Kutiyapi
Encyclopedia
The kudyapi, is a Philippine two-stringed, fretted boat-lute
. It is the only stringed instrument among the Maguindanao people
, and one of several among other groups such as the Maranao
and Manobo. It is four to six feet long with nine fret
s made of hardened beeswax
. The instrument is carved out of solid soft wood such as from the jackfruit
tree.
Common to all kudyapi instruments, a constant drone
is played with one string while the other, an octave above the drone, plays the melody with a kebit or rattan pluck (commonly made from plastic nowadays). This feature, which is also common to other related Southeast Asian "boat lutes", which were influenced by varying degrees by Indian
concepts of melody and scale via the Malay archipelago
. (See Indosphere
for more information on historic Indian cultural influence in Southeast Asia.)
and accompanying style used to imitate that of the kulintang
, and the dinaladay, a lower pentatonic scale used for teaching pieces of an abstract nature.
In dinaladay, several tiers of difficulty revolve around main compositions: Patentek, Patundug, Banutun and Minudel; Patentek being the most straightforward, Minudel being the most-challenging.
Binalig scale pieces include several archaic compositions now not played on the kulintang
, and of these pieces Malapankuno (cock crowing) and Mapalendad are included.
Any piece with a kinukulintangan affixed to its name is one that imitates the style of the kulintang instrument, of which the Sinulog a kinukulintangan; a piece that embellishes the main melody of the kulintang's Sinulog a kangungudan, is the most popular.
The Kutiyapi may or may not be accompanied by one of several types of flutes; the palendag
, suling
, insi or tumpong
. Singing is usually reserved for courtship purposes.
The Kudyapi (kotyapi) has also been as one of the instruments in several older light ensembles, including that of the kasayao-sa-singkil/kasingkil ensemble, the original musical accompaniment to the singkil
dance (now rarely used in favour of conventional kulintang
ensembles). This ensemble pairs the kotyapi with a jaw harp (kubing
), suling
, a pair of small double-headed drums known as gandangan
(a drum now rarely used among the Maranao in favor of the single-headed dadabuan
) and a single kulintang
, in accompaniment to the bamboo poles used in the dance.
Another archaic ensemble where the kotyapi was included was the Kapanirong
, or courtship ensemble, in which the kotyapi was used with a kubing
, small insi flute, a two-stringed bamboo zither serongagandi, and a brass-tray tintik.
) genres, played in either binalig or dinaladay scales, that is used during weddings, election campaigns, religious celebrations such as Eid
or other large gatherings. The dayunday generally sets well known musicians from both genders against each other in verbal jest and competition.
With the advent of globalization, the importance of the kutiyapi has waned as artists have taken up the guitar
instead, as it is louder.
groups, the instrument (known as Hegelung, Kudyapi or Fedlung) is tuned to a major pentatonic scale. Among groups like the Bagobo, the Kutiyapi (Kudlung) is also used as a bowed instrument and is generally played to accompany improvised songs.
A characteristic difference between Mindanaon Moro
Kutiyapi and the non-Islamized Lumad equivalents is the style and set up of vocal accompaniment. Among the Lumad groups, the kudyapi player and vocalist are separate performers, and vocalists use a free-flowing method of singing on top of the rhythm of the instrument, whereas among the Maguindanao and Maranao, there are set rhythms are phrases connected with the melody of the kutiyapi, with the player doubling as the vocalist (bayoka), if need be.
n), Kotyapi (Maranao
), Kotapi (Subanon
), Fegereng (Tiruray), Faglong, Fuglung (B'laan
), Kudyapi (Bukidnon
and Tagbanua
), Hegelong (T’boli) and Kuglong, Kadlong, Kudlong or Kudlung (Manobo, Mansaka, Mandaya, Bagobo and Central Mindanao
), Kusyapi (Palawan
)
Similar instruments played throughout the region include the Sape
of Sarawak
and the Crocodile lutes of Mainland Southeast Asia. Although they share a similar name, the Kacapi
of Sunda
on Java
is a zither, and not a lute.
Lute
Lute can refer generally to any plucked string instrument with a neck and a deep round back, or more specifically to an instrument from the family of European lutes....
