Contemporary arts: The regions of the Philippines

Contemporary Arts

• Art from the 1960s or '70s up until this very minute.

Here at About.com Art History, 1970 is the cut-off point for two reasons. First, because it was around 1970 that the terms "Postmodern" and "Postmodernism" popped up -- meaning, we must assume, that the art world had had its fill of Modern Art starting right then.

Secondly, 1970 seems to be the last bastion of easily classified artistic movements. If you look at the outline of Modern Art, and compare it to the outline of Contemporary Art, you'll quickly notice that there are far more entries on the former page.

This, in spite of the fact that Contemporary Art enjoys far more working artists making far more art. (It may be that Contemporary artists are mostly working in "movements" that cannot be classified, due to there being around ten artists in any given "movement", none of which have shot off an email saying that there's a new "movement" and "could you please tell others?")

On a more serious note, while it may be hard to classify emergent movements, Contemporary art -- collectively -- is much more socially conscious than any previous era has been. A whole lot of art from the last 30 years has been connected with one issue or another: feminism, multiculturalism, globalization, bio-engineering and AIDS awareness all come readily to mind as subject matter.

Contemporary arts of every region:

Cordillera-

• The flat gong commonly known as gangsaand played by the groups in the Cordillera region of the bossed gongs played among the Islam and animist groups in the Southern Philippines.
• 2. Kalaleng or Tongali(nose flute)  Because the kalaleng is long and has a narrow internal diameter, it is possible to play different harmonics through overblowing—even with the rather weak airflow from one nostril.
• • 3. Tongatongis a bamboo percussion instrument used by the people of Kalinga to communicate with spirits during house blessings. It is made of bamboo cut in various lengths. When you hit it against soft earth a certain drone reverberates though the instrument’s open mouth. When an entire set of Tongatong is played in interloping rhythm and prolonged with the tribal chanting, it could put the audience and the dancers in a trance
  • 4. Diwdiw-asis 5 or more different size of slender bamboo that
    is tied together.
  • • 5. Saggeypoit is a bamboo pipe that is closed on one end by a node with the open end held against the lower lip of the player as he blows directly across the top. The pipe can be played individually by one person or in ensembles of three or more.
    • 6. Solibao is hallow wooden Igorot drug topped with pig skin or lizard skin this is played by striking the drum head using the palm of the hand.
    • 7. Bungkaka- bamboo buzzer.
    • 8. Kullitong- polychordal bamboo tube zither.
    • 9. Ulibaw- bamboo jaw’s harp
  • Southern Islands:
    • Kulintangrefers to a racked gong chimeinstrument played in the southern islands of the Philippines, along with its varied accompanying ensembles.
    • ensembles. Different groups have different ways of playing the kulintang. Two major groups seem to stand-out in kulintangmusic. These are the Maguindanaon and the Maranaw. The kulintang instrument itself could be traced to either the introduction of gongs to Southeast Asia from China from before the 10th century CE, or more likely, to the introduction of bossed gong chimes from Java in the 15th century.
    • Harana and Kundiman: 
      • The Harana and Kundimanare lyrical songs popular in the Malaysian Islands dating back to the Spanish period.
      • In the 1920s Harana and Kundiman became more mainstream musical styles led by performers such as Atang de la Rama, Jovita Fuentes, Conching Rosal, Sylvia La Torreand Ruben Tagalog.
    • Rondalla: 
      • The Rondallais performed on ensembles comprisingmandolin instruments of various sizes called banduria composed on the Iberian tradition. Other instruments including guitars, is also performed. It is original to Spain.
    • Tinikling: 
      • The Tiniklingis a Philippine dance which involves two individual performers hitting bamboopoles, using them to beat, tap, and slide on the ground, in co-ordination with one or more dancers who steps over and in between poles
    • Cariñosa: 
      • The Cariñosa(meaning loving or affectionate one), is a Philippine national dance from the María Clara suite of Philippine folk dances, where the fan, and handkerchiefplays an instrument role as it places the couple in romance scenario.
    • OPM (Original Pilipino Music)
       Original Pilipino Music, now more commonly termed Original PinoyMusic, Original Philippine Music or OPM for short, originally referred only to Philippine pop songs, particularly ballads, such as those popular after the collapse of its predecessor,the Manila Sound in the late 1970s, up until the present. In the 1970s, popular OPM artists included Nora Aunor, Pilita Corrales, Eddie Peregrina, Victor Wood and Asin, among others.