AILM Records of Asian Church Music No. 5
featuring the musicians from CUYO CENTRO IGABAS, LUCBUAN and RIZAL Field recordings and notes by Felicidad A. Prudente
INTRODUCTION
The Cuyonon are a group of people living in various parts of Palawan province including the islands of Cuyo, Dumaran and Coron as well as Puerto Princesa, Roxas and Taytay in the Palawan mainland. The tape recordings selected for the AILM Records of Asian Church Music No. 5, 0 Senor Tagbalay, were collected from the Cuyunon of Cuyo Island which is situated northeast of the Palawan mainland and west of Panay. Cuyo has an area of approximately 3,500 hectares and is divided into two municipalities - Cuyo and Magsaysay - with a total population of about 20,000. Most of the people subsist by farming and fishing although a good number of those residing in the town proper of Cuyo are professionals in the employ of both private and public institutions. There are also those who earn their living as merchants and traders buying and selling dry goods or agricultural and sea products.
Copyright 1986 by The Asian Institute for Liturgy an? Music
Christianity was introduced in the island when Catholfc missionaries were sent to Cuyo in 1622. Later, a fort and church were constructed by the seashore under the supervision of Fr. Juan de Severo It is said that this Cuyo fort which still stands today saved many Cuyunon lives during attacks and invasions by pirates in the early years of Spanish colonization The strategic location of the island of Cuyo made it a logical springboard from which the Spaniards spread to other neighboring islands including the Palawan mainland . In fact, Cuyo was the center of activity and the capital of Palawan previous to the designation of Puerto Princesa as capital of the province
December in Cuyo is the season for Christmas carols which the Cuyonon refer to as tambora and shepherd songs called pastores. These are performed throughout the island especially beginning December 16th during the nine days before Christmas. In the evening, people go out from house to house in small groups serenading families with their songs about the birth of Christ. The host family reciprocates traditionally by giving food or gifts although giving money is becoming more convenient for many . Children also participate in the merry-making as they sing and dance the pastores with the rhythmic accompaniment of their bamboo castanets ( castanicas) and tambourines. They roam around the town and barrios at daytime rendering various shepherd songs and likewise may receive some money for their performance.
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Two important ensembles in Cuyo are the fife and drum ensemble commonly referred to by the Cuyonon as tipanu band and the string ensembles called de cuerdas or string band . These two ensembles provide music on festive and solemn occasions in the island particularly during processions and gatherings like fiestas (town and barrio celebrations observing feasts of patron saints), birthdays and weddings. Moreover , both ensembles accompany singers as they render their songs.
The tipanu band (or fife and drum ensemble} consists mainly of transverse mouth flutes with six fingerholes and usually two drums while only stringed instrumentals comprise the string band. A tipanu band may have one or two small flutes ( tipanu nga maitey), three or four big flutes (tipanu nga mabael), a snare drum ( redublante) and a bass drum ( bombo) . Sometimes a pair of cymbals called platillo is added to the ensemble. On the other hand , a string band has from one to three violins (also called rabel), one guitar ( guitara) , one banjo and one six-stringed bass (bajo) Sometimes, a bandurria is added .
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Musically, different instrumental parts are classified by the Cuyunon under three categories. These are principal or primero, meaning first voice or main melody; segunda or second voice; and acompanimento, meaning harmonic accompaniment or parts playing tones of chords. In vocal renditions, Cuyunon musicians refer to principal and segunda for the first and second voice parts respectively.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I wish to thank the people of Cuyo Centro, lgabas, Lucbuan and Rizal for their wholehearted cooperation and acknowledge the warm hospitality and assistance of Mr and Mrs Zacharias Abid , Mr. and Mrs. Faustino Arzaga, Mr. and Mrs. Domingo Dago!, Mrs. lrenea Hagmis and Mrs . Bienvenida Palayon as well as the teachers of Cuyo Central School. Special mention should be made of Cuyunon musicians whose positive response and patience made these recordings possible.
I likewise acknowled~e Mrs. Letty Fernandez, her daughter Chin-Chin and Ms. Manuelita de la Torre for the translations of Cuyunon texts; Prof Lourdes Brillantes for assistance with the Spanish text; Ms. Kristina Benitez and Mr. Antonio Evarle for their technical assistance; and Dr. Edilberto Dagot, Dr. Doreen Fernandez and Ms. Bibsy Carballo for valuable references and contacts.
Finally, this project was realized through the full support of the Asian Institute for Liturgy and Music (AILM) and its director, Dr. Francisco Feliciano.
