BALINGBING

Classification: Idiophone, bamboo buzzer

Description

Bamboo tube, one side closed. Two tongues and a crack up to the node; hole. The instrument is

played by beating one of the tongues against the arm or wrist; sound can be changed by closing

and opening the hole. Usually played by at least seven individuals, each with one buzzer. Player

play their own rythmic pattern, all patterns fit together ('interlocking'). Players can form long rows

while dancing in an open space (such as a central meadow).

Dimensions: vary from 30 to 50 cm. depending on desired tonal height.

Ethnic group: Kalingga

Location: North Luzon (Cordillera)

AFIW

Classification: Idiophone, jaw harp

Description

Made of brass; the instrument is held horizontally with the metal tongue in front of the opened

mouth. The left end is either hit by the thumb of the right hand or plucked (see photograph

below). This makes the metal tongue vibrate which causes a sound. The mouth serves as a

resonator and by changing the shape and size of the mouth opening; the overtones can be

changed, thus creating a melody. By strongly breathing in or out the volume can be changed as

well. The string is made of wool.

Dimensions: length: 11,5 cm., width: 1,3 cm.

Ethnic group: Bontoc

Location: North Luzon (Cordillera)

BANGIBANG

Classification: Idiophone, percussion bar

Description

Set of at least seven wooden bars made of hard wood. Each bar has its own pitch and is hit by

the player with a short stick of hard wood. Players have one stick each and play their own

rythmic pattern, which fall together ('interlocking').

Dimensions: length: 47,5 cm., height: 5 cm., diameter: 2,6 cm.

Ethnic group: Ifugao

Location: North Luzon (Cordillera)

COURTING FLUTE

Classification: Aerophone, vertical flute

Description

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.

Ethnic group: Bontoc

Location: North Luzon (Cordillera)

KALLELENG

The end of the tubes with the blowing hole burnt in the node.

Classification: Aerophone, vertical flute, nose flute

Description

Long bamboo tubes, closed at one end by the node in which the blowing hole is burnt. The flute

has three finger holes. The blowing hole is placed under an angle against the nose and the

player gently blows into the tube. The kalleleng is held against the nostril;

the other nostril is plugged.

Dimensions (from top to bottom):

- flute 1: length: 71 cm., diameter: 2 cm.

- flute 2: length: 51,5 cm., diameter: 2 cm.

Ethnic group: Bontoc

Location: North Luzon (Cordillera)

KOLITONG

The strings are cut loose from the skin and

lifted by wooden bridges.

The star shaped opening in the nod.

Classification: Chordophone, idiochord tube zither

Description

Bamboo tube, closed at both end by a node. In both nodes a star shaped opening is cut. Five

strings are cut loose from the skin, and lifted and tuned with small pieces of wood. The tube is

cracked and slightly opened to improve resonance.

Dimensions: length: 80 cm. diameter: 11,5 cm.

Ethnic group: Kalingga

Location: North Luzon, Cordillera

PALDONG

Front view

The mouthpiece, the one on the left is the Paldong

Classification: Aerophone, lip valley flute (notch flute)

Description

Open bamboo pipe, top end cut at an angle (see pictures). Three by one fingerholes.

Dimensions: length: 69,2 cm, diameter 1,6 cm.

Ethnic group: Kalingga

Location: North Luzon (Cordillera)

PALIPAL

Side view

Top view

Classification: Idiophone, bamboo clapper

Description

Bamboo tube, one end open; cut open in the middle; upper part cut into two halves. The

instrument is played by shaking: one half swings up and down and in the down swing hits the

lower half.

Ethnic group: Ifugao

Location: North Luzon (Cordillera)

TONGALI

The end of the tubes with the blowing hole burnt in the node.

Classification: Aerophone, vertital flute. nose flute

Description

Long bamboo tubes, closed at one end by the node in which the blowing hole is burnt. The flute

has three finger holes. The blowing hole is placed under an angle against the nose and the

player gently blows into the tube. The tongali is held against the nostril; the other nostril is

plugged.

Dimensions: length: 57,5 cm., diameter 2 cm.

.

Ethnic group: Kalingga

Location: North Luzon (Cordillera)

GANGSA

A gangsa is a type of metallophone which is used mainly in Balinese and Javanese Gamelan

music. It consists of several tuned metal bars each placed over an individual resonator. The

bars are hit with a mallet, each producing a different pitch. Duration of sound intensity and

sound quality factors are generally accomplished by damping the vibration of the bar with the

fingers of the free hand. The gangsa is very similar to the gendér and the saron.

A gangsa is also the name of a completely different instrument, one which is indigenous to the

cultures found in the mountain regions (the Cordillera) of the northern Philippines. The gangsa

of the northern Philippines is a single hand-held smooth-surfaced gong with a narrow rim. A set

of gangsa, which is played one gong per musician, consists of gangsa tuned to different notes,

depending on regional or local cultural preferences. The number of gangsa in a set varies with

availability, and depends on the tradition of a particular ethnic group of the Luzon Cordillera:

Kalinga, Ifugao, Bontoc, etc.

Among the Kalinga people in the Cordillera region of Luzon Island, the gangsa is played in two

ways. One way is called "toppaya" and the other is called "pattung." In "toppaya" style, the

musicians 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.

SUBING

The subing is a bamboo jaw harp of the Cuyinin people of Palawan Island in western

Philippines. Despite their length of approximately 20-25 cm. The actual functioning part of the

subbing is quite small with a resultantly high pitch. Subing are often tuned by a small piece of

pitch or insect wax on the tongue. Usually subing are decorated and come with a bamboo case.

GIWONG

The giwong is the jaw harp of the Kalinga people of northern Luzon in the Philippines. It is a

very flat jaw harp but with very good tone and very easy to play. These jaw harps are often

readily available in tourist shops in many countries and as such not taken very seriously. They

were traditionally used for courting but now made more for the tourist trade, often made by non-

Kalinga as well.

Type: jaw harps