ABSTRACT
When the Spaniards landed on Philippine soil, the indigenous Filipinos had a thriving musical culture of their own. Reports made by friars, civil servants, and travelers describe instrumental and vocal music, sometimes mentioned in passing, sometimes in detail. ese reports cite various types of vocal genres, including epics relating genealogies and exploits of heroes and gods; work songs related to planting, harvesting, and fi shing; ritual songs to drive away evil spirits, or to invoke blessings from good spirits; songs to celebrate festive occasions, particularly marriage, birth, victory at war, and the settling of tribal
disputes; songs for mourning the dead; songs of courting; and children’s game-playing songs. Musical instruments included those of bronze, wood, or bamboo-gongs, drums, fl utes, zithers, lutes, clappers, and buzzers.