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F.A P
1. 0 SENOR TAGBALAY
This is an instrumental introduction (pasacale) to a very popular Christmas song entitled O Senor Tagbalay
Place collected : Bo. Rizal , Magsaysay
Instrumentation: Fife and drum ensemble (tipanu band) consisting of two small flutes ( principal and segunda), three big flutes ( acompanimento), a snare drum and a bass drum
2. 0 SENOR TAGBALAY
This is usually the first song rendered by carolers while outside the house of the prospective host who is to welcome and receive the carolers into his house for more · singing of Christmas carols .
Place collected: Bo. Rizal, Magsaysay
Singers : Three female vocalists
Instrumentation: String ensemble (de cuerdas) consisting of two violins (principal and segunda), one guitar, one bandurria, one banjo and one sixstringed bass.
O Senor Tagbalay
0 senor tagbalay, lonsay nga dongganon bisan co maanec, ang catotologon magmata cao anay , inyong nga dowawen mag-asawang pobre, nga yari sa silong .
Aco man si Joseph , nga taga Galilia ang aqueng ca opod , ang aqueng asawa ang iyang ngalan, amo man si Maria sa mga paglacat, cabedlay nga sobra
Sa banuang Nazareth, ay cami gumican ang lugar nga belen, ameng gincadtohan cami magtiyayon , nga may calisdanan sa mga paglacat, cami 'y na gabian .
Cag labi na pa gid, ang gina paoga ang gina patolo, sining aqueng loha cay ini si Maria , madali mag bata cong sarang tagbalay, cam i maga saka
0 master of the house, even if you are sound asleep, please wake up and look down at the poor couple underneath your window .
I am Joseph of Galilea, my companion is my wife, whose name is Mary, and because of our long journey, we are very tired.
From the land of Nazareth , we came, to the place called Bethlehem, we went , we find it very difficult , and on our long journey , night came upon us .
What worries me most, and what causes me to cry , because this Mary will soon give birth , oh master of the house, please let us in
SIDEA
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3. TALAHORON, excerpt
This rendition features stanzas one to n ine of a song consisting of twelve stanzas.
Place collected: Bo . lgabas, Magsaysay Singers : Seven female vocalists
Instrumentation : String ensemble ( de cuerdas) consisting of two violins ( principal and segunda) , one guitar, one banjo and one six-stringed bass . A snare drum and a bass drum with cymbals are added to the ensemble .
Talahoron
0 talahoron nga tagbalay pag mata pag bangon anay ang pag tolog epahiway cag mamate sing calipay
Tocara ang flauta cag violen pastores- bamos sa belen cag ang balita sang angel didto mag anac ang virgen.
Mataching , icao ang mag ona cag sa dalan maga agi masonod cami si Flora cag ang tanan nga pastora
Ang cercomcesion nga na imo sa adlao nga pag catao ang pangalan sa guinoo Manuel Salvador del mundo.
Ang niflo cong na tognawan nga naga higda sa pasongan sang virgen iloy tinabonan sang dahon sang cacahoyan
Ang niflo cong naga corog sang di masiado nga tonog sang isa ca angel nanaog nag dala sa ega potos
Sadtong sang angel nga nagdala isa ca capa nga may uwa y hatag sang virgen ina ang ega potos sa iya .
Ecao pastores mga prodigos ano ang imong ega limos way iba ang ega limos ang paghiguegma ta sa Dios
Oh respectable owner of the house, please wake up, do away with your sleep and listen to the merriment.
Play the flute and the violin , shepherds, let us go to Bethlehem , the angel tells us, it is where the virgin will give birth
Mataching, please go before us, along the path to be travelled, Flora and I shall follow, and all of the shepherds .
The circumcision that occurred at the time of birth, the name of the Lord, Emmanuel, Saviour of the world
When the child gets cold lying in the manger , the virgin mother covered him up with leaves of trees.
When the child shivers there is not much sound, an angel came down and brought him a cape
The angel who brought a cape , to be given to virgin mother, to wrap him up
You , prodigal shepherds , what will you offer, we have nothing to offer but our love to God
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4. MAHAL
This is a Christmas song well-known in the different barrios as well as the town proper of Cuyo.
Place collected: Bo. Lucbuan , Magsaysay Singers: Ten female vocalists
Instrumentation: String ensemble (de cuerdas) consisting of three violins (one principal and two segunda), one guitar, one banjo and one sixstringed bass.
Mahal
Mahal nga dongganon o senor tagbalay ang imong pag tolog pag bogtao man anay cay camo bomangon cay camo tomanao ening amon nga mga pag cabetang
Cami ay nag alin sa Nazareth nga bayan tanged sa cay Egipto nag alin sa iyan tanged sa cay Cesar mahal nga monarca ang tanan nga tawo dadi mag palista.
