Guide to the Kubing

A photo of the kubing instrument

The kubing is a jaw harp idiophone that is notably used by several Muslim and non-muslim tribes in the Philippines and Indonesia. This instrument is known as one of the oldest instruments in the world. The kubing is made out of a thin bamboo strip or metal strip that is about two … Read more

Guide to Africa’s Talking Drum

A photo of the single-headed dabakan drum

The talking drum is an hourglass-shaped percussion instrument that originated from West Africa. This talking drum, sometimes called Dundun or Gangan, plays an essential role in laying the rhythmic foundation for the lead drums to talk and interact in their environment. Also, this drum holds a significant place in Yoruba culture, folklore, … Read more

Guide to the Glockenspiel

A photo of the glockenspiel

The glockenspiel is a percussion instrument that is played through hitting or scrapping. It may look like a xylophone, but it is definitely called the glockenspiel. The name glockenspiel is a German word that means bell play, for it refers to the sound of a small bell. Initially, the early glockenspiel has … Read more

Guide to the Flexatone

A photo of the instrument flexatone

There are several types of percussion instruments. One classification under percussion is the idiophone, wherein it can be made to vibrate in several ways. Relatively, most of the idiophones were either struck or vibrate. An example of this is the instrument called flexatone. The flexatone, also known as fleximetal, is a percussion … Read more

Guide to Batá drum

A photo of the Batá drum

Throughout the world, several types of drums had been created and were commonly used in religious ceremonies. One of these drums is the Batá drum. In its introduction in the 1820s, southwestern Nigerian people perceived this drum as an essential part of their culture. A Batá drum is an hourglass-shaped percussion instrument … Read more

Guide to Balafon

A photo of a Balafon instrument

The balafon is a type of struck idiophone as categorized in the Hornbostel-Sachs musical instrument. In the Malinke language, the instrument balafon is a combination of two words ‘Balan,’ the name of the instrument, and ‘fon,’ which means to play. Therefore, the word balafon is the act of playing the instrument, Bala. … Read more

Guide to Babendil

A photo of the instrument called Babendil

Babandil or Babendil is a narrow-rimmed gong that is primarily used in the Maguindanao kulintang ensemble as a timekeeper. It has several names that vary depending on the region, such as babendir in Maguindanao, and Babndir for the Maranao people. For other Southern Philippine groups, the babendil is called bandil, babendil, babendil, … Read more

Guide to Angklung

Guide to Angklung

A photo of an angklung instrument The angklung is a percussion musical instrument made out of bamboo. Although this instrumentoriginated from West Java and Banten, the angklung is also notable throughout the world. In fact, the Sundanese people native to the Indonesian province of West Java used the angklung for several centuries. … Read more