The most sophisticated form of the Filipino music tradition is seen in Kulintang ensemble music. Among the different cultures that play kulintang music, there are different orchestrations; for example, the gandingan is more commonly used among the Maguindanao than with the Maranao people. Also, the spelling of the instrument names differ from language to language. The Maguindanao spelling is shown here.

Kulintang is the name of the entire instrument ensemble, and of the music produced by the ensemble. It is also of the main melody instrument in the ensemble, which is a set of eight bronze gongs, graduated in size and in tuning, suspended horizontally on a wooden stand called antangan (from antang, "to arrange"). The gongs are played with soft wooden sticks which are struck against the prominent mound or "boss" at the center of each gong.

Excerpts from "Magindanaon Kulintang Music: Instruments, Repertoire, Performance Contexts, and Social Functions." - Journal of the Society for Asian Music.

by Danongan Kalanduyan

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