. It is the only stringed instrument among the Maguindanao people
Maguindanao people
The Maguindanao are part of the wider Moro ethnic group, who constitute the sixth largest Filipino ethnic group. Their name means “people of the plains”.-Pre-Spanish:...
, and one of several among other groups such as the Maranao
Maranao
Maranao is the term used for the people of Lanao, a predominantly Muslim region in the Philippines island of Mindanao. They are famous for their artwork, sophisticated weaving, wood and metal craft, and their epic literature...
and Manobo. It is four to six feet long with nine fret
Fret
A fret is a raised portion on the neck of a stringed instrument, that extends generally across the full width of the neck. On most modern western instruments, frets are metal strips inserted into the fingerboard...
s made of hardened beeswax
Beeswax
Beeswax is a natural wax produced in the bee hive of honey bees of the genus Apis. It is mainly esters of fatty acids and various long chain alcohols...
. The instrument is carved out of solid soft wood such as from the jackfruit
Jackfruit
The jackfruit is a species of tree in the Artocarpus genus of the mulberry family . It is native to parts of Southern and Southeast Asia. It is the national fruit of Bangladesh, . The jackfruit tree is believed to be indigenous to the southwestern rain forests of India...
tree.
Common to all kudyapi instruments, a constant drone
Drone (music)
In music, a drone is a harmonic or monophonic effect or accompaniment where a note or chord is continuously sounded throughout most or all of a piece. The word drone is also used to refer to any part of a musical instrument that is just used to produce such an effect.-A musical effect:A drone...
is played with one string while the other, an octave above the drone, plays the melody with a kebit or rattan pluck (commonly made from plastic nowadays). This feature, which is also common to other related Southeast Asian "boat lutes", which were influenced by varying degrees by Indian
Indian classical music
The origins of Indian classical music can be found in the Vedas, which are the oldest scriptures in the Hindu tradition. Indian classical music has also been significantly influenced by, or syncretised with, Indian folk music and Persian music. The Samaveda, one of the four Vedas, describes music...
concepts of melody and scale via the Malay archipelago
Malay Archipelago
The Malay Archipelago refers to the archipelago between mainland Southeastern Asia and Australia. The name was derived from the anachronistic concept of a Malay race....
. (See Indosphere
Indosphere
Indosphere is a subgrouping of Tibeto-Burman languages as defined by linguist James Matisoff, which includes languages that are typologically and morphologically a closeness to Indo-Aryan languages...
for more information on historic Indian cultural influence in Southeast Asia.)
Maguindanao
For the Maguindanao, it is possible to arrange the beeswax frets into different patterns resulting in two different scales for the instrument. These are the binalig, a higher pitched scale similar to the pelogPelog
Pelog is one of the two essential scales of gamelan music native to Bali and Java, in Indonesia. The other scale commonly used is called slendro. Pelog has seven notes, but many gamelan ensembles only have keys for five of the pitches...
and accompanying style used to imitate that of the kulintang
Kulintang
Kulintang is a modern term for an ancient instrumental form of music composed on a row of small, horizontally-laid gongs that function melodically, accompanied by larger, suspended gongs and drums...
, and the dinaladay, a lower pentatonic scale used for teaching pieces of an abstract nature.
In dinaladay, several tiers of difficulty revolve around main compositions: Patentek, Patundug, Banutun and Minudel; Patentek being the most straightforward, Minudel being the most-challenging.
Binalig scale pieces include several archaic compositions now not played on the kulintang
Kulintang
Kulintang is a modern term for an ancient instrumental form of music composed on a row of small, horizontally-laid gongs that function melodically, accompanied by larger, suspended gongs and drums...
, and of these pieces Malapankuno (cock crowing) and Mapalendad are included.
Any piece with a kinukulintangan affixed to its name is one that imitates the style of the kulintang instrument, of which the Sinulog a kinukulintangan; a piece that embellishes the main melody of the kulintang's Sinulog a kangungudan, is the most popular.
The Kutiyapi may or may not be accompanied by one of several types of flutes; the palendag
Palendag
The palendag, also called Pulalu , Palandag , Pulala and Lumundeg is a type of Philippine bamboo flute, the largest one used by the Maguindanaon, a smaller type of this instrument is called the Hulakteb ....
