Thursday, February 14, 2013

Gong and Bamboo music takes spotlight at the Tunog-tugan Festival


February 16-22, 2013 Dipolog City
February 22-26, 2013 Maasin, Iloilo
February 27-28, 2013 Metro Manila

During the second half of February, the Philippines will be the host of the very first International Gongs and Bamboo Music Festival. Dubbed as the Tunog-tugan Festival, this festival will gather some of the Philippines’ and Asia’s finest gongs and bamboo ensembles and scholars. The festival starts in Dipolog City from February 16-22, 2013, will journey to Maasin, Iloilo from February 22-26, 2013.

Gong and bamboo performing groups, scholars and craftsmen from China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, India, South Korea and the Philippines will converge in Dipolog City, Maasin, Iloilo and Metro Manila to participate in a series of concerts, workshops, conferences and an exhibit.

Participants from the Philippines include Bagobo Clata of Davao City, The Cordillera Music Tutorial and Research Center of Baguio City, Dipolog City Bamboo Marimba Ensemble of Dipolog City, Ifugao Performing Arts Group, Ingat Kapandayan Artist Center, Tausug  of Jolo, Sulu, Maguindanao Kulintang Ensemble of Cotabato City, Panay Bukidnon of Iloilo, Roxas Ahadas Yakan Music Cultural Group of Basilan, Subanen of Lapuyan of Zamboanga del Sur, Subanen of Siayan and Subanen of Sindangan of Zamboanga del Norte, and Teduray Agong Ensemble of Maguindanao.

Participants from other parts of Asia include Central Conservatory of Music Konghou and Bamboo Music Ensemble of Beijing, China, The Vayali Folklore Group of Kerala, India, Ensamble Modero Palu of Sulawesi, Indonesia, Persatuan Seni Budaya Sabah of Sabah, Malaysia, Noreum Machi of South Korea, Taiwan Bamboo Orchestra, Prasarnmit Performing Arts Alliance, Bangkok, Thailand, Khac Chi Bamboo Music of Vietnam and Canada.

I find it very interesting to see and hear various configurations of gongs and bamboo instruments coming from the various participating nations. The variety of the bamboo instruments out there is vast that even Dr. Ramon Santos, Tunog-tugan Festival's director, is excited to discover the unusual instruments that the participating artists from other nations will bring.

Dr. Ramon Santos, Festival Director of Tunog-tugan

During the press lunch for Tunog-tugan, I learned from Dr. Santos that gong and bamboo music is more than just the sound of it. There is another layer of experience attached to the music which is a characteristic of Asian cultures. Gongs are usually used to communicate with the spirits putting more significance with the power of its sound. On the other hand, Bamboo instruments which are pitched and measured, are used to communicate with fellow human beings. Playing these instruments in Asian cultures is closely tied with social life as it is not just purely for entertainment.

The main highlight of the Tunog-tugan Festival will be the concerts to be held at the Dipolog Sports Complex (DSC) and at the Dipolog Boulevard. The general public will be able to see the various performing ensembles at these concerts. Dr. Santos expects that the various gong and bamboo ensembles will showcase the changing breadth and structures, as well as modern techniques of performances during the concerts at the festival. The conferences and the workshops will be held at the Top Plaza Hotel while the exhibit will be held at the second floor of the DSC.

After the initial stop at Dipolog City, Tunog-tugan will fly over to Maasin, Iloilo on February 22-26, 2013 with concerts happening at the Maasin Gym. Metro Manila audiences will not be left out as outreach concerts will be held on February 27-28, 2013 at the University of the East in Caloocan, St. Paul University in Manila, University of the Philippines in Diliman, and University of Asia and the Pacific.

The first ever International Gongs and Bamboo Music Festival or the Tunog-tugan Festival is a project of The National Commission for Culture and the Arts-National Music Committee (NCCA-NMC) through the Musicological Society of the Philippines (MSP) in partnership with the Dipolog City Government in cooperation with Municipality of Maasin-Iloilo and the UP Center for Ethnomusicology (UPCE).

For inquiries:
926-0028, gongsandbamboofest@gmail.com

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