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Kutibeng (Kuti) : The Philippine Ukulele

Written by Daniel Balaoing Valdez

Thursday, 11 March 2010

uke

     Practically every nation has or must have had its own version of a small guitar-like instrument . Examples of these are Spain's vihuela or timple, Indonesia's krongcong and Puerto Rico's bordonua. The most popular of these instruments is the ukulele ( meaning "jumping flea" in Hawaiian) which   had taken root in the state of Hawaii.   Patronized by Burt Bacharach (Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head), endorsed by Paul McCartney, played by George Harrison, and coddled by Elvis in "Blue Hawaii", the uke (as it is called in short) is the unofficial symbol of the state of Hawaii.

       Here in the Philippines, we have a similar stringed instrument known as the "kutibeng" (literally "touch to produce sound" from the Ilocano words "kuti" and "tibeng") .   It was , and could in very rare cases still be, in use at least in the Ilocos - the northern part of the country's main island of Luzon. It was a popular home-made singing tool until the arrival in our shores ( at the start of the 20th century) of the Americans who introduced the ukulele.

       While the uke sounds endemic to Hawaii, the instrument did not originate there as the kutibeng (kuti) did in our country. Then known as "braguinha" or "cabaquinho", the uke was introduced in that island state in 1879 by Portuguese immigrants . But with the spreading American influence and relative control of international communications in the early 1900's, the Hawaiians (15 % of whom is of Filipino descent) richly deserve credit for the uke's successful promotion worldwide. Today, well known ukulelists like Jake Shimabukuro, Roy Sakuma, Bryan Tolentino, James Hill, Abe Lagrimas Jr. (of Filipino descent), Herb Ohta and many others play in bars, concert halls, TV stations and festivals.

       The kutibeng is one musical instrument that strongly deserves revival in our country. If a related instrument can thrive in another country, with stronger reason should it in ours - one inhabited by millions of music lovers and musicians many of whom are posted worldwide. I recall, while growing up as a small boy in Camiling, Tarlac decades back when there was hardly electricity in the barrios, the beautiful sounds emitted by this lovable instrument amidst the stillness of the night and the majestic sparkle of fireflies.

    Renewed interest in this indigenous instrument made of langka (jackfruit), sampalok (tamarind) or mahogany wood serves the interest of the musical world . Foremost, the device's susceptibility to simultaneous plucking and strumming (something difficult to accomplish with a guitar) makes it ideal for solo play .

      Also, with the kuti (pronounced "cutie" as in cute), guitar-playing talent can be discovered and developed at an early age. Without it, that task would be difficult to accomplish as the size of a guitar's neck would be too bulky for an interested child to handle. In one of the boat ride stopovers at Bohol's scenic Loboc river , it was a delight to see strumming grade schoolers   with their Cebu-made ukes merrily entertaining guests. It reminds one of J. Chalmers Doane who, in the 1960's, introduced in Canada a musical literacy program in the school curriculum using the uke as an inexpensive training medium.

       The kutibeng would prop up our domestic guitar-makers who are now exposed to stiff global competition. Similarly, local tourism would benefit from the introduction of an authentic and distinct native sound to re-enforce our "thousand islands" image as a tourist destination.

       To non-musicians, a hand-crafted kuti is so cute it would be a prized souvenir item . Amply encouraged and guided, our guitar craftsmen of Cebu and Pampanga (where colorful Christmas lanterns are made) could end up with their own unique versions of the instrument. In Hawaii and other parts of the world, the ukulele has evolved into several types (e.g. pineapple, banjolele, harp, lap steel) one of which, the concert type, could command a price of as high as a thousand dollars ! For an amateur player, one costing $25 would suffice. For the professional, it must cost around $150. Mga Abe (Kapampangan) , Kakadua (Ilocano) at Bay (Cebuano), kaya natin ito, di ba?

      Finally, the kutibeng is so portable, it easily fits into a car or the overhead bin of an airplane, or fun to travel with even in a crowded bus. It could doubly serve as a space-saving interior decor and/or a standby musical instrument in an average-size residential condo.

       In Hawaii there is at least one "organization, a non-profit one, dedicated to the preservation, perpetuation and promotion of the ukulele as a significant musical instrument" - the   Ukulele Guild of Hawai'i   .

       If they can do it over there, why can't we?* a former City Legal Counsel of Taguig City who grew up in Camiling, Tarlac, the author can play with the kutibeng (uke) Hoagy Carmichael's "Stardust", Ernie Delgado's "I Miss You So", Burt Bacharach's "Close to You", the Carpenters' "I Won't Last a Day Without You" and the Ilocano ditties "Ti Ayat ti Maysa a Ubing" and "Manang Biday", among others. He has to his credit a Christmas uke CD.

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davnal - Kutibeng (Kuti): Philippine Ukulele

|2011-01-15 16:26:11

Hi Poptimes, The above article of March 11, 2010 (see subject title) is mine.I
know you have a big readership and clout in Philippine music but I need more
exposure for the same. May I then request permission from you to have the
article reprinted elsewhere (e.g. GoodNewsPilipinas)? Don't you worry sirs, you
will be acknowledged as the first source that printed it. Many thanks for
printing my article.