#gots7e1

As a history nerd and a fantasy/sci-fi geek, I have long been enamored by the history of the fantasy world of George R.R. Martin’s The Song of Ice and Fire. That world and its myriad of cultures, religions, magic and dragons, with its intrigues and the feudal families’ vying for power, is almost a faint echo of medieval Europe, if not almost mirroring the mudslinging political families in Philippine politics. And so when I saw this video of Filipino musicians performing Game of Thrones’ OST on facebook last weekend, in anticipation of the release of Season 7′s Episode 1: Dragonstone last Monday, I got all the more excited.

The musicians are none other than Kontemporaryong Gamelan Pilipino (Kontra-GaPi), the resident Ethnic Music and Dance Ensemble of the UP Diliman’s College of Arts and Letters. And the musical instruments they use come from some of the indigenous peoples of the Philippines, which are almost similar in shape and size with the other instruments used in some parts of Southeast Asia (a link that certifies our common bond with our Asian neighbors). 

As Filipinos, it is unfortunate that most of us are not familiar with our own musical instruments, as much as (let’s say) a Westerner is familiar with the piano, the flute or the cello, etc. Just trying to study them and appreciate them, even if we don’t know how to play them, dignify these instruments and the peoples who produced music out of them. Indeed, music is a big chunk of our Filipino identity that we still try to redefine. And these musical instruments are evidence of cultures that were already flourishing in the islands even before the Spanish colonization. These instruments are also a testament to the enduring cultural diversity and richness that we have in the Philippines--truly a “nation of many peoples.”

I took the liberty of taking a screenshot of each of these instruments on the Kontra-GaPi music video in order to practice my familiarity. 

1. Kulintang 

While Kulintangs are widespread in Philippine cultural shows, the real kulintangs are found in the Maranao and Maguindanao communities (even in other parts of Southeast Asia), where a friend described it to me as like hearing drops of water hit a thousand crystals. Beautiful and tingling to the ears. Beginning in the 12th century “Kulintang” has come to denote an ensemble of instruments, almost similar to the Gamelan ensemble in Bali and Java in Indonesia. Hence, the video featured here a Kulintang Ensemble. 

2. Agung 

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) defines it as “knobbed metal gong of the Philippines used in various communal rituals. Suspended in the air by rope or metal chains, the musical instrument is also employed by some indigenous groups as a means to announce community events, and as an indicator of the passage of time.” 

3. Kubing

It is a bamboo-made jaw harp in the Philippines, used by Maguindanaon, Maranao, and other non-Moro ethnic groups in Mindanao and Palawan.

3. Dabakan

The one used in the music video seem to be a variation of the Dabakan, a goblet shaped drum, usually with inlaid wood carving of okir (intricate patterns common to Maranao design). The drumhead is usually made of goat or carabao skin. It is the only non-gong instrument in the five main instruments of the Kulintang ensemble. 

4. Gabbang

Our counterpart to the xylophone, ours is made of bamboo. Ethnic groups that usually use this are the Yakans, the Palaw’ans and the Tausugs. Kontra-GaPi seem to play two variations of the Gabbang. 

5. Gandingan

It is a set of four hanging gongs, as compared to Agung which may have one gong or two. Gandingan gongs are also thinner than Agung. It is usually seen in the Kulintang ensemble as the second main instrument that follows the melody of Kulintang. The gong can also be used by the Maguindanaons to communicate to each other especially in long distances. It is said that the tune produced by the gong are similar to the Maguindanao language. 

6. Saronai

It is a set of 8 brass/iron plates, and is tuned and played like the regular-size Kulintang. It is considered as a practice instrument for beginners due to its small size, but can also be played by advanced kulintang players. It is common among the Maranao. 

****A tumblr friend corrected me when I called this instrument “small kulintang.” Whoever you are please send me a msg again so I can tag-credit you. The message gets erased when replied to so I lost your tumblr handle. :)