February 2023 Handout

CONTEMPORARY PHILIPPINE ARTS FROM THE REGIONS

Module 1
CONTEMPORARY ART FORMS
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In its most basic sense, the term contemporary art refers to art—namely, painting, sculpture, photography, installation,
performance, and video art—produced today. Though seemingly simple, the details surrounding this definition are often a bit
fuzzy, as different individuals' interpretations of “today” may widely and wildly vary. Therefore, the exact  starting point of the
genre is still debated; however, many art historians consider the late 1960s or early 1970s (the end of modern art, or modernism)
to be an adequate estimate.
CONTEMPORARY ART:
- Art produced at the present period in time.
- Contemporary art includes, and develops from, Post-modern art, which is itself a successor to Modern art.
- In vernacular English, “modern” and “contemporary” are synonyms, resulting in some conflation of the terms “modern art”
and “contemporary art” by non-specialists.
CONTEMPORARY ART FORMS ARE THE FOLLOWING:
1. Choreography
2. Musical instrument
3. Literary and music composition
4. Visual design
5. Theatrical performance
CONTEMPORARY dance:
- is a popular form of dance which developed during the middle portion of the twentieth century and has since grown to
become one of the dominating performance genres for formally trained dancers throughout the world,
- With particularly strong popularity in the U.S. and Western Europe. Although originally informed by and borrowing
from classical, modern, and jazz styles, it has since come to incorporate elements from many styles of dance.
- But due to its popularity amongst trained dancers and some overlap in movement type, it is often perceived as being
closely related to modern dance, ballet and other classical concert dance styles.
MUSIC, DANCE & THEATER
MUSIC OF FILIPINO:
Cordillera
1. The flat gong commonly known as gangsa and played by the groups in the Cordillera region of the bossed gongs played
among the Islam and animist groups in the Southern Philippines.
2. Kalaleng or Tongali (nose flute). Because the kalaleng is long and has a narrow internal diameter, it is possible to play
different harmonics through overblowing—even with the rather weak airflow from one nostril.
3. Tongatong is a bamboo percussion instrument used by the people of Kalinga to  communicate with spirits during house
blessings. It is made of bamboo cut in various lengths. When you hit it against soft earth a certain drone reverberates
though the instrument’s open mouth. When an entire set of Tongatong is played in interloping rhythm and prolonged with
the tribal chanting, it could put the audience and the dancers in a trance
4. Diwdiw-as is 5 or more different size of slender bamboo that is tied together.
5. Saggeypoit is a bamboo pipe that is closed on one end by a node with the open end held against the lower lip of the
player as he blows directly across the top. The pipe can be played individually by one person or in ensembles of three or
more.
6. Solibao is hallow wooden Igorot drug topped with pig skin or lizard skin this is played by striking the drum head using the
palm of the hand.
7. Bungkaka- bamboo buzzer.
8. Kullitong- polychordal bamboo tube zither.
9. Ulibaw- bamboo jaw’s harp
Southern Islands:
 Kulintang refers to a racked gong chime instrument played in the southern islands of the Philippines, along with its varied
accompanying ensembles.
 Different groups have different ways of playing the kulintang. Two major groups seem to stand-out in kulintang music. These
are the Maguindanaon and the Maranaw. The kulintang instrument itself could be traced to either the introduction of gongs
to Southeast Asia from China from before the 10th century CE, or more likely, to the introduction of bossed gong chimes
from Java in the 15th century.
Harana and Kundiman: 
The Harana and Kundiman are lyrical songs popular in the Malaysian Islands dating back to the Spanish period. In the
1920s Harana and Kundiman became more mainstream musical styles led by performers such as Atang de la Rama, Jovita
Fuentes, Conching Rosal, Sylvia La Torre and Ruben Tagalog.

“Every child is an artist; the problem is staying an artist when you grow up” – Pablo Picasso
February 2023 Handout

Rondalla: 
The Rondallais performed on ensembles comprisingmandolin instruments of various sizes called banduria composed on
the Iberian tradition. Other instruments including guitars, is also performed. It is original to Spain.
Tinikling: 
The Tinikling is a Philippine dance which involves two individual performers hitting bamboopoles, using them to beat, tap,
and slide on the ground, in co-ordination with one or more dancers who steps over and in between poles
Cariñosa: 
The Cariñosa (meaning loving or affectionate one), is a Philippine national dance from the  María Clara suite of Philippine
folk dances, where the fan, and handkerchief plays an instrument role as it places the couple in romance scenario.
OPM:
Original Pilipino Music, now more commonly termed Original Pinoy Music, Original Philippine Music or OPM for short,
originally referred only to Philippine pop songs, particularly ballads, such as those popular after the collapse of its predecessor,
the Manila Sound in the late 1970s, up until the present. In the 1970s, popular OPM artists
included Nora Aunor, Pilita Corrales, Eddie Peregrina, Victor Wood and Asin, among others. The more major
commercial Philippine pop music artists were Pops Fernandez, Claire dela
Fuente, Didith Reyes, Rico Puno, Ryan Cayabyab, Basil Valdez, Celeste Legaspi, Hajji Alejandro, Rey Valera, Freddie
Aguilar, Imelda Papin, Eva Eugenio, Nonoy Zuniga and many others. Between the 1980s and 1990s, OPM was led by artists
such as Regine Velasquez, Sharon Cuneta, APO Hiking Society, José Mari
Chan, Dingdong Avanzado, Rodel Naval, Janno Gibbs, Ogie Alcasid, Manilyn Reynes, Lilet, Martin
Nievera,Lea Salonga, Vina Morales, Raymond Lauchengco, JoAnne Lorenzana, Francis Magalona and Gary Valenciano, among
many others. In the 1990s, famous artists/bands included Eraserheads, Smokey Mountain, Donna Cruz, Jessa Zaragoza, Ariel
Rivera, South Border, AfterImage, Andrew E, Lani Misalucha
Jaya, Rivermaya, Ella May Saison and Roselle Nava, among many others.

“Every child is an artist; the problem is staying an artist when you grow up” – Pablo Picasso