Contextual Associations

The balingbing is an idiophone buzzer of the Kalinga (also Kalingga) and other upland peoples (Ibaloy, Ifugao, Isneg, and Bontok) of the northern Philippines island of Luzon. It is used as either a solo or ensemble instrument for entertainment. The Kalinga are known to form small ensembles of up to six balingbing in graduated sizes that are used to imitate the music of their gangsa topayya ensemble (consisting of six flat-faced gongs played by as many players) (Dioquino p. 107). Balingbing can also be played while walking along forest trails, their sound believed to ward off evil spirits (Maceda 2014, p. 188).

Description

This balingbing is made from a straight segment (about 1.5 feet in length) of hollow bamboo one end of which is closed by a natural node (detail #1). The other end is open and has two deep (about 9.5 inches long) U-shaped segments removed from the wall of the tube (gallery #1) that articulate the two vibrating/buzzing components of the instrument. The remaining and integral part of the tube serves as the instrument’s resonator. The resonator is partially split to a length of about five inches below the bottom of the deep side gouges. A sliding ring of twisted rattan surrounds the tube and can be slid up-and-down the length of the splits in the resonator (gallery #1). A single small hole is burnt through the wall of the resonator about six inches above the closed-end of the tube (detail #2).

Instrument - Player Interface and Sound Production

The player holds the resonator-end of the instrument in one hand while striking the tongue-end against the heel of his/her other hand. The relative-pitch buzz thus produced can be raised or lowered a small interval by sliding the rattan ring up or down the length of the resonator splits. Further sound modification can be produced by the player by covering and uncovering the small hole in the resonator with his/her thumb or third finger of the hand holding the tube. Examples  of balingbing being played (from 0:00-1:24) and of a gangsa topayya ensemble (2:19-3:15) can be seen and heard here.

Origins/History/Evolution

No information about the origins of the balingbing was found. That it is widely distributed amongst the peoples of upland Luzon and made from a material abundantly available in the environment of this area suggests it has been around for some time.

Bibliographic Citations

Dioquino, Corazon. 2008. “Philippine Bamboo Instruments.” Humanities Diliman 5(1&2): 101-113.

Maceda, José. 1998. “Upland Peoples of the Philippines.” In The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music v. 4. Southeast Asia. ed. Terry E. Miller and Sean Williams. New York: Garland Publishing, pp. 913-928.

________. 2014. “Balingbing.” NGDMI v.1: 188.