Lyrics

Pamulinawen, puso indengam man Toy umasasug agrayo ita sadiam.

Panunotem man ta dika paguintutulungan Toy agayat, agruknoy ita emman.

Essem mot’ diak kalipatan Ken nasudi unay a nagan,

Ta uray sadin ti yan, Disso sadino man, Aw-awagak a di agsarday,

Ta nagan mo nga kasamitan.

No malaquip ka, pusok ti mabang-aran.

Adu nga sabsabong, adu nga rosrosas Ti addat ditoy, Nena nga mabuybuya,

Ngem awan manlaeng ti sabali nga liwliwak No di dayta sudim ken imnas.

Aywen, biagko, indengam man.

Iyasasokko nga inaldaw

Ta diak to a kayat ti sabali nga imnas Sika laeng, o, biagko, ita ken uray tanemman

No malagipka, pusok ti mabang-aran.

Dakay nga ububbing, didakam’ tultuladen Ta dakkel kamin nga agiinnarem

Ta ituloyyo ta panagadalyo Tapno inkay magun-od kakaligumanyo.

Essem nga diak malipatan, ta nasudi unay a nagan, Uray sadin ti ayan, lugar sadino man,

Aw-awagan di agsarday ta naganmo kasam-itan.

No malagipka, pusok ti mabang-aran.

The “Pamulinawen” Ilocano folk song is originally written by Jose A. Bragado, a writer and a poet who was born at Santa, Ilocos Sur. It is about pursuing a girl, named Pamulinawen, with a stone heart, who ignores her suitor’s pleading. “Pamulinawen” narrates a song about affection and politeness. The lover begs for his affection to be acknowledged in this lighthearted, respectful song, but focuses more on the joy of his beloved’s thoughts.

“Pamulinawen” is translated as an alabaster, an extremely hard stone that represents the woman’s rejection of her lover’s respectful gestures. It also symbolizes a girl whom a man loved the most, a very good example of women during this period; soft, gentle, and modest. Lastly, “Pamulinawen” is compared to the bouquets and roses with an admirable beauty.

In the song, there was also some kind or even fatherly guidance, which reminded the youth about responsibilities and priorities in one’s life. The song is persuading the listeners that there is a right moment for everything. For example, in courting someone, it is important to take things slowly and to wait instead of being in a hurry in answering “yes” or pressuring someone to acknowledge one’s love.

A. MATERIALS

Audio tracks – Scan QR code on the right

Sheet music – Pamulinawen arrangement by Genaro Cesar Edilo Jr.

B. GUIDE TO THE PIECE

There are three sections in the arrangement. The key is in C major and the time signature is 2/4. The tempo is moderately fast. The introduction consists of 9 measures before going to section A. The first 7 measures are played by the marimba/gabbang that is repeatedly playing a 2 measure pattern. The angklung plays the accompaniment on the 2nd measure and bumbong plays on the 4th measure. On the 8th measure, the guitar and bumbong play an onset rhythm for the piece.

In section A, measures 10–25, the angklung plays the melody while the gabbang/ marimba plays the accompaniment in tremolo. The guitar (rhythm) plays a 2-measure repeated strumming pattern while the bumbong plays the bass part.

In section B, measures 26–37, the melody is played by the gabbang, the marimba also plays the melody but there are some parts where it plays a harmony note. The angklung plays the accompaniment. There’s a change in the bumbong rhythmic pattern while the guitar continuously plays the same rhythmic pattern.

For section C, measures 38–47, feature the alternation of melody between instruments of the gabbang/marimba and angklung. The gabbang plays the main theme, and the marimba plays the second voice. Then, the melody shifts to the angklung. This alternation happens on every line [of the folk] (every 2-measures).

Building up the ending begins in measure 48. There is a ‘ritardando’ mark in measure 51 which means the music will gradually decrease speed. The piece concludes with the Pamulinawen tune on the last 2 measures of the piece played by the marimba and ends with a C chord on the marimba, gabbang, and guitar.