ACOB, REYNANTE C.

09-11-10

BSN-102 Prof. Romeo Galang

Assignment

Kundiman (originally spelled Cundiman) is a genre of traditional Filipino love songs. The lyrics
of the Kundiman are written in Tagalog. The melody is characterized by a smooth, flowing and
gentle rhythm with dramatic intervals. Kundiman was the traditional means of serenade in the
Philippines.

The Kundiman came around to be an art song at the end of the nineteenth century and by the
early part of the twentieth century, its musical structure was formalised by Filipino composers
such as Francisco Santiago and Nicanor Abelardo (February 7, 1893-March 21, 1934); they
sought poetry for their lyrics, blending verse and music in equal parts.

Scholars and historians believed that the Kundiman originated from the Tagalog town of
Balayan, Batangas. [1] Dr. Francisco Santiago(1889-1947), the "Father of the Kundiman Art
Song", briefly explains in his scholarly work "The Development of Music in the Philippines" the
reason why this Tagalog song is called Kundiman is because the first stanza of this song begun
thus:

"Cundiman, cundiman
Cundiman si jele"
"Hele ng Cundiman
Hele ng Cundangan"

In 1916, Dr. Juan V. Pagaspas, a doctor of philosophy from Indiana University and a much
beloved educator in Tanauan, Batangas described the Kundiman as "a pure Tagalog song which
is usually very sentimental, so sentimental that if one should listen to it carefully watching the
tenor of words and the way the voice is conducted to express the real meaning of the verses, he
cannot but be conquered by a feeling of pity even so far as to shed tears." [J.Pagaspas, "Native
Amusements in the Province of Batangas"]

Dr. Francisco Santiago, the "Father of Filipino Musical Nationalism" declared in 1931 that the
Kundiman "is the love song par excellence of the Filipinos, the plaintive song which goes
deepest into their hearts, song which brings them untold emotions." [F. Santiago, "The
Development of Music in the Philippines"]

The melody and sentiment of the Kundiman tends not only toward the melancholy but also the
cheerful[6], and the commitment of the heart to passion is celebrated in every piece. The singer
of the kundiman expresses the pain and beauty of love felt by every listener, for the kundiman is
not merely entertainment but an embodiment of collective emotion.
Endowed with such power, the Kundiman naturally came to serve as a vehicle for veiled
patriotism in times of colonial oppression, in which the undying love for a woman symbolized
the love of country and desire for freedom.

Dr. Jose P. Rizal (1861-1896), the Philippine national hero, has consecrated the Kundiman in his
social novel “Noli Me Tangere”. Not only this but he himself wrote a Kundiman which is not of
the elegiac type because its rhythm sounds the threat, the reproach and the revindication of the
rights of the race.

During the height of the Philippine revolutionary movement against the Spanish colonizers, the
motherland was often the actual object of devotion represented by the woman named in the song,
as in “Jocelynang Baliwag,” which was originally a love song dedicated to Josefa "Pepita"
Tiongson y Lara of Baliwag. This development came about due to the Spaniards’ prohibition
against Filipinos singing patriotic songs.

The form was eventually influenced by Western dance music, like the danza, the waltz, and the
fandango. The lyrics grew increasingly more poetic in form. Poets like Deogracias Rosario and
Jesus Balmori used 12 syllable verses in writing kundiman lyrics. In the early 20th century, the
musical form became more academic, with formally trained musicians like Francisco Santiago
and Nicanor Abelardo uplifting its status to an art form. Santiago standardized the form, giving it
3 parts.

During this period, the kundiman was also used for the love songs in zarzuelas. Later, it was also
used for love themes in movies.

The heyday of the kundiman was from the 1800s to the 1930s. For modern songwriters, the term
is loosely used to refer to any romantic ballad which is similar in sentiment to the traditional
kundiman.

