Performing Arts in the Philippines – Lesson 4

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, people, dances, musical concepts, theatrical forms, and elements from Lesson 4: Performing Arts in the Philippines.

Performing Arts (Philippines)

Live artistic expressions—music, dance, and theatre—shaped by indigenous rituals, colonial history, and multicultural traditions.

Music (performing art)

Auditory art form using organized sound and silence; one of the three main Philippine performing arts.

Dance (performing art)

Expressive movement to rhythm or music that showcases Philippine cultural heritage.

Theatre (performing art)

Live dramatic performance combining acting, dialogue, and stagecraft.

Traditional Filipino music

Indigenous genres such as folk songs, harana, and kundiman, often accompanied by gongs or chimes.

Harana

Traditional Filipino courtship song sung beneath a woman’s window.

Kundiman

Traditional Filipino lyrical love song with smooth, flowing melody.

Modern Filipino music

Contemporary genres like pop, rock, and ballad that emerged in the 20th century.

Ryan Cayabyab

Acclaimed Filipino composer, arranger, and musical director whose works span classical to pop.

“Da Coconut Nut”

Humorous choral piece by Ryan Cayabyab praising the coconut tree.

“Kay Ganda Ng Ating Musika”

Patriotic song by Ryan Cayabyab meaning “How Beautiful Our Music Is.”

Lea Salonga

Filipino singer-actress famed for her crystalline voice and role as Kim in Miss Saigon.

Eraserheads

Influential 1990s Filipino rock band nicknamed “The Beatles of the Philippines.”

Rhythm (music)

Patterned movement of sounds and silences over time.

Melody

Succession of single tones forming a recognizable musical line.

Pitch

Perceived highness or lowness of a sound.

Harmony

Simultaneous combination of notes creating chords.

Timbre

Distinctive tone color or quality that differentiates sounds.

Musical Notation

Written system of symbols representing musical sounds.

Tinikling

National folk dance mimicking tikling birds, using sliding bamboo poles.

Cariñosa

Spanish-influenced Filipino courtship dance meaning “loving one,” featuring fan and handkerchief.

Pandanggo sa Ilaw

Folk dance from Lubang Island where dancers balance lights; derived from Spanish Fandango.

Singkil

Maranao dance depicting the epic Darangen with intricate footwork between bamboo poles.

Human Body (dance element)

Primary instrument of dance, executing movements and gestures.

Arrangement (dance element)

Organized sequence of steps and patterns forming choreography.

Time & Space (dance)

Temporal rhythm and physical area within which movement occurs.

Komedya

Spanish-influenced Philippine folk drama depicting Christian-Moorish conflicts.

Senakulo

Passion play dramatizing Christ’s life and crucifixion during Holy Week.

Sarswela

Musical play blending song, dance, and dialogue to tackle social themes.

Bodabil

Variety show patterned after American vaudeville introduced during the U.S. period.

Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA)

Issue-based theater group fostering social awareness through performances and workshops.

Tanghalang Pilipino

Resident company of the Cultural Center of the Philippines producing original Filipino plays.

Repertory Philippines

Theater group founded in 1967 to stage world-class English-language plays for Filipino audiences.

Stage Direction

Written instruction indicating actors’ movements, positions, or tone.

Scenic Design

Visual creation of sets and backgrounds that support a performance’s setting.

Narratology (theatre)

Structural arrangement and study of a play’s narrative elements.

Time & Space (theatre)

Coordination of duration, pacing, and physical stage area to realize dramatic action.