THE BAMBOO SPECIES USED IN THE PRODUCTION OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS BY FOUR FILIPINO TRIBES (KALINGA (LUBUAGAN SUBTRIBE), MAJUKAYONG, BAGOBO-TAGABAWA AND T'BOLI)

Abstract

Bamboo Musical Instruments have been part of Filipino culture for centuries. While there are literature reports on the history and production of Philippine BMIs, only few recognised the bamboo species used in making them. Knowledge about these species will contribute to their conservation as well as in the proper care and protection of bamboo musical instruments in the market and those that are kept on display in museums such as the UP Center for Ethnomusicology. In this study, 31 instruments produced by four indigenous communities: Kalinga (Lubuagan subtribe), Majukayong, Bagobo-Tagabawa, and T’boli are documented and the bamboo species used in making them were identified. The instruments were classified into idiophones (21), aerophones (8), membranophones (1) and chordophones (1). They were made from nine bamboo species, namely: kauayan-tinik (Bambusa spinosa Roxb.), kauayan-kiling (B. vulgaris Schrad. ex Wendl.), giant bamboo (Dendrocalamus asper (Schultes f.) Backer ex Heyne), bayog (D. merillianus (Elmer) Elmer), kayali (Gigantochloa atter (Hassk.) Kurz), botong (G. levis (Blanco) Merr.), bentung (Schizotachyum brachycladum (Kurz) Kurz), anos (S. lima (Blanco) Merr.), and buho (S. lumampao (Blanco) Merr.). Commonly practiced among the tribes in the selection of the bamboo species to use is to consider the length of the bamboo internode, thickness of the culm, diametre of the pole, and availability of the species. The bamboo species that were found in the tribal areas include introduced species that have naturalised in the country.