A.

What are the musical instruments that you have discovered in the
museum? Name at least 5 instruments and describe each.

1. Korean Musical Instruments

- Kayagum dates back to the Kingdom of Kaya in the 6th century. It has 12 strings of
twisted silk and all strings are rested on movable bridges carved in the shape of a
crane’s foot. It also has a soundboard made of paulownia wood and a backboard
made of chestnut wood. In playing the kayagum the strings are pressed downward
to obtain such things as vibrato and microtonal shading. The player of
the kayagum uses no rod or plectrum, but obtains the fundamental tone only by
plucking or flicking motion of fingers. 
- Sogo, meaning “a small drum”, is the smallest type of drum with or without handle.
Female dog skin is used for both sides of the drum. Sogo is played with a knob
attached to a drum rim consisting of leather covered with a small thin cloth. This
instrument is used for farmers’ music and folk music. Dancers often carry and play
them while they dance. 
- Ajaeng is similar to komun’go and kayagum but it differs in that it has seven strings
resting on seven movable bridgers shaped in the foot of a crane. That ajaeng is
played with a bow of bare rosined forsythia wood producing a rasping sound which
prompted the Chinese to dub this instrument as a “scratch zither”.
- Changgo has a wooden body with leather drumheads. The changgo is played by
banging the drumheads with two sticks, one in each hand. It is most used in nong-
ak (farmers’ music) and also as accompaniment to folk songs and chapka (semi-art
songs).
- Komun’go has six strings of twisted silk over a soundboard made of paulownia
wood and a blackboard of hard chestnut woo. The strings are struck in both a
forward ang backward motion with a small bamboo rod at the upper right end of the
instrument. Primitive forms were discovered inside ancient Korguryo tombs in
various locations. It is used to accompany lyric songs, as well as in chamber music
and sanjo (solo music with percussion accompaniment).

2. Japanese Musical Instruments

- Shamisen is a three-stringed plucked lute believed to have originated from China. It
reached the Ryukyu Islands in the 14th century, from which it was imported by Japan
in the mid-16th century. Since the 17th century, it has played a significant role in
many levels of Japanese society. Shamisencan be used for folk, theater,
contemporary and even avante garde music.
-Koto is a 13-stringed classical instrument found in every region of Japan belonging
to the family of zithers used in East Asia. It was introduced from China during the
Narra Period. The koto is played with a plectra made of ivory or plastic, either solo or
in an ensemble. It is also used to accompany singer. 
-Da-daiko is a huge drum used on special occasions and set on a special platform in
an elaborately decorated frame. It adorns the imperial music hall during a bugaku or
Japanese court dance performance. The instrument adds rhythmic emphasis to the
choreography of certain dances. The da-daiko is stuck with two heavy lacquered
beaters struck in left-right sequence.
- Hakuhachi is an end-blown bamboo flute with five finger holes. One of Japan’s
most popular instruments, it originated from a vertical flute from China in the
14th century. In the 19th century, the formation of a trio called sankyoku, composed
of the shakuhachi, the koto and the shamisen, increased its popularity. Shakuhachi is
played solo or as part of an ensemble.

3. Thai Musical Instruments

- Ta pho-n is a barrel shaped drum of a solid block of teakwood or jackwood. The
edge of the heads is sewn with twisted strands of cane. Leather thongs pulled tightly
through the loops of cane of both heads are tied closely together and cover the
entire body of the ta pho-n. A mixture of cooked rice and ashes are rubbed in the
center of the large head to give it a more mellow tone.
- Khaw-ng Mong is a type of gong used in Thai musical ensembles since the olden
times. Also called mo-ng, its name was derived from the sound it made when
beaten. It is usually supported by three poles that serve as its stand. Its beater has a
cloth padding, sometimes covered with a heavy string net wrapped around its end.
Before, khaw-ng mong was beaten to announce night time.
- Khaw-ng Wong Yai is a set of 16 tuned gongs placed on a circular frame made of
rattan. Each gong has two sets of holes at opposite ends through which leather
thongs are passed and attached to the frame in a suspended position. Khaw-ng wong
yai means “large circle of gongs”. The instrument is placed on the floor with the
player seated inside the frame. A pair of beaters, consisting of circles of thick
untanned hide fitted with a wooden handle, is used to play the instrument.

4. Indonesian Musical Instrument

- Gong ageng is the most sacred and honored instrument of the gamelan. It is made
of bronze and is usually given its own name. To appease the spirits which live in and
around the gong ageng, flowers and incense are offered to it every night. To play it,
the center is struck with soft padded wooden stick to mark large musical phrases.
-Kenong is a small gong with a protruding knob at the center and laid horizontally on
a wooden frame. The kenong is stuck with a wooden stick with a red cord wound
around one end, and is played in syncopation with the kempul.
- Kendang is a double-sided membrane drum that is made from wood, usually of
jackfruit, coconuts or cempedak, that has one side larger than the other. Buffalo hide
is used for the larger, lower pitched end while soft goatskin is used for the smaller,
higher pitch end.. The larger, lower-pitched one is usually placed to the
right. Kendang are usually placed on stands horizontally and are hit with the hands.
In a gamelan, the kendang keeps the tempo and signals some of the transitions to
sections and at the end of a musical number. In dance numbers, the kendang player
must follow the movements of the dancer.
- Rebab is a two-stringed bowed lute consisting of a wooden body covered with very
fine stretched skin. In the Indonesian gamelan, rebab is an essential elaborating
instrument.
- Saron Panerus is the smallest among the saron instruments in a gamelan. It is an
octave higher than saron barung. Among the three, it is played the most often and
keeps a constant beat going throughout a piece. It is struck with a mallet angled to
the right.

