| It is a five to six stringed bamboo zither made by carefully carving and lifting the skin of the bamboo to create strings. Its strings are raised using frets made from tiny pieces of bamboo. The slit at the middle of the instrument allows the sound to resonate inside the hollow tube. Rattan is tied at both ends of the instrument to prevent the strings from lifting all the way and the instrument itself from splitting completely because of the slit. |
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Kullitong
Description
- Classification: Idiophones
Luzon
Science in a creative industry.
The DOST-FPRDI has a Bamboo Musical Instruments Innovation R&D program aimed at improving the quality of locally-made bamboo musical instruments (BMIs) through science and innovative technologies. The program seeks to standardize the production of selected BMIs, develop prototype designs, analyze raw material sources and existing markets, and build a BMI processing facility. In addition, the program aims to document the ethnocultural story behind several BMIs and identify the bamboo species used in BMI production to promote public awareness and appreciation of the cultural importance of these musical instruments. The program is a collaboration with the University of the Philippines and Philippine Normal University for teaching modules and analyzing sound quality and standardization of BMI design. The DOST Grants-in-Aid program provides funding.
PhBMI