Kilala ta icao o senor tagbalay aco ang si Joseph si Maria olay sa mga pag lacat cami ay binedlay rugal nga malawig ang amon ginlacbay
Cay ini Maria ang aqueng asawa ang calised namen agatolo ang loha ening mga loha dao dili maguanta madale na paman mag pa anad siya.
Cay malapit sana naga tawag caron agod ang gloria ateng dadangaten
cay omao ang catapusan sa sining pag verso sa mga padayap sa aten Guinoong Dios.
Honorable owner of the house, from your sleep, please wake up, please rise and see our miserable plight.
We came from the land of Nazareth, because we came from Egypt, because Cesar the great monarch decreed all men to register.
I know you, oh good houseowner, we are Joseph and Mary because of our long journey, we are very tired, we have travelled from a far away place
This is Mary, my wife, weeping due to our miserable condition, these tears she can hardly bear, and she will give birth soon.
If only you were near, we could call you so that happiness may be ours, this is the end of this verse, in our praises to our Lord God .
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5. DESPERTAD, excerpt
A variety of Spanish songs and villancicos are rendered during Christmas time in Cuyo . One of these is Despertad the first three stanzas of which are featured. None of the singers understand Spanish and they sing the texts handwritten in notebooks. It appears that many changes and errors have crept in as these texts (and notebooks) have been passed around and copied again and again. There are numerous errors in spelling and grammar and in some cases the text is incoherent. In this connection, two versions are provided below Version one is a copy of the text derived from their notebook and version two is a rough attempt at reconstruction .
Place collected: Bo. Lucbuan, Magsaysay
Singers : Ten female vocalists
Instrumentation : String ensemble (de cuerdas) consisting of three violins (one principal and two segunda), one guitar, one banjo and one sixstringed bass
Version one
Refrain:
Despertad, despertad moradore que el la noche es bella serena que esta noche es noche buena el nacimento del Hijo de Dios, de Hija de Dios, del Hijo de Dies , de Dies.
De Adan el infando delicto que lejo a la homana creatora reses de la virgen mas pora el recuerdo feles de so mal.
(Repeat stanza and refrain)
Llecoro anonciado esta nueba por welego del oriente leo brelliante ejo ales magos con ce layar al mertante que comos emfermal.
(Repeat stanza and refrain)
Alea entonces, aleas otros ye pasion, pastores portador en nayas se de gloria podente sus ajos adoraran ay de Dies e Senor de tall .
(Repeat stanza and refrain)
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Refrain:
Despertad , despertad moradores que la noche as bella serena que esta noche es noche buena el nacimiento del Hijo de Dios del Hijo de Dios, del Hijo de Dios, de Dios.
De Adan el infante predilecto que llego a la humana criatura que es de la virgen mas pura el recuerdo feliz de su amor.
El lucero anunciado esta nueva [noticia) por medio del oriente dio brillante ojo aquellos magos con que se llevaron al instante que son eternales.
Alla entonces, hay otros de pasi6n, pastores portadores alla de gloria potente sus ojos adoraran al Dios y Senor de su talla.
Refrain:
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Wake up , wake up , inn dwellers , because the night is beautiful and serene , because the night is a good night, because it is the birth of the Son of God , of the Son of God , of the Son of God, of God
From Adam , the favorite infant who arrived to become a human being , who is from the virgin most pure, the happy memory of his love
The star announcir,g this new tidings , through the east gave the guiding eye to the magi who arrived at an instant because they are eternal.
There, then , went the shepherds, messengers of glory , with ardent eyes they will adore the God and Lord of such greatness.
Version two
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1. PAGCANTAANGGLORIA
This is an example of the pastores {literally, meaning shepherds), a song for Christmas which is exclusively rendered by children. These songs honor and praise the Child Jesus and are performed with dancing. The bamboo castanets (castanicas) and tambourines which the children themselves play as they dance from house to house are a characteristic feature of this type of song.
Place collected: Cuyo Centro
Singers: Twenty Grade 5 and 6 boys and girls of Cuyo Central School
Instrumentation: String ensemble ( de cuerdas) consisting of two violins ( principal and segunda), one guitar, one banjo and one six-stringed bass. Other instruments include seven pairs of bamboo castaners and jingles made of softdrink bottle tops which substitute for the tambourine.
