Music of the Philippines: Pre-Spanish and Spanish Periods

Long before the Spaniards, Filipinos lived in scattered barangays ruled by chieftains.
Despite separate living, they shared similarities in religion, dressing, housing, government, marriage, and economic activities.
They possessed a distinct culture, refined and civilized.

Natives were music lovers with each community having its own musical instruments.
Pigafetta's account: women from Cebu played harmony bamboo flute (bansic), long drum (colibao), bamboo harp (subing), and drum (tugo).

A Philippine epic narrative of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Interweaves epic poetry elements with a dramatic theme.
Performed during Lent and Holy Week as a Filipino Catholic devotion.
Adapted from pre-Hispanic epic poems as oral tradition after Christianity was introduced.

The indigenous form of the Pasyón was first written by Gaspar Aquino de Belén in "Ang Mahal na Pasión ni Hesu Christong Pinginoon natin na tula Pasion" (1703, approved in 1704).

Tagulaylay originates from "taghoy" (lament) and "alalay" (sustained), grieving a tragic event.
Panambitan or Tagulaylay is a funeral song or eulogy for mourning.

The kumintang is a name given to several distinct styles, techniques and forms in music and dance.
Originating in areas used by early Spanish cartographers to denote a large province centering around what is known as Batangas.
Early 19th-century travelers described kumintang as a Tagalog "chant national," dance-songs by pairs of men and women, with texts about love and courtship.
Coconut wine was passed among dancers.

Old dansa was an Old Occitan form of lyrics poetry developed in the late thirteenth century.
Related to the English term "dance" and often accompanied by dancing.

Balitaw is a song associated with the Visayas region, similar to kundiman and kumintang for Tagalog music.
The music is usually written in $4/4$ time.
It is also danced to, though originally sung.
A more developed form is called balitao romansada.
Traditionally accompanied by a three-string coconut-shell guitar.

More conservative style of sacred music.
Music played using indigenous musical instruments (bamboo canes, palm leaves, bark of trees).
Religious and music-salvation of self expression.
Recitative.
Mostly simple two note music, music was composed of few notes.

In 1521, Spaniards arrived, introducing European influence and cultivating music as a fine art.
The Educational Decree of 1863 established separate schools for boys and girls.
"Kastilang Pilipino" provided formal teacher education where vocal music was a subject.
Sacred music was emphasized due to Christianity's importance in Spanish colonization.
Passion song became popular, depicting events leading to Jesus Christ's death.
Fray Geronimo de Aguilar was the first Spanish priest to teach music in the Philippines.

A recitative written in $4/4$ time and in minor key.
Set freely to verses about a Philippine legendary hero or a poem called "awit."
Examples: Awit - F. Santiago, Ang Ulila - Antonio Molina, Batingaw na Pilak - Antonio Molina.

A Visayan folk song derived from the Malayan word "berita" (narration) or Tagalog "balita."
A dance and song, counterpart of kundiman.
Often sung more than danced.
Two Classes: Balitaw Menor (Visayan love song) and Balitaw Mayor (French slow waltz).