Filipino

PHILIPPINE MUSIC:

A very popular type of music in the Philippines at the end of the nineteenth century and early part of the twentieth, is Kundiman. Kundiman is a genre of traditional Filipino love songs. The melody is characterized by smooth, flowing and gentle rhythm with dramatic intervals. Kundiman as considered as an art form. Filipino composers such as Francisco Santiago and Nicanor Abelardo formalized the Kundiman and sought poetry for their lyrics, blending verse and music in equal parts. The singers of the kundiman expresses the pain and beauty of love felt by every listener. The kundiman iss not merely entertainment but an embodiment of collective emotion. The kundiman naturally served to express patriotism in times of colonial oppression, in which the love for a woman actually symbolized the love of country and desire for freedom.

Harana- Popular way to serenade girls in the Philippines. Usually the boy goes to the girl’s house at night and sings love songs. Songs are often sung with somebody playing a guitar.

Musical Timeline in the Philippines:

1970
A revival of Spanish zarzuela began.
The Manila sound of Pinoy rock begins.
1978
Freddie Aguilar’s “Anak” is the most popular Filipino song in history, and helps popularize pinoy rock.
1986
Pinoy rock becomes socially aware in its lyrical tone, and helps set the stage for a revolution in this year; at the same time, some reject this new development, resulting in a punk rock scene in Manila.
1992
The release of Frncis Magalona’s Rap is Francis M. moves Pinoy rap towrds a more distinctive national sound.
Recent
Artists that are very popular now in the Phillipines are Eraserheads and Parokya ni Edgar (rock), Regine Velasquez, MYMP and Martin Nievera (pop), Southborder and Freestyle (R&B) and Gloc 9 (hip hop).