Another gem and again, proudly native only to the island. Its local practitioners have perfected the technique, the art and science of producing crisp melodies that blends with strikingly catchy folk rhythm egged on by the bottom-low bass and its perfect fifths. Their instruments? Unconventional and unique. Each of these folk musicians delicately holds in each hand the end of specially chosen branch of the kwatingan tree found on the island, carefully cut to his specifications. Banging together the identical pair of wood on selected points along their length and at specific striking angles produces notes of definite pitches and of tonal quality that remotely resembles a cross between an unsustained marimba and castanets. As such, the kalutang belongs to the class of musical instrument that is generally classified as concussion idiophones. These instruments range in size from about ten inches in length and an inch in diameter for the soprano section to 4 feet and a diameter of 6 inches for the bass.
Posted on: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 07:49:43 +0000