The rondalla is an ensemble of stringed instruments played with the plectrum or pick and generally known as plectrum instruments.

It originated in Medieval Spain, especially in Catalunya,[1] Aragon, Murcia, and Valencia. The tradition was later taken to Spanish America and elsewhere. The word rondalla is from the Spanish ronda, meaning "serenade.

History
The rondalla has its origins in the playing bands from Spain (as well as 'New Spain', namely Mexico) that were forerunners of the present-day rondalla and included four types: groups of young men who played and sang regularly in front of homes, bands of musicians known as murza or murga who begged for alms, a group of musicians known as comparza who played on stage, and groups of university musicians known as estudiantina, dubbed tuna. The usual musical instruments used by estudiantina members were mandolins, violins, guitars, flutes, cellos, basses, tambourines, castanets, and triangles. Estudiantina musicians in Spain and Mexico, before and during the age of musical romanticism, wore 16th century attire such as "short velvet breeches, ornate shirts and a short cape with multicolored ribbons".[2]

Philippines
During the Spanish period in the East Indies, the rondalla was brought to the Philippines by the Spaniards. In the early Philippines, certain styles were adopted by the natives, especially guitar and banduria used in the Pandanggo, the Jota, and the Polka. The use of the term comparza was common, however, during the American period in the Philippines, the term rondalla became more used. At present, rondalla, in the Philippines, refers to any group of stringed instruments that are played using the plectrum or pick.[4] The Filipino instruments are made from indigenous Philippine wood and the plectrum, or picks, are made from tortoise-shell. Other stringed instruments composing the standard Filipino rondalla are the bandurria, the lad, the octavina, the Twelve-string guitar, the Ukulele, the bajo de uas or double bass, the Guitarrn mexicano, and other Filipino-made instruments modeled and developed after the guitar.[4] The Philippine rondallas repertoire include folk songs such as the Balitaw, the Kundiman, the "Zarzuela", the "Subli", the "Harana", the "Tinikling", and the "Cariosa".

Rondalla

In 1800s Spain brought the rondalla in the Philippines. Rondalla is a traditional ensemble that became a part of philippine history and one of the most revived musical tradition practices of Filipinos. It is prominent in rural community by providing accompaniment to folk dancing and singing . The Philippine rondalla developed into an elaborate instrumental group. In addition to the bandurria, laud, and guitar of the Spanish rondalla, Filipinos added the octavina, bass, and optional instruments such as the piccolo bandurria, mandola, and various percussion instruments. La Libertad is a local government unit and one of the many government and private institutions wants to pursue the unending quest of Filipino cultural heritage of plucked string ensembles which became the trademarks of the country. Mayor Jocelyn Limkaichong was the mother of La Libertad Childrens Rondalla, valuing the Filipino culture was one of her thrust in organizing the ensemble during her incumbency in February 2006. When rondalla ensemble became a valuable artistic medium in fostering the cultural identity of the town the awareness of the ensemble become widespread and many parents appreciated the project.

The achievements of La Libertad Childrens rondalla was a remarkable, six months after the group joined a major competition for the first time in the Buglasan 2006 Rondalla Junior Division. It was a dramatic victory, being the champion, they will represent the province in the 2nd International Rondalla Fiestival Cuerdas sa Panaghiusa which brought La Libertad on top in the aspect of culture and arts.

Rondalla Instruments
The instruments of the standard Filipino rondalla have similarities in structure and are played with a plectrum made out of turtle shell. Except for the guitar and bass guitar(double bass), all are 14-stringed consisting of six(6) sets of strings tuned in the intervals of fourths, each set consisting of 1, 2 or 3 string/s. The purpose of the doubling or tripling of strings is to produce better sound and increase tone volume.

