Documentation and Analysis of “Catanduanes Beloved:” Towards Building Catandungan Music Identity and Pedagogical Recommendations
Jose Z. Tria
Discipline: Education, Music, Cultural Studies
Abstract:
The music of Catanduanes is a rich and diverse collection of borrowed and
unique styles, reflecting the cultural and artistic experiences of its people. This
study aims to document the official hymn of Catanduanes, "Catanduanes
Beloved" or "Inang Catandungan," and analyze its rhythmic, melodic, and
harmonic structure, providing unique musical characteristics. The lyrics, written
by Macario Arcilla, and the melody, originating from old recollections of the
Catandungan community, relate directly and indirectly to the geographical,
historical, and philosophical function of the song. The findings of the study
revealed that the song uses a combination of quarters, eighths, dotted eighths,
and sixteenth notes, evoking the feel of a habanera or danza style in its rhythmic
element. The melody ranges one and a half octaves and has a simple, child-like
ambiance, combining the notes of the major scale with the occasional use of
accidentals. The harmonic structure of the song evokes the major tonality,
utilizing chords such as the tonic, sub-dominant, and dominant, with the added
taste of a dominant seventh and raised tonic note. Although the music was
influenced by the Spaniards, its message demonstrates aspects of Catandungan
life. Pedagogical recommendations were identified, as this constitutes an avenue
for music education and a vehicle for cultural continuity. Through the lens of
"Catanduanes Beloved" or "Inang Catandungan," which is the official hymn of
Catanduanes, this analysis helps to create a sense of identity for the
Catandunganon, as well as for Bicolanos and Filipinos in general.
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ISSN 2984-8946 (Print)