5. Chinese Musical Instruments

- Yue qin is a three-stringed moon lute with a short neck and a circular or sometimes
octagonal soundbox. The instrument was popular in Tang dynasty. Its frame is made
of red sandalwood while both sides of its soundbox are made of wood from the
phoenix tree. The instrument is played in the Chinese orchestra to accompany
regional opera and popular narrative musical forms.
-Liu-qin is a small lute which resembles a small p’ip’a.
-Gu Zheng is a long zither with 21 strings and a curved upper surface. Its soundbox is
made of wood and may be inlaid with intricate designs. The strings are suspended
from wooden bridges. The instrument developed from the cheng, a string zither
popular ensembles during ancient times. It accompanied vocal groups and was
played in court banquets. From the 19th century, it has evolved as a solo instrument
and has become modernized in the process.
- Pi is a reed instrument with six fingerholes usually made of hardwood. Four
fingerholes are found above its bulging center, and two are found below. Its reed,
made of small rounded pieces of palmyra palm leaves in two double layers and tied
to a small metal tube, is attached to the hole at the top of the pi. Covering the center
of the body are 14 pairs of smooth polished small rings. In earlier days, the pi was
the leader of the ensemble, hence the name pi-phat.

6. Philippine Musical Instruments

- Banduria is a small string instrument that is a cross between a guitar and a cittern.
Its strings are plucked with a plectrum made of turtleshell or carabao horn with
repeated up and down movements of the wrist. It plays the main melody. Its smaller
version, the piccolo banduria, is turned an octave lower and plays ornamental
passages and all forms of variations. In the absence of the piccolo banduria,
the banduria substitutes in playing ornamental and virtuoso passages.
- Laud is a pear-shaped instrument with f-holes turned an octave lower than
the banduria. Its strings are plucked with a plectrum of turtleshell or carabao horn
with repeated up and down movements of the wrist. It plays the counter melody
parts in the ensemble.
- Octavina is a string instrument resembling a small guitar with a round hole in the
middle. It is turned an octave lower than the banduria and plays the lower notes in
unison or in accompaniment with the bass. Its strings are plucked with a plectrum
made of turtleshell or carabao horn with repeated up and down movements of the
wrist.
- Dabakan is a conical drum that accompanies the kulintang ensemble. It serves as
drone and plays a steady, unchanging rhythmic pattern with two light, thin sticks.
The rhythm of the dabakan starts the music.
- Kulintang is a series of eight gongs of graduated sizes arranged in a row and placed
in a frame. It is played with two light sticks by the player who plays the melody and
improvises on a particular rhythmic mode.

7. Indian Musical Instruments

- Pakhawaj is one of the most ancient drums found in North India. It is barrel-shaped
and made of wood. Animal skin held together by leather straps is placed on both
ends of the drum. Beneath the straps are wooden blocks used to tune the pakhawaj.
The instrument accompanies vocal and instrumental music. The pakhawaj is popular
in the concert platform and provides rhythmic accompaniment to dance forms.
- Tabla is a pair of small drums of slightly different shapes, one made of wood and
the other made of metal. The drum heads are held together by leather tuning straps,
the tension of which can be altered by shifting the position of the small cylindrical
wooden blocks. The tabla is the most important percussion instrument in India
today. It is used as accompaniment to vocal and instrumental North Indian music
and dance forms.
- Flute is an ancient and widespread woodwind instrument. Old texts refer to it
as venu or nadi. The horizontal flute is a companion to every village herdsman. It is
the divine instrument of the cowherd, Lord Krishna, calling all maids unto him. This
type of instrument usually plays the slower passages of Indian music. Flute is a
popular instrument in the concert s
- Sarangi is one of the most important non-fretted bowed instruments of North
India. Its body is scooped out of one piece of wood. The lower part of the instrument
is covered with parchment whereas the upper part has a wide wooden plate that
ends in a box-like structure for the pegs. Thesarangi is held like an inverted violin. It
has become the main accompanying instrument of North Indian classical music.
- Saraswati veena is a plucked instrument said to have evolved from the Egyptian
lute called vena about 4000 years ago. Its fretted fingerboard rests on two hollow
gourd made of wood from a jack tree. In ancient times, it was considered
indispensable in a decent home and was played to welcome guests. The saraswati
veena is used for both classical and popular music.

B. How are the Instruments of East Asia related to Philippine Musical

Instruments? (Explain in 10 sentences)

- The East Asia Musical Instruments are very related to Philippine Musical
Instruments because they have similar instruments but different names. All of
the instruments are also used and played for rituals, festivities, and for
entertainment and the likes. The east Asian Musical Instruments and
Philippine Musical Instruments are related because they are playing with
rhythmic pattern. Some countries have ensembles that can be heard in town
fiestas and other celebrations, also wedding ceremonies. Some East Asian
Musical Instruments and Philippine Musical Instruments are used for folk
music and they dance while playing the Instruments.. Most of the instruments
of all the countries are being struck, pluck and blown. Also they are made
from wood, leather, rubber, metal and the likes. All of the Instruments have
unique characteristics because they accompany song, dance, musicals, and
dramas. The instruments are also used for popular music. And most of the
instruments also are lutes. The instruments of East Asia including the
Philippines are eye-catching because of its intricate designs that shows the
significant role of the instruments though its sounds and appearance.
C. What particular instrument that you see in the Museum that you like the
most? Why? (5 sentences)

- The most instrument that I like is under the Chines Traditional Musical
Instruments, is the Hua pen gu because of the redness of its color. I like the
Hua pen gu because of its extravagant and enormous designs of dragons,
flower and other unique patterns. Also it struck me the most rather than the
other instruments because of its shape that resembles a flower pot and its
melodic sound that makes the surroundings peaceful.