The main parts of the stringed instruments of the rondalla are basically the same. A hollow body(sound box) constructed of a sound board(top plate), which is attached to a back board(back plate) by side walls(rims) form the main body of the instrument. The sound board picks up and amplifies the vibrations of the strings. The nice-figured body(sound box) is attached to one end of a narrow neck against which the strings can be shortened by pressing the fingers on the fingerboard to vary the vibrating length and thus the pitch. The neck ends in the tuning head which has the worm and gear mechanism to adjust the tension of the strings when tuning the instrument. There is a string holder(tailpiece) at the bottom of the body and a bridge on which the strings are stretched, so that they can vibrate freely. The sound holes with a round shape, except the laud which is f-shape, have a great influence on the timbre of the instrument. Basically, they communicate the volume of air inside the

instrument with the outside air which is the medium in which the waves are carried from the instrument. The size and openness of the holes influences the frequency of the vibrating mass of air within the instrument and therefore the selective reinforcement of certain notes. The holes also influence the flexibility of the soundboard and consequently affect its vibrational patterns. Tops, backs, and sides are carefully selected and graduated to enhance their natural attributes. Every piece of wood from the neck to the smallest brace is acoustically matched to obtain the highest performance from each instrument. The wood of langka, kamagong, narra, ballatinao, tanguile, and Philippine mahogany were generally used as materials for the construction of the instrument. Although the imported pine wood and rosewood continued to be used by some.

In an 8-member rondalla, it is advisable to have 4 bandurrias, 1 laud, 1 octavina, 1 guitar, and 1 double bass. The 30-member group has 16 bandurrias, 3 piccolos, 3 lauds, 3 octavinas, 3 guitars, and 2 basses.The number of percussion instruments in both small and large combination is optional. In the modern version, these instruments can portray the corresponding tones of orchestral instruments. The bandurria does the role of the first violin, the clarinet, the flute, and the trumpet. Its lowest note is small F# while its highest is three-line G. The laud, which is at times interchanged with the octavina, performs the role of the viola, the cello, the bassoon, the horn, or the trombone in the orchestra. Its range extends from great F# to two-line G. The octavina carries the same range as the laud. The guitar furnishes the chores and the contra-bass. It is notated an octave higher than its actual sound. Its range extends from great E to three-line E. The bass-guitar supplies the base in the harmony in the same manner as the the contra-bass does in the orchestra. Like the guitar, the bass-guitar is notated an octave higher than its real sound which is from contra-E to small A. Other instruments in the string and percussion sections are added when the rondalla must assume a symphonic stature. In this case the number of players increase proportionately doubling or tripling the number of original and authentic instruments of the group. The bass drum, snare drum, cymbal, triangle, tambourine, marimba, timpani and kettle may be added for the rhythmic effects. The UPA&F Rondalla uses the maracas in one of their musical rendition. Maracas are gourd or gourd-shaped rattles filled with seeds or pebbles and used often in pairs as a rhythmic instrument.

Guitar
Six(6)-stringed with long fretted neck which can be plucked with the fingers or with a plectrum, larger body as the octavina with round sound hole, plays the accompaniments, but it also plays melodies and counterparts, provides the permanent rhythm for the group using chordal and arpeggio accompaniments.

Laud
Shaped like the bandurria, but it is bigger with a longer neck and with two f sound holes, usually plays the lower notes in accompaniments, counterparts, and in unison with the bass. The old original laud, better known as the "lute", has a round body in the shape of a half pear, a flat neck with seven or more frets, and a separate pegbox bent back at an angle.

Bandurria
Pear-shaped body, with round sound hole, the mainstay of the group and usually carries the main melody, plays melodies and counterparts. Bandurrias may be divided into first, second, and third, each one playing a different part.

Octavina
Formed like a guitar with shorter neck, with round sound hole, like the laud plays the lower notes in accompaniments, counterparts, and in unison with the bass, tuned like the laud

Double Bass
The double bass, also called bass VIOL or contrabass is four(4)-stringed, the largest instrument of the rondalla, shaped like the violin with two f sound holes, provides the fundamental tome and reinforces the rhythm. Until 1910, the bass-guitar was just a little bit bigger than the ordinary guitar, and was played in the same manner as the guitar, placed on the lap. Later, the bass-guitar adapted a tailpiece, and was henceforth played with the player standing up. In the interior of the bass, a small piece of round wood is fixed immediately behind the right foot of the bridge, to act as a support. It is called the 'sound post'. Under the bridge's left foot a strip of wood known as the 'bass bar' is glued lengthways along the belly

