RONDALLAS Additions in Current Practice Include Bass Drum, Snare Drum, Cymbal, Triangle
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
RONDALLAS additions in current practice include bass drum, snare drum, cymbal, triangle, tambourines, xylophone or marimba, and William R. Pfeiffer tympani. Prof. Molina singles out a concert from Filipino music: indigenious [sic], folk, presented at Manila’s Philippine American Life modern (1976) Auditorium on July 24, 1965. The music was composed and conducted by Jerry Dadap and the program included “Balliton No. 1” for For historical reasons, the rondalla rondalla, “Choral Cycle No. 1” for chorus and takes precedence in a discussion of Philippine rondalla, and “Choral Symphonic Ode” for instrumental organizations. This string band rondalla, Chorus and orchestra. Of this music, originated in Spain, but its development in the Prof. Molina remarks that it “…gave distinct Philippines exhibits the characteristic Filipino symphonic personality to rondalla…” adaptation process. Two different terms Rondalla, like the zarzuela, currently identify this ensemble, namely, rondalla and enjoys revived emphasis and seems to be comparsa. Other terms used somewhat exceeding the height of its former heyday th indifferently prior to the band’s 20 century which came between 1905 and 1915. development are: murga, tuna, and Numerous public and private schools of the estudiantina. The first of these, murga, came Philippines maintain regular rondalla groups, to designate a group of wandering minstrels and the teacher training institutions include similar to the Visayan Kumbanchero. The rondalla playing in the standard curriculum. other two, tuna, and estudientina belong to In addition, civic, business and social groups bands which were popular among college compete in rondalla competitions which are young men, according to Dr. Antonio J. held annually. The Batangas Rondalla Festival Molina, who gives a lively description of them is one. Late in the 1960’s it numbered one in his U.S.T. Journal of Medicine article titled thousand players in the competing rondallas “Life, Music and Physicians.” A standard and an audience of eight thousand. Here are instrumentation for the Spanish estudientina some other examples of rondalla enthusiasm follows: mandolina, violins, guitars, flutes, in the Greater Manila area: cellos, basses, tambourines, castanets, and Taliba Rondalla Contest Festival triangles—a strikingly different group from the Rondalla Filharmonica Juvenal Filipino rondalla. Prof. Molina (1967:9) Centro Escolar University Rondalla quotes a Spanish musical dictionary written by Yellow Taxi Rondalla a Spanish musician who says of the rondalla For those interested in learning or revewing or comparsa that it is derived from the Spanish rondalla technique we can cite two references: original, but is not Spanish. He mentions Bacatan, Jose T.: Rondalla Handbook, “Bajo de uñas” (bass played by the “natives” Manlapas Publishing Company, Quezon City, and “Guitarion Filipino” Filipino guitar with 1970, and Patricio, M.C.: Development of five strings). The instruments, he declares, are Rondalla. U.P. College of Music Librarary, different and also their combination [sic]. Our 1959 (unpublished article). authority (Molina 1967) gives as the Filipino rondalla make-up the following plucked string instruments: bandurria, laud, octavina, guitar, and bajo de uñas; and then he adds that Juan ___________________________________ Silos, Jr. of contemporary rondalla fame adds Pfeiffer, William R. 1976. Filipino music: “…mandola to enrich the lower registers of the indigenious [sic], folk, modern. Dumaguete group.” It is observed that other common City, Philippines: Silliman Music Foundation.! .