Musical Form

The minor key is most commonly used for this type of song. The kundiman is in triple time, but
has a tendency for unusual rhythmic patterns. This combination of flowing melody and adaptable
rhythm allow for greater expressiveness. Sequences of consecutive eighth notes are commonly
found in the kundiman. This is seen in Nicanor Abelardo's "Nasaan Ka Irog," Resurreccion
Bunyi's "Huling Awit," and Angel Peña's "Iyo Kailan Pa Man," among other songs.
Examples of Kundiman:

MUTYA NG PASIG

Music by Nicanor Abelardo

Lyrics by Deogracias del Rosario

Kung gabing ang buwan

sa langit ay nakadungaw;
Tila ginigising ng habagat
sa kanyang pagtulog sa tubig;
Ang isang larawang puti at busilak,
Na lugay ang buhok na animo'y agos;
Ito ang Mutya ng Pasig,
Ito ang Mutya ng Pasig.

Sa kanyang pagsiklot
sa maputing bula,
Kasabay ang awit,
kasabay ang tula;

Dati akong Paraluman,

Sa Kaharian ng pag-ibig,
Ang pag-ibig ng mamatay,
Naglaho rin ang kaharian.

Ang lakas ko ay nalipat,

Sa puso't dibdib ng lahat;
Kung nais ninyong akoy mabuhay,
Pag-ibig ko'y inyong ibigay.
Madaling Araw lyrics- Kundiman with video

Irogkong dinggin
Angtibok ng puso
Sana'y damdamin
Hirap nang sumuyo
Manong Itunghay
Ang matang mapungay
na siyang tanging ilaw
ng buhay kong papanaw.

Sagitna ng karimlan,
Magmadaling araw ka
At ako ay lawitan ng habag
At pagsinta.

Kung ako'y mamatay sa lungkot,

Nyaring buhay
Lumapit ka lang at mabubuhay
At kung magkagayon
Mutya, Mapalad ang buhay ko
Magdaranas ng tuwa dahil saiyo

Madaling araw na sinta

Liwanag ko't tanglaw
Halina Irog ko at
Mahalin o ako
Mutyang mapalad na ang buhay ko
Nang dahilan sa Ganda mo,
 Madaling Araw na Sinta
Liwang ko't Tanglaw
Halina Irog ko
At mahalin mo ako
Manungaw ka liyag
Ilaw ko't pangarap
at Madaling araw na.

Anak Dalita lyrics by Francisco Santiago

Ako'y anak ng dalita

At tigib ng luha
Ang naritong humihibik
Na bigyan ng awa

Buksan mo ang langit

At kusa mong pakinggan
Ang aking ligalig
Saka pagdaramdam

Ay, kung hindi ka maaaba

Sa lungkot kong dinaranas
Puso't diwang nabibihag
Sa libing masasadlak

Magtanong ka kung 'di tunay

Sa kislap ng mga tala
Magtanong ka rin sa ulap
Ng taglay kong dalita
 CHORUS
Sa dilim ng gabi
Aking nilalamay
Tanging larawan mo
Ang nagiging ilaw

Kung ikaw ay mahimbing

Sa gitna ng dilim
Ay iyong ihulog
Puso mo sa akin

AD LIB

Tanging larawan mo
Ang nagiging ilaw
Ay iyong ihulog
Puso mo sa akin

CODA
Ang iyong ihulog, ang iyong ihulog
Buhay, pag-asa, pag-asa
 Pahiwatig Lyrics-Kundiman

Pahiwatig Lyrics-Kundiman by Nicanor Abelardo

Pahat kong puso

Sa wikang pag-ibig
Tumitibok ng
Hindi mo malirip
Ito'y Ligaya
Kaya o Sakit ?
Ang idudulot saabang dibdib?
Tanging Kagandahan
Saaking Karainga'y
Pahiwatigan lamang
Kung may pa-asa
Pang kakamtan
At kung sakali't
Mamarapatinang dulot
Kong pagigiliw
Tangi kong pooonin
Hanggang buhayko ay makitil.
At kung mamamarapatin
Ang dulot kong paggiliw
Tangi kong popoppnin
Hanggang ang buhay ko
ay makitil.