Lute (kudyapi or kusyapi) from the Philippines
Object No. 93/316/1
This instrument is significant to the Museum's collection as it is representative of music making and instrument making in the Philippines, in Southeast Asia, as well as being an example of the type of instrument that traditional music is played on. A variety of long necked plucked string lutes, which are called by different names, are found in the southern Philippines; this lute is known as a kudyapi or a kusyapi. Some can also be differentiated from particular regions by slight variations in their construction. Instruments from the island of Palawan are noted by having their frets on the front of the neck whereas lutes from other areas can have frets on the sound board. Played by plucking its two strings, one used as a drone and the other for the melody, this family of instruments is used in both solo playing and in small ensembles with zithers, flutes and fiddles. This instrument also helps to explain the passing on of traditional techniques of instrument making and the use of local materials. More broadly the kudyapi can be used to show links between the other types of long necked plucked string instruments used in many cultural groups both within the Philippines and throughout the world. Although musical instruments from other cultures within Asia are represented in the Museum's collection they largely focus on Korea, Japan and China. This example from the Philippines, in Southeast Asia, helps to describe aspects of musical performance and the role of music in a culture outside of Australia and its role in local music-making, festivals and rituals. Further Reading: Corazon Canave-Dioquino; "Philippine Musical Instruments" on Philippines National Commission For Culture and the Arts website, (http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/articles-on-c-n-a/article.php?i=155&igm=1) J Maceda, L Orosa Goquingco & LR Kasilag; "The Philippines" in The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, S. Sadie (ed.) (Macmillan, London, 1980, Vol.14 pp.631-652). Ramon P Santos; "Traditional Forms Of Music" on Philippines National Commission For Culture and the Arts website, http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/articles-on-c-n-a/article.php?igm=1&i=161 Michael Lea Curator, music & musical instruments July, 2012
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Summary
Object Statement
Lute (kudyapi or kusyapi), wood, Palawan, Philippines, Southeast Asia [1940-1950]
Physical Description
Kudyapi or kusyapi made of wood (possibly Narra, a Philippine hardwood) with a shaped soundbox with square ends and swelling sides. Carved projection at lower end and two discs of yellow plastic at lower corners of the soundbox. There is a crack in the soundbox that has been previously repaired. The back cover with three holes at the rear of the soundbox is held by two dowels. The long narrow neck has traces of a beas wax on its front where a series of frets were once located and which just extends onto the upper part of the body. The hook-shaped head has two tuning pegs of wood which are carved into the form of animal heads. The two metal strings have been previously repaired. This lute has no bridge - They have the stringholder at the lower end of the strings, while the other end of the strings run over a kind of fret, which I call the "zero-fret." because it does not function as a ordinary fret, but serves the same purpose as a so-called "nut" on a guitar. The kusiyapì is either played solo or in combination with another kutiyapì/ kudlongan and a bamboo zither pagang. Generally speaking, boat lutes in the Philippines are usually played solo or, only among A FEW Manobo groups, in combinations with bamboo zithers, for the accompaniment of songs. Wherever boat lutes are played in the Philippines, combinations with other instruments, like flutes and fiddles, occur only very rarely (as in: almost never). It's true that there are two different basic types of boat lutes in the Philippines: either with their frets on the neck or with their frets on the soundboard. One specific feature of a kusiyapì is, however, that the first fret or better "zero-fret" is located more or less in the middle of the neck. The frets (one original fret can still be seen on the photograph) are usually made out of small round sticks of bamboo that are resting in a cone-shaped base of black beeswax. This is a very special kind of beeswax, which can become very soft, almost water-like when heated, but, after some maybe four weeks, turns hard like stone. (Hans Brandeis, 2021)
DIMENSIONS
Height
130 mm
Width
180 mm
Depth
1620 mm
PRODUCTION
Notes
This instrument was made in Palawan, a group of islands forming the western part of the Visayan Archipeligo of the Philippines, in Southeast Asia. It is thought to have been about 50 years old at the time of donation so was possibly made between 1940-1950.
HISTORY
Notes
This instrument was once part of the private collection of the donor. This instrument is a boat lute of the Pala’wan people from southern Palawan, Philippines. It's the biggest kind of boat lute in the Philippines, and its particular feature lies in the box shape of its resonating body, while almost all other types of boat lutes in the Philippines show the smooth shape of a boat. This specific lute type of the Pala’wan is called either KUSIYAPÌ or KUDLONGAN, depending on its size. (Hans Brandeis, 2021)
SOURCE
Credit Line
Gift of Ms Eva Toledo, 1993
Acquisition Date
27 August 1993
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