agung

Agung musical instrument Mindoro. The agung is a set of two wide-rimmed, vertically-

suspended gongs used by the Maguindanao, Maranao, Sama-Bajau and Tausug people of the Philippines as a supportive instrument in kulintang ensembles. The agung is also ubiquitous

among other groups found in Palawan, Panay, Mindoro, Mindanao, Sabah, Sulawesi, Sarawak and Kalimantan as an integral part of the agung orchestra.

The agung is a large, heavy, wide-rimmed gong shaped like a kettle gong. of the agung produces a bass sound in the kulintang orchestra and weighs between 11 and 15 pounds, but

it is possible to find agungs weigh as low as 5 pounds or as high as 20 or 30 pounds each, depending on the metal (bronze, brass or iron) used to produce them.

Though their diameters are smaller than the gandingan’s, at roughly 22 inches (560 mm) to 24 inches (610 mm) in length, they have a much deeper turned-in takilidan (rim) than the

latter, with a width of 12 to 13 inches (330 mm) including the knob.

They are hung vertically above the floor at or a bit below the waist line, suspended by ropes fastened to structures like strong tree limb, beam of a house, ceiling, or gong stand.

The larger, lower pitched gong of the two is called the pangandungan by the Maguindanao and the p'nanggisa-an by the Maranao. Played on the musician's right, it provides the main

part, which it predominantly played on the accents of the rhythmic structure.

The smaller, higher pitched gong, the thicker of the two, is called the panentekan by the Maguindanao and the p'malsan or pumalsan by the Maranao. Found on the player’s left, it is

mainly played on the weaker double and triple beats of the rhythmic structure, in counterpoint to the pangandungan's part

kulintang

The kulintang is a type of metal gong that is played using

sticks. A kulintang set is usually made up of a minimum eight

gongs having different pitches. It is traditionally played by

women and is the melodic instrument in a kulintang ensemble.

Kulintang playing is important to mark events like weddings

and official celebrations. Players also use it to show off their

skills to attract the opposite sex. Agung Used in: Bangsamoro

provinces, Palawan, Mindoro, Panay, Cebu –

dabakan The dabakan is a type of drum that is used to provide a bass

beat for kulintang ensembles. It is usually played using sticks.

The head of the drum is made out of animal skin (goat,

carabao, deer, etc) and its body out of coconut or jackfruit

tree wood. Ornate carvings usually decorate the body of the

dabakan. Sulibao Used in: Benguet and Mountain Province

Sulibao

The sulibao is a type of hand drum that has a long body that

resembles a tobacco stick. Because of its small head it has a

higher pitch than the dabakan. Sulibao is used to accompany

the gangsa in gatherings and helps the players maintain their

tempo or playing speed. Tongatong Used in: Cordillera

provinces

Diwas

The diwas is a type of bamboo panpipe made up of five to

eight individual pipes with various pitches. Each pipe only has

one hole and the instrument makes sound by bouncing air back

on the blowing (open) end of the pipe. In some provinces in the

Cordillera, the pipes are also played individually and are then

called saggeypo. Tambuli and Budyong Used in: Southern

Luzon (Tagalog regions); Mindoro and Eastern Mindanao

tambuli The tambuli and budyong are one-note trumpets. The tambuli

is made from carabao horns while the budyong is made of

giant conch shell of the species Cassis. Both are often used to

signal villagers from long distances to warn of danger or to

indicate approaching visitors. Budyong players are also known

to use it for rituals. Because they play only single, sustained

notes they are not often counted as musical

instruments. String instruments These types of instruments

are those that produce sounds by the vibration of strings. The

strings are either plucked or strummed with the fingers or hit

with a stick. Kudyapi Used in: all around Mindanao, Visayas

and Palawan

The kolitong is a type of bamboo zither with strings made of fine bamboo

skin. The strings encircle the hollow bamboo sounding board and frets

made of bamboo are inserted beneath the strings to create variations in

pitch. The number of strings range from five to eleven. It is played with

the fingers or by hitting the strings with a stick.

Aerophone, vertical flute

Short bamboo tube, cut off on the node and closed with a piece of wood,

lower part of the hole half covered, with a burnt in hole.

Dimensions: length: 14,7 cm., dimater: 1,6 cm.

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Lantuy

Ethnic group: Hanunoo

Location: Mindoro

Aerophone, chip-on-ledge flute

Slightly curved bamboo tube, closed on one side by a node and cut off

under an angle. On the cut off surface an extra piece of banboo is tied.

Dimensions: length: 31,5 cm., diameter: 1,5 cm.

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Courting flute

Ethnic group: Bontoc

Location: North Luzon (Cordillera)

Chordophone, two stringed boat lute

Two stringed lute made of wood, one string for the melody, one for the drone.

Eight frets are glued on the neck of the lute. The body of the instrument is carved

with geometric patterns. The neck and the head are adorned with horse hair; the

tail has two (originally three) pieces of carabao skin; the strap is adorned with

bead work.

Dimensions: length: 98 cm., width: 8,5 cm., height: 5,5 cm.

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Kudlung

Ethnic group: B'laan

Location: SE Mindanao (christian/animist part)