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Hirinugyaw-Suguidanonay Festival uses bamboo as a prop and a musical instrument for their dance
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Less than a week
remains to the anticipated launch of the Visayan Leg for the 1st International
Gongs and Bamboo Music Festival at the Maasin Gymnasium on February 22-26,
2013. This festival will showcase
Maasin, Iloilo as the landmark destination to experience Indigenous cultures
and their authentic and diverse music.
Expect an influx of
indigenous groups, musical performers and maybe artisans from participating
countries such as – India, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia and local others,
to this entertaining 3-day festival performances. Fall in love with this art
and experience a wealth of Indigenous music from indigenous cultures as your
appreciation for diversity deepens.
Performances will
start on February 23 (Saturday) at 7 in the evening with the opening
performances of Manuglayon: Quiling National High School with the Cordillera
Music Tutorial and Research Center of Baguio City and the Ensamble Moderu Pailu
from Indonesia. A concert follows with performances from Vayali Folklore Group
of India, the Manuglitap: Maasin Central Elementary School, the Panay Bukidnon
of Iloilo, Manugdabong: Dagami National High School and the Khac Chi Bamboo
Music of Vietnam.
February 24 (Sunday)
at 3 in the afternoon will feature Sabai Sabai Thailand of Thailand along with
Manugrara: Tigbauan National High School, Bagobo of Davao City, Manugpusog:
Layog National High School and the Ensamble Moderu Palu of Indonesia. The
concert at 6 in the evening will showcase Khac Chi Bamboo Music of Vietnam,
Manuggama: Maasin National Comprehensive High School, Cordillera Music Tutorial
and Research Center of Baguio City, Manugmakan: Saint James Catholic High
School and Prasarnmit Performing Arts Alliance of Thailand.
February 25 (Monday)
at 3 in the afternoon will highlight Vayali Folklore Group of India,
Manugsukdap: Siwalo National High School, Bagobo of Davao City, Binalantak:
Burak National High School and Prasarnmit Performing Arts Alliance of Thailand.
The closing ceremony at 6 in the evening will have Sabai Sabai Thailand of Thailand,
Manuglayon: Quiling National High School, Khac Chi Bamboo Music of Vietnam and
Ensamble Moderu Palu of Indonesia.
The Visayan Leg for
the 1st Gongs and Bamboo Music Festival provides an opportunity for cultures to
showcase their traditional music using gongs and bamboo. The festival’s mission
continues with the vibrant energy that got it all started, to preserve the
cultural groups’ rich traditions in music accompanied by gongs and bamboos.
A gong is musical
percussion instrument consisting of a round, thick disk of metal varying in
diameter from about 20 to 40 inches. It is made mainly from bronze or brass but
there are many other alloys are in use. It is commonly suspended on a frame or
a stand.
Chinese in origin, a
gong is of three types: (a) Suspended Gongs are flat circular discs of metal
suspended vertically by means of a cord passed through holes near to the top
rim; (b) Bossed or Nipple Gongs with a raised centre boss often suspended and
played horizontally, and; (c) Bowl Gongs are bowl-shaped and rest on cushions.
Gongs are made mainly from bronze or brass but there are many other alloys in
use.
It is a popularly
used instrument for religious ceremonies, state processions, marriages and
other festivals in China and Japan. Gongs are traditionally manufactured in
China, Tibet, Burma, Korea, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
In the Philippines,
as early as 1896, musical instruments manufactured in bamboo were popularly
used by groups of Filipino musicians organized as bamboo bands. Mostly revolutionaries,
the first bamboo bands made their own instruments and played patriotic musical
pieces while fighting for independence from Spain. Now, we have improvised
western instruments that are more on the electrical side but the instruments
are different. Musical instruments such as piccolos, tubas, clarinets, flutes
and saxophones are now made of bamboo and the rhythm is the all the same.
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Pintados de Pasi Festival with their bamboo prop
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The celebration
wants to take bamboo and gong music worldwide and incorporate international
flavors. It is also an opportunity that allows performing groups to continue
passing on their cultural tradition—be it a particular style of music to the
next generations.
The International
Gongs and Bamboo Festival is an initiative undertaken by National Commission
for Culture and the Arts in partnership with the municipality of Maasin for the
benefit of the town’s growing economy and tourism appeal. Maasin will be an
even more appealing destination for travelers seeking the best
vacationing-experience. See you there!
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