Love Music

I've been playing the banduria for the last 20 years. It's the most colorful experience in my life. I've been to places all because I could play music.

But little do I know about the history of this instrument, so I googled it and this is what I found out. See, I have to google it to find out. When I was learning to play the banduria, history wasn't included in the package. I was only ten. I could've cared less.

A 14 string banduria used in many Philippine folkloric songs, with 16 frets and shorter neck than the 18 string bandurria. This instrument probably evolved in the Philippines while the Spanish occupation occurred, from 1555 to 1898.

Although Hispanic in origin, the rondalla remains a distinctly Filipino medium in the performing arts. The rondalla shares common roots with various musical traditions in other parts of the world, particularly in the Meditarranean, the Middle East, Western and Eastern Europe, Northern Africa and other parts of Asia.

An ensemble of plectrum instruments, the early Philippine rondalla repertoire consisted primarily of Western European symphonic overtures and arias from operas. Its compatibility with native Philippine music allowed the rondalla to figure prominently in Filipino rural community life, providing accompaniment to folk dancing and singing as well as the featured ensemble.

The standard Philippine rondalla consists of the pear-shaped piccolo bandurria, bandurria, and la-ud, and the guitar-shaped octavina and mandola, guitarra, and bajo de unas (which has been supplanted by the double bass). Fashioned from common Philippine wood such as langka,pine,molave,cypress, narra, kamagong, and mahogany,yakal,acacia, the instruments are played with a plectrum of turtle shell. The fourteen strings of the rondalla instruments, except for the guitarra, are grouped into six tuning units – viz., F#, B, E, A, D, G. The doubling or tripling of strings produces better sound quality and volume.

banduria, double bass, laud/octavina, guitar etc. are examples of rondalla

However, the rondalla is perceived to be exclusive only for cultural music. Thus, giving the younger market a reason not to appreciate such "traditonal tunes".

"The Philippine banduria is unique because one can actually arrange a musical score for it, whether for solo or orchestra. Abroad, the counterparts of the banduria are mostly used for mere accompaniment or background for songs,"

Sources:

http://www.asianjournal.com/print.php?a=24485

http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2004/02/01/SCTY20040201990.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_the_Philippines

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