The Kalinga Ethnic instruments in Music

1. KALINGA ETHNIC
INSTRUMENTS

2. 1. GANGSA (AN OLD NAME
FOR COPPER OR BRASS)
and considered as the most
treasured instrument among the
Kalinga. The gangsas are played
during festivities like peace
agreements, burial rites, or
head-hunting ceremonies. A set
of gangsa, which is played one
gong per musician, consist of
gangsa tuned to different notes,
depending on regional or local
cultural preferences.

3. A. GANGSA-TOPAYYA
It is a set of six graduated
gongs tied to the belts of six
men who kneel down and lay their
gongs on their lap. The player
strikes and slides the gong to
make a ringing sound by using
the left hand and immediately
producing a dampened sound as
they slide the right hand
forward on the surface of the
gong.

4. B. GANGSA PALOOK
It requires six or more men striking
the inner side of the gongs with
sticks and allowing them to vibrate.
The women join them later on and a
bigger circle is formed. In the final
part, the women dance in a circle
around the men.

5. 2. BUNKAKA OR BALINGBING
(BAMBOO BUZZER)
It is a bamboo tube with an opening
or split at the end. The way of
playing it is by striking the split
end against the palm of the hand to
produce a buzzing sound. This
instrument may be played alone or in
a group, usually by six players. It
is the same with the musical form of
the topayya gong ensemble which is to
drive away evil spirits.

6. 3. PATANGGUK (QUILL-SHAPED
TUBE)
It is made of one internode of a
long slender variety of bamboo.
It is struck against a bamboo
tube or piece of hardwood. To
produce variety of pitch and
timbre, the thumbhole along the
side of the handle may be closed
or left open.

7. 4. PATATAG (LEG
XYLOPHONE)
It is a set of bamboo blades in
graduated sizes. It is played in
an ensemble of six members by
one or two sticks and produces
strong and dampened sounds.

8. 5. TONGATONG (STAMPING
TUBE)
These are stamping tubes
consisting of six bamboo
tubes of different lengths
with a node base but open at
the upper ends.

9. 6. ULIBAW (JEW’S
HARP)
It is a bamboo instrument made of a
thin, narrow strip of bamboo or
brass. It’s name varies from tribe to
tribe: kolibau (Tingguian), uribaw
(Apayao), ab-a’fu (Bontok), akpio
(Ifugao metal harp), and afiw (Bontoc
metal harp). It is characterized by a
very thin slit with a thin tongue at
the middle part.

10. 7. KOLITONG OR KULITONG
It is a stringed instrument made
of a single bamboo piece around
3-4 inches in diameter with a
node at each end.

11. 8. SAGGEYPO (PIPE)
It is a set of five, six, or more
bamboo pipes with different sizes
played in three or more ensembles.
The instruments are played both young
and old women or men during
relaxation periods and when they
socialize with other tribes.

12. 9. DIWDIW-AS (PANPIPES)
It is a row of five or more slim
bamboo tubes of varying lengths tied
to each other. This is the Igorot
term for panpipes. Like the Saggeypo,
it is played by both young and old
women during leisure hours.

13. 10.TONGALI (NOSE FLUTE)
It is an instrument from Ifugao and
Kalinga. It is a nose flute
instrument originated from many
tribes and is called by different
names: kaleleng among the Bontoc and
the Kankanai; and baliing among the
Isneg. It has five finger holes. It
is normally played solo by men to woo
women, and for general entertainment.

14. 11. SULIBAW OR SOLIBAO (CONICAL
DRUM)
It is a drum with a skinhead
played with a padded stick or by
tapping using open hands.

15. 12. PALDONG
It is a traditional bamboo lip-valley
flute. It is open at both ends and
has four finger holes. Most of the
time, a melody improvisation is
played by men for serenading,
courting women, or passing by leisure
time.