south among the
Hanunuo (lantuy), the Batak
(lantoy), and the Bukidnon
(bulaktob). The Cuyunin of
Palawan have gigantic nose
flutes with tubes much
larger in diameter than

VISAYAN SONG LOVERS

Ati-Atihan Festival
TheAti-Atihan Festivalis a
feast held in January in honor
of theSanto Nio(Inannually
fant Jesus), concluding on the
third Sunday, in the island
and town ofKalibo, Aklanin
thePhilippines. The name
"Ati-Atihan" means "to be like
Atis" or "make believe Ati's".
Itas were the primary settlers
in the islands according to
history books. They too are
the earliest settlers of Panay
Island where the province of