Pagcanta Ang Gloria
Pagcanta ang gloria naglua ang cometa ang tanan nga tao naglood magsimba
Ang mga pastores nagloao magsimba sa mahal nga nino sa pasungan naga ingga
Ang andang regalo may lanao may queso pati mga prutas pati pa carnero.
Ang mga pastores nagsaot nagcanta sa andang pagdayao sa Diyos nga bata.
Ang mga carnero nag-ogiao naglobo anang maliag icoon dayaoen si Jesus
Ang datong mga manok nagpamakpak nagtorok anang maliag icoon dayaoen ta ang Dios
When the "Gloria" was sung, the comet appeared, everyone knelt and prayed
The shepherds visited and adored, the holy child lying in the manger.
Their gifts were honey and cheese, also fruits including lamb .
The shepherds danced and sang, in adoration of the holy child.
The sheep shouted and jumped, what they mean is "Praise Jesus"
Even the chickens were clucking and crowing, what they mean is "Let us praise Jesus".
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SIDEB
2.
MALAM PATI BATA, excerpt
This excerpt features the first five of thirty'One stanzas.
Place collected: Bo. lgabas, Magsaysay Singers: Seven female vocalists Instrumentation: String ensemble ( de cuerdas) consisting of two violins ( principal and segunda), one guitar, one banjo and one six-stringed bass A snare drum and a bass drum with cymbals are added to the ensemble.
Malam Pati Bata
Malam pati bata cataoan nga tanan maghimaya quita sa aten capaladan.
Matud nga barita bisara sa angel sa mga pastores catengan sa gabi.
Naga bantay sanda sa andang mga ayep sa naquita ang angel nag adlec ang tanan.
Tuman den ang andang aqueng ingdadara mayad nga barita sa tanan nga banua
lndong manonobus Cristo anang aran sa ciudad ni David dadi ingbabata .
Old and young all over the world, let us hail our good fortune
The true news, the words of an angel to the shepherds at midnight.
They were all watching their animals, when they saw the angel , they all became afraid.
" It has come true and I bring to you the good news to all the land ."
" Your Saviour , Christ is his name, in the city of David, he is being born now ."
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3. MAGHIMA YA CAO, excerpt
The entire song has eleven stanzas but only the first eight are presented in the recording
Place collected : Bo. Lucbuan , Magsaysay
Singers : Ten female vocalists
Instrumentation: Fife and drum ensemble (tipanu band) consisting of one small flute ( principal) , three big flutes { one principal and two acompanimento), one snare drum and one bass drum.
Maghimaya Cao
Maghimaya cao banua sa belen hadi sa langit bata sa virgen dadi sa aten pag dayaoen ta sa nifio sa virgen sa asawa na .
Mga profecias ciudad matinlo sa mahal nga mesias ig sa pa lad mo dadi canindo matutuman da ang nifio ang virgen ang asawa na
Portal nga mapalad portal sa belen ang imong pesebre gloria sa Israel dian den si Manuel sa profec ias sa nifio sa virgen sa asawa na .
Jesus nga matamis bata man sa Dios matinlo matambec cabui nga matud mag ampo mag lod mag alad quita ang nifio ang virgen ang asawa na.
lcao Maria mahal nga babae sa tanan nga tao angeles olay sa ateng calipay pag himaya ra sa nifio sa virgen sa asawa na.
Jose ni Maria asawa olay virgen nga lalaki sa Dios nga balay mag dayao anay langit may lugta ang nifio ang vi rgen ang asawa na.
lcao ang mapaled nga penili sa Dios mag hepet sa virgen sa nifio Jesus indi matapus pag himaya ra sa nifio sa virgen sa asawa na .
Sa imong catinlo portal sa belen taguiposon leba ara canamen na duduraren ing tatacao ra ang nifio ang virgen ang asawa na
Hail , oh town of Bethlehem, king of heaven , child of a virgin, now here with us , let us give honor to the child , the virgin and her spouse
The prophecies about a beautiful city to the beloved Messiah and also your destiny, now for you , they (prophecies) will be fulfilled, praise the child , the virgin and her spouse
Holy city, holy gate of Bethlehem , the peace you brought is the glory of Israel, Emmanuel as prophesized has come , praise to the child , the virgin and her spouse
Sweet Jesus , son of God , beautiful and healthy , truly alive, let us beg , kneel and offer, praise the child, the virgin and her spouse. Mary , beloved woman to all men and angels , in our happiness we hail thee , praise to the child, the virgin and her spouse
Joseph, the husband of Mary, a man of chastity in the house of the Lord, heaven and earth shall worship you , praise the child , the virgin and her spouse
You were the destined person chosen by God, to take care of the virgin and the child Jesus unendingly , we hail thee, praise to the child, the virgin and her spouse .