, suling
Suling
A suling or Seruling is an Indonesian bamboo ring flute. It is used in gamelan ensembles.Depending on the regional genre, a suling can be tuned into different scales...
, insi or tumpong
Tumpong
The tumpong is a type of Philippine bamboo flute used by the Maguindanaon, half the size of the largest bamboo flute, the palendag. A lip-valley flute like the palendag, the tumpong makes a sound when players blow through İNCİ GELDİ a bamboo reed placed on top of the instrument and the air stream...
. Singing is usually reserved for courtship purposes.
Maranao
Among the Maranao, pieces played by using bagu and andung scales (equivalents of the binalig and dinaladay scales used by the Maguindanao), and in contrast to Maguindanao pieces, the kutiyapi is also used as an accompanying instrument to bayoka or epic chants. Examples of older andung pieces include Kangganatan and Mamayog Akun.The Kudyapi (kotyapi) has also been as one of the instruments in several older light ensembles, including that of the kasayao-sa-singkil/kasingkil ensemble, the original musical accompaniment to the singkil
Singkil
Singkíl is a famous dance of the Maranao people of Lake Lanao, which was popularised by the Bayanihan Philippine National Folk Dance Company.-Description:...
dance (now rarely used in favour of conventional kulintang
Kulintang
Kulintang is a modern term for an ancient instrumental form of music composed on a row of small, horizontally-laid gongs that function melodically, accompanied by larger, suspended gongs and drums...
ensembles). This ensemble pairs the kotyapi with a jaw harp (kubing
Kubing
The kubing is a type of Philippine jaw harp from bamboo found among the Maguindanaon and other Muslim and non-Muslim tribes in the Philippines and Indonesia. It is also called kobing , kolibau , aru-ding ), aroding , kulaing , karombi , yori...
), suling
Suling
A suling or Seruling is an Indonesian bamboo ring flute. It is used in gamelan ensembles.Depending on the regional genre, a suling can be tuned into different scales...
, a pair of small double-headed drums known as gandangan
Kendang
Kendhang is a two-headed drum used by peoples from Maritime Southeast Asia....
(a drum now rarely used among the Maranao in favor of the single-headed dadabuan
Dabakan
The dabakan is a single-headed Philippine drum, primarily used as a supportive instrument in the kulintang ensemble. Among the five main kulintang instruments, it is the only non-gong element of the Maguindanao ensemble.-Description:...
) and a single kulintang
Kulintang
Kulintang is a modern term for an ancient instrumental form of music composed on a row of small, horizontally-laid gongs that function melodically, accompanied by larger, suspended gongs and drums...
, in accompaniment to the bamboo poles used in the dance.
Another archaic ensemble where the kotyapi was included was the Kapanirong
Kapanirong
In Filipino music, the kapanirong is a serenade by a group of young bachelors who would come to a maiden's house and play their music by the window. The house occupants would then invite the serenaders into the house and in the ensuing merrymaking some courtship could take place among the young...
, or courtship ensemble, in which the kotyapi was used with a kubing
Kubing
The kubing is a type of Philippine jaw harp from bamboo found among the Maguindanaon and other Muslim and non-Muslim tribes in the Philippines and Indonesia. It is also called kobing , kolibau , aru-ding ), aroding , kulaing , karombi , yori...
, small insi flute, a two-stringed bamboo zither serongagandi, and a brass-tray tintik.
Dayunday performances
Among both the Maguindanao and Maranao, a much more recent informal styles are also used. Dayunday is a performed in front of an audience using an improvisational vocal style based on both sangel sa wata (traditional lullaby) and bayok (epic chant sung in a cappellaA cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
) genres, played in either binalig or dinaladay scales, that is used during weddings, election campaigns, religious celebrations such as Eid
Eid ul-Fitr
Eid ul-Fitr, Eid al-Fitr, Id-ul-Fitr, or Id al-Fitr , often abbreviated to Eid, is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting . Eid is an Arabic word meaning "festivity," while Fiṭr means "breaking the fast"...
or other large gatherings. The dayunday generally sets well known musicians from both genders against each other in verbal jest and competition.
With the advent of globalization, the importance of the kutiyapi has waned as artists have taken up the guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
instead, as it is louder.
