(Photo is from a Fernando Amorsolo’s Planting Rice)
Kundiman (originally spelled Cundiman) is a genre of traditional Filipino love songs. The lyrics of the Kundiman are written in Tagalog. The melody is characterized by a smooth, flowing and gentle rhythm with dramatic intervals. Kundiman was the traditional means of serenade in the Philippines.
The Kundiman came around to be an art song at the end of the nineteenth century and by the early part of the twentieth century, its musical structure was formalised by Filipino composers such as Francisco Santiago and Nicanor Abelardo (February 7, 1893-March 21, 1934); they sought poetry for their lyrics, blending verse and music in equal parts.
– Wikipedia
I am glad that I still got to hear the old kundiman while I was a child. The foremost female kundiman singer of the 50s was still alive then. I love their songs usually encapsulated in one of those black and white films (this is more to do with our television being black and white, hahahaha) from LVN. Whenever I hear, very seldom now, of a kundiman song it makes me smile and remember the bygone years where everything is simple and uncomplicated, where morality is expected of everyone.
It would be such a shame if kundiman is to die a natural death so in my small way, I shall disseminate kundiman to the world.
So I shall post the choicest kundiman (in my opinion only) here.
Waray waray by Silvia La Torre. Waray waray is a very feminist song. Sylvia sings that she would not think twice to engage in a fight if needed. She is a brave woman coming from the Waray clan. The warays are ready to fight to the death. – This doesn’t sound like a kudiman.
Sa Kabukiran by Sylvia La Torre
Sa Kabukiran means in the farm/field. Apparently in the farm there is no sadness, everyday is happiness. The plants are verdant, the birds sing merrily. Life in the farm is happy and gay (old meaning).
Carinosa by Sylvia La Torre
If we had to talk about love, I would look for a man who would not be unfaithful. Life is sad if true love is absent. (sorry this is too literal translation)
Here is almost an hour of pure kundiman for your delight of real Filipino music. Turn on the volume and do your ironing or even get the mister to have a few turns of tango in your living room or in the garden under the moonlight!