Music of Highlands: Cordillera

In this lesson, we will explore

the music of indigenous people
of Cordillera Administrative
Region composed of the six
ethnics groups below;
A. Abra: Tinguian/Itneg
B. Apayao: Apayao/Isneg
C. Benguet: Ibaloi
D. Kalinga: Kalinga
E. Ifugao:Ifugao
F. Mountain Province: Bontoc
 All of the six indigenous
groups from CAR are
collectively referred as
Igorots. The name
Cordillera means “
knotted rope”, it is a
name given by the
Spanish conquistadors
when they first saw the
jumbled rolls and dips of
this long-range traversing
the northern part of
Luzon Island.
 The people of Cordillera region are
nature lovers. They appreciate the
beauty of nature and create artistic
expressions through songs, dances and
art forms. Cordillera songs are written
in varied musical scales. There are
some songs that are written seven- tone
scale. Tip-Tipan of Western Bontoc is
one example of seven- tone scale song.
There are songs that are sung in free
style like Oggayam. Oggayam is a
song from Kalinga, it is performed by
one person during public gathering and
other occasion. The theme depends on
the events.
 OGGAYAMI
Ay e e e gayamen-n-n-n-n Dey gayamen-n-n-n-n-n-n Ay oggayam ke-e-e-e-e-e-t Di gayamen!
Adto ta-y-y-y-e-e-e-e (we’re all gathered here because of us) Men----dat----da----tong
O mi-pang-ge-e-e-e-ep
Ken—di—tako!
Kadat an-ank-a-a-a-a-a (our children) Nag-gasawa-a-a-a-a-a (who got married)
O sapay koma ken-n-n-n-n (may they)
Di-yos ama ta—enda-a-a-a-a (by God’s will)
Ay gumanak! (beget many children)
Ay e-e-e gayamenn-n-n-n (Hey, brothers)
Dey e-e-e-ey gayamen n-n-n
O kakabsa---at—a-a dumateng! (who came)
Nga immay me-e-e-e-et agatendar (to attend)
Kanto kasa-a-a-a-a-a di dad an-nak! (the wedding of this hour)
O o abal-la-yan mi-i-ye (O aballayan – parents of either party) Nga----day-dayawen (whom we honor)
O kakabsat man-n-n-n-n nga dum-mateng! (O brothers who came) O sap-sapay koma –a-a- ken Diyos Ama (May it
be to God the Father) Tadenda-e-e-e-e-ey gumanak ta (that they bear many children) Addat gon-gona ta at-e-e (so
that we’ll be rewarded)
Nga nagdat-dating kanto (we who came)
Nanumo---o nga para-angan! (to humble yard/abode) A-e-e-e- ket gaya—menn-n-n-
Dey e-e-e-ey gayamen-n-n-n
Ket inkam pay pagyam-yamanan (we thank you)
Nga immay met a nag-atendar kanto (you who came) https://youtu.be/StdCqJ9qCiU
 Salindumay
It is an indigenous folk song associated with the
Igorots and Kalinga natives of the Cordillera
Mountains in northern part of the Philippines. It
is also a response song of young women to the
Kalkalimus a songs of men during weaving
season. Salindumay are sweet melodies and
expression of gratitude. Serving as indicators of
acceptance or rejection, the song plays an
important role in the lives of young people of
courtship age.
https://youtu.be/oq2_iYIS_DI
 Ba-diw
https://youtu.be/TfeV9KK56v0

The Ibaloi’s Ba-diw is a

ceremonial song for the dead and
it is sung in a leader-chorus style,
whereas the epic song of
Kalinga’s Ullalim, Mountain
Province’s Day-eng and Ifugao’s
Hudhud, is chanted.
Instrumental Music: Cordillera
 Gangsa
It is a single hand-held smooth-surfaced gong with
a narrow rim. A set of gangsa played
One gong per musician. The number of gangsa in
a set varied with availability and depends on the
tradition of a particular ethnic group of Luzon
Cordillera provinces, among the Kalinga people,
gangsa is played in two ways. One way is called “
toppaya” and other is called “pattung”. In toppaya
style, musician play the surface of the gangsa with
their hand while in a sitting position, with a single
gangsa resting on the lap of each musician. In the
"pattung" style, a gangsa is suspended from the
musician's left hand and played with a padded
stick held in the musician's right hand. In the
"pattung" style of playing, the players are
standing, or they keep in step with the dancers
while bending forward slightly.
 Kalaleng or Tongali ( nose flute)
It is called nose flute because
the word “kaleleng” means nise
and has a narrow internal diameter,
it is possible to play different
harmonics through overblowing
even with even with the rather
weak airflow from one nostril.
Thus, this nose flute can play notes
in a range of two and a half
octaves. Finger holes in the side of
the bamboo tube change the
operating length, giving various
scales. Players plug the other
nostril to increase the force of their
breath through the flute.
 Tongatong
It is a bamboo percussion
instrument used by the people of
Kalinga to communicate with
spirits during house blessings. It
is made of bamboo cut in various
lengths. When you hit it against
soft earth a certain drone
reverberates though the
instrument's open mouth. When
an entire set of Tongatong is
played in interloping rhythm and
prolonged with the tribal
chanting, it could put the
audience and the dancers in a
trance.
 Diwdiw-as
It is 5 or more different
size of slender bamboo
that
is tied together. It is
played by blowing air
into the reeds as the
instrument is moved
from side to side.
 Saggeypo
Saggeypo is a bamboo
pipe that is closed on one
end by a node with the
open end held against the
lower lip of the player as
he blows directly across
the top. The pipe can be
played individually by
one person or in
ensembles of three or
more.
 Sulibaw
It is hallowed wooden
drum of the Igorot. It us
topped with pig skin or
lizard skin. It us played by
striking the drumhead with
the palm of the hand. The
person playing must be
half seated so as to hold
the sulibaw on his lap.
Bungkaka or bilbil
It is a bamboo
instrument used by
the Tingguians.
Bungkaka is played
by striking the
open end of the
bamboo against the
palm of the hand.
 Kolitong
It is a bamboo zither with 6-10
parallel string. It is played by
plucking the string of the zither.
Checking Your Learning
A. Multiple Choice: Identify the musical instruments
being described in each number. Circle the letter that
corresponds to the correct answer.
1. What instrument has 6 to 10 parallel strings and played
by plucking the string of the zither?
A. Pat-ting
B. Diwdiw-as
C. Tonggali
D. Kolitong
2. What instrument is also called as nose flute?
A. Tong-gali
B. Bungkaka
C. Gangsa
D. Sulibaw
3. What do you call on a hallowed drum of the Igorots?
A. Sulibaw
B. Gangsa
C. Kimbal
D. Kolitong
4. An instrument made of bronze and used by the Igorots
in their rituals?
A. Gong
B. Gangsa
C. Bunkaka
D. Kimbal
5. What the meaning of the name “Cordillera”?
A. Knotted ripe
B. Knotted rope
C. Knotted roop
Activity
Direction: Make a comparison of music of
the following ethnic group of CAR;
A. Itneg
B. Apayao
C. Ibaloi
D. Kalinga
E. Ifugao
F. Bontoc
Note: Use any Ipad applications (keynote,
popplet app).