In your beautiful gate of Bethlehem our feelings of the heart are gone , lost and stolen , praise the child , the virgin and her spouse
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4. SALAMAT
Before the carolers leave the house, they may show and convey their thanks through this song .
Place collected: Bo. Lucbuan, Magsaysay Singers: Ten female vocalists
Instrumentation: String ensemble (de cuerdas) consisting of three violins (one principal and two segunda), one guitar, one banjo and one sixstringed bass.
Salamat
Salama! , salamat sa inyo 'y subung man o taglabay nga dongganon kabay sa Dios camo ay caloyan kag tagbalay nga may kinahanglan.
5. PAADOS
Thank you , thank you very much, oh respectable owner of the house, by the grace of the Lord, may you be blessed, owner of the house, in all your needs .
This is an instrumental piece used to bid farewell to the host and family.
Place collected: Bo. Rizal, Magsaysay
Instrumentation : Fife and drum ensemble (tipanu band) consisting of two small flutes (principal and segunda) , three big flutes ( acompanimento ), a snare drum and a bass drum
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6. DECIEMBRE, excerpt
Here is a vocal rendition of a Christmas song to demonstrate the traditional style of choral singing in Cuyo. Deci~mbre consists of thirty stanzas the first nine and final stanza of which are featured.
Placed collected: Bo Lucbuan, Magsaysay
Singers : Seven female vocalists
Declembre
Sa diang bulan sa Deciembre een man een ang pastores sa belen bubukidnen napopono sa cahimayan mag teregbeng sa cababalayan een man een
Ano dan man pastores een man een ano indong saguiapen dan sa belen sa langit nababarita ang ameng ing papangita een maneen .
Mara mayad indong leba een man een malilipay-lipay man camong tanan sino inde mag alegre sa barita sa pesebre eenmaneen .
Sadin camo mag carawat een man een dague ang indong pasalamat may amen pag indadara rabel, plauta may gitara een man een.
Sino indong paghimaya een maneen sa pesebre sa portal may batang mahal ing bata sa virgen dadi sa catengan sa gabi een maneen
In this month of December yes, oh yes , the shepherds in the hills of Bethlehem are filled with glory, from the village they went to town going house to house , yes , oh yes
What are those shepherds yes, oh yes, what are you looking for in Bethlehem in heaven .the news is known (about the birth of Christ) , what we are looking for , yes , oh yes.
For you to be happy, yes , oh yes, rejoice all of you fo r who will not be happy about the news from the manger , yes, oh yes.
• Where will you play, yes , oh yes, here is your offering of thanks , we shall bring with us violins , flute and guitar, yes, oh yes .
Who will you praise , yes , oh yes, in the manger in the village , there is a holy child , who was born of a virgin mother at midnight, yes , oh yes.
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Omaren gale ang bata een man een ang insogo sa Israel man si Manuel omaren ang mesias sa mga profecias een maneen
Pag catinlo nga barita een man een daculay nga palad pasaquitan ateng nga tanan nga palad mag tabid quita mag alad een man een.
Mag tarabid-tabid quita een man een mag torongboy-tongboy man sa paranaoan anoindongingdadara sari-sari nga barita een man een
Mag bisara ang maelam-elam een man een dague pa ang inglahad co sa aten Guinoo diang mabael nga cornero may darwa pa ca cordero een maneen
Mag oli cami ren sa amen een man een cong togotan mo cami mahal nga hadi manggad namen sasalan tenged sa imong camahalan een man een.
So he is the child yes , oh yes, who was sent to Israel, by the name of Emmanuel so he is the Messiah who was prophesied, yes , oh yes
How good the news is, yes , oh yes, his great destiny is to suffer so all our destinies let us go and offer, yes , oh yes.
Let us go together yes, oh yes, let us greet and invite everyone along the way, what are you bring ing, all kinds of news, yes , oh yes.
Let the wise men speak, yes, oh yes, this is what I offer to our Lord, here is a big lamb, and here are two more small ones, yes, oh yes.
We shall now head for home, yes , oh yes, if you will permit us, oh great king, our riches we shall leave with you because of your greatness, yes, oh yes
7. OSENORTAGBALAY
This is an unaccompanied vocal rendition of the same popular Christmas song featured in Side A item two. However like the previous song Deciembre, this version is presented to show the traditional style of choral singing heard in the island particularly in the villages or barrios.
Place collected: Bo. Lucbuan, Magsaysay Singers: Seven female vocalists
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Map of the Philippines with Cuyo Island indicated by arrow.
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