MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

RONDALLA
Rondalla is an instrumental group in Philippines made up of stringed instruments. It is sometimes
called "Filipino String Band". It was brought to the Philippines by the Spaniards when they colonized
the island in the 16th century. It is known by the name "Camparza" which is meas a group of
musicians playing on stage. Many rondalla pioneers emerged before and after the Second World
War. One of them was Juan Silos Jr., a filipino composer and arranger known as the "Father of the
Rondalla".

The word "rondalla" is from the Spanish ronda, meaning "serenade" The core instruments of Spanish
rondallas are the guitar, the "mandolin"and the "lute". Rondallas usually are accompanied by at least
one singer and sometimes by percussionists playing handheld instruments. Though ensembles of
stringed instruments have existed in some form in Spain since at least the 16th century, the rondalla
dates from the early 19th century. It soon thereafter traveled to the Philippines, which was a Spanish
colony at the time.

CHORDOPHONES

Are stringed instruments. These consist of a series of stretched strings attached or coupled
to some kind of a hollow box that amplifies their vibrations. These are what produce the
sound.

BANDURIA

Similar to the role of a clarinet, trumpet or violin in an orchestra. It

has six strings with groups of threes and twos, the highest of which
is tuned to G (sol), second is D (re), and the third is A (la). These
have three strings each. The next is E (mi) and B (ti) have two strings
each and the last one F (fa) has only one because of its thick
strings.

LAUD

The instrument plays the contrapuntal part and takes

the viola , cello, bassoon, andtrombone part if it were in an orchestra. It shaped
like the banduria with long neck. It is tuned an octave lower than the banduria.
PICCOLO

Similar to the banduria but much smaller. It is tuned an octave higher than the
banduria and plays ornamental passages like turns and trills. It is similar to the
coloratura soprano in a choir.

OCTAVINA

This instrument plays the tenor part. It is shaped like a guitar with a small hole in the
middle. It plays the harmony in the composition and tuned like the laud.

GUITAR

This instrument plays the harmony in the composition and gives the permanent
accompaniment to the group. It usually plays chords and arpeggio. The guitar is
tuned to mi, la, re, sol, ti, mi.

HARP

Is one of the most ancient of musical instruments. It has over forty strings, each of
which can be altered by foot pedals to play thru tones: the pitch of the open string, the
pitch one-half step higher, and the pitch a whole step higher.

BAJO DE UNAS

Plays the bass part in a rondalla. It gives a full sound to the group. It is tuned like the
bass in an orchestra.