Babendil

Infobox Instrument
color1=#FFD700
color2=#FFEC8B
name= Babendil
names=

---

classification=
*Percussion instrument
*Idiophone
*Bell
range= Not tuned
related=
musicians=
articles=

The babendil is a single, narrow-rimmed Philippine gong Benitez, Kristina. The Maguindanaon Kulintang: Musical Innovation, Transformation and the Concept of Binalig. Ann Harbor, MI: University of Michigan, 2005. ] used primary as the “timekeeper” of the Maguindanao kulintang ensemble.cite web
last = Mercurio
first = Philip Dominguez
authorlink =
coauthors =
year = 2006
url = http://www.pnoyandthecity.blogspot.com
title = Traditional Music of the Southern Philippines
format = html
work = PnoyAndTheCity: A center for Kulintang - A home for Pasikings
publisher =
accessdate = February 25
accessyear = 2006]

Description

The babendil usually has a diameter of roughly one foot making it larger than the largest kulintang gong and comparable to the diameter of the agung or gandingan. However, unlike the gandingan or the agung, the babendil has a sunken boss which makes the boss relatively non-functional. Cadar, Usopay Hamdag (1971). The Maranao Kolintang Music: An Analysis of the Instruments, Musical Organization, Ethmologies, and Historical Documents. Seattle, WA: University of Washington. ] Because of their sunken boss, babendils are stuck instead either at the flange or the rim, using either bamboo betays or a strip of rattan producing a sharp, distinctive metallic clang and are sometimes considered “false gongs.” In fact, this distinction makes the babendil classified as a bell in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification (if it were struck at the boss, it would be considered a gong.)

Babendils are normally made out of bronze but due to the scarcity of this metal in Mindanao, most gongs, including the babendil are made out of more common metal such as brass, iron and even tin-can.

Technique

The babendil could be played while standing or when seated with the babendil hung half a foot from the floor. Proper technique requires the player to hold the babendil vertically, angled away from the body, with the gong held at the rim between their thumb and four fingers. With their thumb parallel to the rim of the gong, the players strikes the rim of the gong using their betay to play fundamental patterns that are similar to the drum pattern on the dabakan or the beat of the lower-picthed agung.

Uses

The babendil traditionally could be played by either sexes.cite web
last = Butocan
first = Aga M.
authorlink =
coauthors =
year = 2006
url = http://www.freewebs.com/kulintang/gandinganbabendir.htm
title = Gandingan/Babendil
format = html
work = Kulintang and the Maguindanaos
publisher =
accessdate = August 23
accessyear = 2006] In wooden kulintang ensembles, the kagul is usually substituted for the babendil part. Among the Tausug, the Samal and the Yakan, their babendil-type instrument generally has gone into disuse (Instead, tempo is kept in check using the highest gong on the kulintangan . Solembat is term used by the Samal for the ostinato beat while the Yakan call that same beat, nulanting.) while among the Tagbanua, the babandil is used not only to keep the rhythm of pieces but also as a song accompaniment as well.cite web
last = Fernandaz
first = Fe Tria
authorlink =
coauthors =
year = 2000
url = http://www.ops.gov.ph/pia/philtoday/pt03/pt0312.htm
title = Palawan Culture: Rich, colorful, fascinating
format = html
work =
publisher = Philippines Today
accessdate = August 23
accessyear = 2006]

Origins

The origins of the word "babendil" could either be traced from the Middle East or the Indian Subcontinent. Scholars suggest the name babendil is derived from the Arabic word, bandair, meaning, “circular-type, pan-Arabic, tambourine or frame drum. Farmer, Herny G.. Historical Facts for the Arabian Musical Influence. London: William Reeves, 1930. ] " Others suggests that since the babendil is closely related to the Javanese bebende or bende (a gong with similar characteristics and uses in the colotomic gamelan ensemble), it perhaps has relations with an ancient Indian kettle drum, behri, where ancient Sanskrit indicated the bende was the bronze equivalent of the behri. McPhee, Colin. Music in Bali. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1996.]

Other derivative names

Also called: babendir, (Maguindanao) babndir (Maranao), bandil, babandil, babindil, bapindil, (Other Southern Philippine Groups), babandir (Tagbanua, Batak, Palaw’an), banendir [cite web
last = Cruz
first = Gray
authorlink =
coauthors =
year = 2006
url = http://www.likha.org/company/musicians.asp
title = Musicians - Rondalla and Percussionists
format = html
work =
publisher = Likha Pilipino Folk Ensemble
accessdate = August 23
accessyear = 2006] , tungtung, (Tausug), salimbal (Samal) and the mapindil (Yakan).

References