ETHNIC TRADITION (9th to early 16th century)

Ethnic music in the Philippines was started by different groups before. The indulgent of Philippine ethnic music is premised on an admiration of native instruments which are used in the various ritual and worldly activities of these peoples and which are generally grouped into the aerophones or wind instruments; chordophones or stringed instruments; idiophones or percussion instruments struck with a hammer, or against each other, or against another object like the hand; and membranophones or percussion instruments using animal skins or membranes. Nevertheless, the ethnic music was not only made by playing instruments. Different pieces were also made by using the voices of the people. In addition of the instrumental music that was made by the groups before, vocal music was also established. Like the instruments, vocal music expresses and transmits in a concrete and vivid manner a great variety of the thoughts, beliefs, society, lifestyles, character and way of life of the native peoples. Singing is really a big component of life among the people before. People before sang in solo or in groups according to the composition of the song and the may sing with accompaniment or without; with or without the benefit of word. In singing also, there are certain patterns that the people before followed. One of which is the improvisation in singing the music. The better quality of music that the singer/s blows out, the greater ability in music they have exemplified. Another, there is generally a low and limited range of notes (more or less an octave) and given this range there is a great number of uncertain pitches. In summary, Ethnic music was focused to their rituals and lifestyles. Music was made even in a very little knowledge of the theory of music. Spanish musical influence is mainly motivated to bring the Christian faith closer to the natives. The Spanish regime gave new form to Philippine music in particular. Songs, epics native drums and gongs were overshadowed by the Christian chants and the harmony of new Western instruments namely the organ, harp and the guitar. Unfortunately for Philippine music, the arrival of the Spaniards also meant the forced eradication of ethnic music and old traditions. Performing ethnic music was highly discouraged, thus slowly disappearing, although some traditions still exist.

The formal rise of liturgical music started when missionaries taught European religious music to the new Christians. These converts proved to be good and interested in learning the plainsong, the flute, the harp, and the guitar. After fifty years since the conquest, music schools for the faith were established by the Church. Since Christianity proved to be a very powerful force in the Colonial period, the influence of Church music extended to everyday living. As a result, as an offshoot of liturgical music, extraliturgical music was born. It evolved as time passed and eventually lost its religious characteristic.

The combination of ritual music of the indigenous religion and the music of Christianity paved way for Secular music as years passed. This type music from the Spanish Colonial tradition assimilated elements of European secular genres. From the traditional sound of ethnic music, to Pinoy rock, from bodabil to kundiman, and from guttural music to Pinoy novelty, Filipino music has greatly evolved over the past five centuries.

Music had already been present even before Filipinos were supposedly “civilized” by the Spaniards. Filipinos, before, used different materials, such as animal skin, wood, and other organic materials to create their own musical instruments. Ethnic music in the Philippines concentrated on the different beliefs, lifestyles, societies, etc., of the native people. Musical Characteristics: When the Hispanics occupied the Philippines, Philippine music was greatly influenced. Music developed during this period is one of the roots for modern Filipino music. It was during this period that guitars became popular. Because of this, almost all the music forms in this period makes use of the guitar.

	Created by pcsalazar almost 10 years ago

Note on Untitled, created by pcsalazar on 05/28/2014.

Untitled