Vocal Music of Muslim Filipinos

Vocal Music
of Muslim
Filipinos
Islamic Music in general is
characterized by delicate patterns of
melody and rhythm. To the Muslims,
music is a vertical connection to Allah.
That is why the Quran must be recited in
a singing-like manner. In Islamic music,
the vocal aspect must overmaster the
instrumental
One of the literary art forms of our
Muslim brothers and sisters are their
epics. Epics are long, narrative poems
telling about heroic deeds of significant
characters. In Muslim culture in
Mindanao, the epics may be narrated in a
form of a poem or song.
At present, only three of the 13 Muslim
community groups have their epics
identified. It includes the Darangen of
Maranao
Darangen
The Darangen is an epic song about
Maranao people. Only 18 out of 25 song
cycles of the Darangen has been recorded
and studied. The epic deals not only
about relationships and adventures but
also ancestral political laws like kingship
and succession.
An Onor plays the lead role in a Darangen
performance. Her responsibilities include
singing the traditional songs, being a
dancer, and playing the Kulintang, a set
of eight small gongs. She is also expected
to portray the characteristics of a
Maranao princess, setting a royal
standard for Maranao women. This epic is
usually performed in weddings and lasts
up to several nights of performances.
Ballads
Most ballads (poem that tells a story) in
Muslim Mindanao are religious and
historical.
Religious because they talk about Islamic
faith. Historical because they talk about
historical personality and their works -
mostly to propagate or to defend the
Islamic faith.
Two main uses of Islamic music
The first one is for rituals and the other is for
entertainment. Music for rituals is mainly
vocal with no instrumental accompaniment.
Various Islamic tribes still possess the same
vocal music style like the ones used by their
early ancestors. Music with musical
instruments attached to its performance are
normally for entertainment purposes only.
Tausug Vocal Music
The Tausug vocal music called the “Palangan”
can be categorized into narrative and lyrical
songs. Narrative songs tell a story which
include the Kissa or epic legends and the lyric
songs which both deal with their normal and
daily way of life. Lyric songs are also sub-
categorized into Lugu and paggabang types.
The lugu is a religious chant usually done by
women.
The lugu is a religious chant usually done
by women. The lugu is characterized by
high vocal tension, a slow tempo, long
and sustained notes, and with a tremolo
at some parts of the phrase. Since this
type of song is for rituals, it is sung in
acapella.
The paggabang, on the other hand, are
songs usually accompanied by the
gabbang or bamboo xylophone and the
byula or violin. These songs are less
serious in nature.
- Sindil is another form of vocal music. It
is their local version of the balagtasan
wherein a man and a woman exchange
ideas for a certain topic. It is usually done
in weddings.
- Diker or death song of Maranao and the

Dekil or Maguindanaon mournful song.
- Sindil is another form of vocal music. It
is their local version of the balagtasan
wherein a man and a woman exchange
ideas for a certain topic. It is usually done
in weddings.
- Diker or death song of Maranao and the

Dekil or Maguindanaon mournful song.
1. Melismatic style of singing. Melisma means a
group of notes sung in one syllable of the text.
2. Use of tremolo (rapid reiteration of a single
note). The tremolo produces a musical effect
which resembles a shaky sound of notes.
3. Long and slow melodic phrase. Unlike the
regular song which has a fixed meter or number
of syllables for each line in stanza, these songs
have indefinite length of lines which results from
the singer’s improvisation of the tune of the
song.
4. Strained or throaty voice. This style of
singing is very common to ethnic groups
wherein the singer uses his/her speaking
voice to execute the song.
5. Free rhythm. Vocal music of Mindanao

uses the free rhythm style. It means there
are no fixed measures in the song.
4. Strained or throaty voice. This style of
singing is very common to ethnic groups
wherein the singer uses his/her speaking
voice to execute the song.
5. Free rhythm. Vocal music of Mindanao

uses the free rhythm style. It means there
are no fixed measures in the song.

Vocal Music of Muslim Filipinos

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Vocal Music of Muslim Filipinos

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Vocal Music of Muslim Filipinos

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Vocal Music

- Diker or death song of Maranao and the

- Diker or death song of Maranao and the

5. Free rhythm. Vocal music of Mindanao

5. Free rhythm. Vocal music of Mindanao

You might also like