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We are the only group that currently performs kulintang in the UK, having brought a set of instruments over from the Philippines. Please contact us if you are interested in finding out about the kulintang or learning to play. We gave our first performance at SOAS Music Day.

Kulintang music is found across many parts of South East Asia, such as Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. We are interested in the type found in Mindanao, an island in the South of the Philippines and played by the Magindanao and Maranao people.

Kulintang is the name given to the ensemble, and also to the leading instrument, a row of around eight upright bossed gongs on a stand. This is usually played by one person with two soft wooden sticks.

Accompanying the kulintang are four other instruments. The babandil, or babendir, is a gong played on its rim, which beats a repetitive rhythm that demonstrates the mode of a piece. The dabakan, or debakan, is a drum played with rattan sticks which plays rhythmic variations.

The gandingan are a set of larger hanging bossed gongs that can improvise with the melodies of the kulintang. Finally, one or two agung, larger hanging gongs, are also used.