Samaon Sulaiman

GAWAD SA MANLILIKHA NG BAYAN

(MARCH 3, 1953 - MAY 21, 2011)

My Vlog

BACKGROUND

Samaon Sulaiman was a Filipino musician who is a recipient of the National Living Treasure award. The Maguindanaon is known for his mastery of the indigenous kutyapi instrument.

The Magindanaon, who are among the largest of Filipino Islamic groups, are concentrated in the towns of Dinaig, Datu Piang, Maganoy and Buluan in Magindanao province. Highly sophisticated in weaving, okir designs, jewelry, metalwork and brassware, their art is Southeast Asian yet distinct in character.
In the field of music, the Magindanaon have few peers among Filipino cultural communities. Their masters on the kulintang (gong-chime) and kutyapi (two-stringed plucked lute) are comparable to any instrumental virtuoso in the East or West.

Date of Birth

Born on March 3, 1953, Sulaiman first learned to play kutyapi at around 13 years old from his uncle. By the time he was 35 years old, he was already recognized in Maganoy for his skills in playing the instrument as well as being a teacher to aspiring kutyapi practitioners. He is credited for influencing other local experts in his area such as Esmael Ahmad, Bitul Sulaiman, Nguda Latip, Ali Ahmad and Tukal Nanalon. Sulaiman also plays the kulintang, agong (suspended bossed gong with wide rim), gandingan, palendag, and the tambul.

My Story

STYLE

Samaon Sulaiman achieved the highest level of excellence in the art of kutyapi playing. The kutyapi, a two-stringed plucked lute, is one of the most technically demanding and difficult to master among Filipino musical instruments.

His extensive repertoire of dinaladay, linapu, mizuna, binalig, and other forms and styles interpreted with refinement and sensitivity fully demonstrate creative and expressive possibilities of his instrument.

My Life

PLAYED INSTRUMENTS

1920px-Mindanao_Bangsamoro_Islamic_Musical_Instruments.jpg

Kulintang

The term refers to a gong and drum ensemble that originated in the southern Philippines and northern Borneo. Taking its name from the primary kettle gong instrument.

An orthodox kulintang ensemble in Maguindanao and Maranao uses this instrument as an accompanying or supporting instrument. With the use of simple patterns and interlocking rhythms, the agung would be used to enhance the melody produced by the kulintang.

Agung

Gandingan

Members of Maguindanao may connect with each other using this instrument, which allows them to broadcast messages or warnings across large distances. The "talking gongs" meaning has been given to this instrument because of its capacity to mimic the tones of the Maguindanao language.

Palendag

It goes by many different names. One of the biggest bamboo flutes in the Philippines is known as the Palendag which can also be referred to as Pulalu, Palandag, Pulala, Lumundeg, or Hulapeb, depending on the region in which it's played.

Tambuli

Indigenous peoples utilized this instrument to summon members of their community and elders, listen to their chieftains, or participate in making choices about the safety and well-being of the tribe or community.

Awards

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

National Living
Treasure Award

Award recipients, known as National Living Treasures, are Filipino citizens or groups of citizens engaged in any traditional art unique to the Philippines, whose distinctive skills have reached such a high level of technical and artistic excellence that they have been passed on to and widely practiced by the present generations of their community with the same level of technical and artistic competence.