Rondalla Composers

Toribio David Born in Hermosa, Bataan and was superintendent of schools in Bataan and Albay. He is unknown to many musicians, although he is a prolific composer having produced a thick volume of compositions for the military band, small orchestra and rondalla. "Hermosa at Dawn" and the "The Rival" are two of his many overtures for the rondalla. These two works were published in the Musical Journal of Delphin R. Manlapaz. Antonio J. Molina He is well known in the field of composition and cello playing. He has written several pieces for the rondalla, among them "The Evolution of Paru-Parong Bukid" a variation on the folk song. This was played by the Rondalla, Orchestra and Philharmonic Band of the Yellow Taxicab Company in 1941. Molina has also produced literature. Capt.Fulgencio Gragera A composition graduate of the Conservatory of Music, University of the Philippines, he won first prizein the rondalla composition contest launched by the Taliba newspaper. His medley of folk songs was used as the contest piece in the Taliba-sponsored rondalla contest in 1970. The folk songs in the medley were "Sa Libis ng Nayon", "Pobreng Alindahaw", "Dandansoy", "Pamulinawen", "Sarung Banggi", "Bahay Kubo", and "O Kaka, O Kaka". Bayani Mendoza De Leon A composition graduate of the Centro Escolar University Conservatory of Music, he is a writer and a versatile performer on the flute and on rondalla instruments. In 1968 he conducted the C.E.U. Rondalla in a concert featuring

his compositions. His symphonic poem "Batong-Buhay" and his "Tatlong Bulaklak" were played. He referred to "Batong-Buhay" as the "first serious attempt to transform the rondalla into a symphonic entity". He added that "the attempt in rondalla composition is to achieve two goals: (1) to show the capacity of the rondalla in interpreting classical music and (2) to give the rondalla a symphonic status". Octavio V. Cruz An operatic-tenor and a public-school teacher, he wrote music for the rondalla, one of them "March on, Youth" which was published in Manlapaz's Musical Journal. Lucino T. Sacramento He is a charter member of the Filipino Composer's League, a faculty member of the C.E.U. Conservatory of Music and other music schools, and a composer of operas and concertos. He wrote music for the rondalla. Jerry Dadap An enterprising young musician with a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of the Philippines Conservatory of Music, he has ventured to write music for the rondalla in a larger scope. He has a rondalla group in addition to his several choirs, one of them being the Andres Bonifacio Choir which is an offshoot of his musical "Andres Bonifacio, Ang Dakilang Anak Pawis".

Classification of Musical Instruments

Musical Instruments are classifed according to five major catergories, based on the sound produced by the vibrating material. This system of classification was invented by musicologist Curt Sachs, and it is now universally accepted. This system was later named the SachsHornbostel system. 1) Idiophones - Self sounding instruments. They are of naturally sonourous material. They may be struck, shaken, plucked, or rubbed. A few examples of struck idiophones are bells, cymbals, and lithophones. Shaken Idiophones are rattles. An example of plucked idiophones are harps, and an example of rubbed idiophones are harmonicas. 2) Membranophones - Instruments producing sound by means of a stretched skin, or membrane. Some examples are kettledrums, snare drums, and tambourines. Some of these drums are rubbed instead of struck. 3) Aerophones - Wind instruments. The sound is caused by vibrating air. In Tubular Aerophones, the air is inclosed in a tube in 3 ways: 1) Trumpets and Horns - The players compressed lips set the air into motion 2) Reed Instruments (clarinet, saxaphone, oboe) - a single or double beeting reed sets the air into motion 3) Flutes: The sharp edge of a hole, against which the players breath is directed, sets the air into motion Most saxophones, flutes, and many clarinets are made of metal. Horns and trumpets haven been made of other materials such as wood, ivory tusk, animal horn, gold, and clay. 4) Chordophones - String instruments. 4 types: a) Zithers - neckless instruments, with strings stretched from end to end of a board. They are struck or plucked. b) Lutes - instruments with necks. They may be plucked or bowed. c) Lyres - Instruments with two projecting arms linked by a crossbar. May be plucked or bowed d) Harps - instruments in which the string's plane is at an angle, rather than parallel to the sound board. 5) Electrophones Instruments using electronic circuits. Amplification of Sound - May use an electronic circuit to reinforce means of amplification. Examples: Electric guitar, electric piano