Kulintang refers to a family of related gong-chime ensemble traditions from Mindanao in the southern Philippines. Rather than a single standardized genre, kulintang encompasses multiple regional practices developed by communities such as the Maranao, Maguindanao, Tausug, Sama, and many others. These traditions share similar core instrumentation: a melodic row of tuned knobbed gongs (kulintang), large suspended gongs, and drums. Each region has differences in repertoire, terminology, tuning systems, and instrumentation.

I've experienced kulintang sometimes labeled as “Muslim music” due to its strong presence in Muslim communities in Mindanao, but this is a misunderstanding. Kulintang is a regional ensemble tradition shared across multiple communities, with diverse styles and histories, and is not defined by a single religious identity.

Kulintang continues to be an actively evolving performance practice in Mindanao and in diaspora communities.

On this site, I share pieces I have learned, reflections on repertoire, and notes on the context of the music as I study it. This is not a comprehensive or authoritative resource on kulintang traditions, but a personal record of my learning and engagement with the music.

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Please do reach out if you have any questions, concerns or to share any reactions to the project with me. Happy to connect.