Lumad groups
Among the T'Boli, Manobo and other LumadLumad
The Lumad is a term being used to denote a group of indigenous peoples of the southern Philippines. It is a Cebuano term meaning "native" or "indigenous"...
groups, the instrument (known as Hegelung, Kudyapi or Fedlung) is tuned to a major pentatonic scale. Among groups like the Bagobo, the Kutiyapi (Kudlung) is also used as a bowed instrument and is generally played to accompany improvised songs.
A characteristic difference between Mindanaon Moro
Moro
- Events :* Moro Crater massacre, an engagement in the Philippine-American War* Battle of the Moro, a World War II battle between mainly Canadian and German forces on the Moro river in Italy in 1943...
Kutiyapi and the non-Islamized Lumad equivalents is the style and set up of vocal accompaniment. Among the Lumad groups, the kudyapi player and vocalist are separate performers, and vocalists use a free-flowing method of singing on top of the rhythm of the instrument, whereas among the Maguindanao and Maranao, there are set rhythms are phrases connected with the melody of the kutiyapi, with the player doubling as the vocalist (bayoka), if need be.
Various names and Similar instruments
Also called: Kutyapi, Kutiapi (MaguindanaoMaguindanao
Maguindanao is a province of the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao . Its capital is Shariff Aguak. It borders Lanao del Sur to the north, Cotabato to the east, and Sultan Kudarat to the south....
n), Kotyapi (Maranao
Maranao
Maranao is the term used for the people of Lanao, a predominantly Muslim region in the Philippines island of Mindanao. They are famous for their artwork, sophisticated weaving, wood and metal craft, and their epic literature...
), Kotapi (Subanon
Subanon
The name Subanon means "river people", which is derived from the word "suba" or river. The Subanon, also known in the Anglicized form as "Subanen," is a tribe indigenous to the Zamboanga Peninsula area, particularly living in the mountainous areas of Zamboanga del Sur and Misamis Occidental...
), Fegereng (Tiruray), Faglong, Fuglung (B'laan
B'laan
The Blaan are one of the indigenous peoples of Southern Mindanao in The Philippines. Their name could have derived from "bla" meaning "opponent" and the suffix "an" meaning "people"...
), Kudyapi (Bukidnon
Bukidnon
Bukidnon is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Northern Mindanao region. Its capital is Malaybalay City. The province borders, clockwise starting from the north, Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Sur, Davao del Norte, Cotabato, Lanao del Sur, and Lanao del Norte.Bukidnon is...
and Tagbanua
Tagbanua
The Tagbanua tribe, one of the oldest tribes in the Philippines, can be mainly found in the central and northern Palawan. Research has shown that the Tagbanua are possible descendants of the Tabon Man; thus, making them one of the original inhabitants of the Philippines...
), Hegelong (T’boli) and Kuglong, Kadlong, Kudlong or Kudlung (Manobo, Mansaka, Mandaya, Bagobo and Central Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
), Kusyapi (Palawan
Palawan
Palawan is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region or Region 4. Its capital is Puerto Princesa City, and it is the largest province in the country in terms of total area of jurisdiction. The islands of Palawan stretch from Mindoro in the northeast to Borneo in the...
)
Similar instruments played throughout the region include the Sape
Sape
Sape is a genus of skippers in the family Hesperiidae.-References:*...
of Sarawak
Sarawak
Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...
and the Crocodile lutes of Mainland Southeast Asia. Although they share a similar name, the Kacapi
Kacapi
Kacapi is a zither-like Sundanese musical instrument played as the main accompanying instrument in the Tembang Sunda or Mamaos Cianjuran, kacapi suling genre , pantun stories recitation or an additional instrument in Gamelan Degung performance.Word kacapi in Sundanese also refers to santol tree,...
of Sunda
Sundanese people
The Sundanese are an ethnic group native to the western part of the Indonesian island of Java. They number approximately 31 million, and are the second most populous of all the nation's ethncities. The Sundanese are predominantly Muslim...
on Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
is a zither, and not a lute.
Pictures of other kutiyapi derivatives
- Photograph of a Kudyapi, a Maranao Kudyapi, by Fekke de Jagar.
- Photograph of a Kudlung, a Bagobo Kudlung, by Fekke de Jagar.
- Photograph of a Kudlung, a B'laan Kudlung, by Fekke de Jagar.