Archive for category Music

Music and Art of the Philippines

Filipino music and art have both been influenced by the cultures that have migrated to this nation. The first type of music that developed in the Philippines was indigenous music brought here by native tribes that migrated from Taiwan. There are three basic groups of indigenous music styles: southern styles, northern styles and other styles. The southern style of music usually involves five different instruments including the kulintang, the agung, the gangdinagan, the dabakan and the babedil. The northern styles of indigenous music reflect Asian gong music. Their music usually features the unbossed gong called the Gangsa. In addition to the instruments used by southern and northern music styles, other instruments used in the Philippines include log drums, flutes, bamboo zithers and the Kudyapi.

Hispanic cultures from Spain and Mexico have greatly influenced the development of Filipino music. These cultures have introduced musical forms like the Harana the Kundiman and Rondalla. Most of these music forms developed as a result of the fusion between tribal music styles and traditional Spanish and Mexican music. Today the influence of Spain and Mexico is still present in modern Filipino music. Modern popular music in the Philippines still has a Hispanic flavor.

Filipino Art has its roots in indigenous traditions and colonial imports. Like most cultures, the Philippines have their own style of plastic arts like sculpture and painting. However, they also have their own style of movement arts like dancing. Some of the most notable artists from the Philippines include Fernando Amorsolo, David Cortes Medalla, Nunelucio Alvardao, Juan Luna, Felix Hidalgo and Rey Paz Contreras.

, , , , , , ,

No Comments

The Evolution of the Modern Musical

One example of a musical film that has successfully transferred to the stage is Summer Holiday, which starred Cliff Richard. It may be hard to imagine how a film of a double-decker bus travelling through Europe can be shown on the stage, but it can work with a bit of imagination from the director and the crowd themselves.

Pop music has not had a long history in the theater but now the plays being produced are as likely to be centered on modern groups and not just the stars of the past. Love Me Tender and the Buddy Holly Story show alongside more recent musicals such as Grease, which covers the music of the same era but started life as a film.

Children’s films are also moving to the stage and there has been a great deal of effort put in to make the stage appear to represent the plains of Africa for The Lion King. Beauty and the Beast may have been one of the earliest films to transfer from celluloid to the boards but its production was nowhere near as adventurous as putting on The Lion King. This is certainly a good way to get young people to see a night at the theater as a good night out rather than just something for their parents. Read the rest of this entry »

No Comments