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 thw sound.
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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). Thesehave 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, and trombone 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.
