What is "kundiman"

Kundiman is a nonprofit organization which offers writing retreats, a reading series, and a poetry prize, and is dedicated to providing "a safe yet rigorous space where Asian American poets can explore, through art, the unique challenges that face the new and ever changing diaspora." Kundiman was co-founded in 2002 by Asian American poets Sarah Gambito and Joseph O. Legaspi, and has received support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, University of Virginia, Asian American Arts Alliance’s (SOAR) Program, Philippine American Writers, PAWA, and individuals.

Recently, Kundiman and Fordham University announced that they have formed an affiliation: Kundiman will "enhance the outreach of Fordham’s English Department," and Fordham will host the annual Kundiman Poetry Retreat on Fordham’s Rose Hill campus beginning in 2010, and host Kundiman-sponsored readings and events at the Lincoln Center Campus. Fordham will also provide a total of $60,000 over three years in financial support for Kundiman’s programs.

According to the University of Virginia, which hosted Kundiman's inaugural writing retreat, "The organization’s name refers to a style of Filipino love song that served as veiled patriotism during colonial times." According to Sarah Gambito, "Kundiman Fellows have published poems in The Virginia Quarterly Review,The Colorado Review, Pleiades, Black Warrior Review and Crab Orchard Review" and "Three Kundiman fellows have gone on to publish full-length collections of poetry."

Honors given by Kundiman include The Kundiman Poetry Prize, for a first or second book by an Asian American poet. The prize is being co-sponsored and the winning manuscript published by Alice James Books, and according to Kundiman, "is the only poetry prize dedicated to Asian American poets in the country."

Kundiman is Hale's fourth studio album released on July 27, 2009, with singles "Bahay Kubo", "Kalesa", "Harinawa" and "Magkaibang Mundo".

The concept of Kundiman is Filipiniana as all songs of the album were written through cultural observation of the band's country of origin, and that the songs were also composed in humane context.

Kundiman 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.

Scholars and historians believed that the Kundiman originated from the Visayas . Dr. Francisco Santiago(1889–1947), the "Father of the Kundiman Art Song", briefly explains in his scholarly work "The Development of Music in the Philippines" the reason why this Tagalog song is called Kundiman is because the first stanza of this song begun thus:

"Cundiman, cundiman Cundiman si jele" "Hele ng Cundiman Hele ng Cundangan"

In 1872, the illustrious Franciscan Tagalist and poet, Joaquín de Coria wrote the "Nueva Gramática Tagalog Teorica-Práctica" which, besides treating grammar, also enumerates the characteristics of Tagalog language, and discusses Tagalog poetry. In this book, Coria also listed the names of the most important songs of the Tagalogs. They are:

• Diona and Talingdao (songs in the homes and in ordinary work)
• Indolanin and Dolayin (songs in the streets)
• Soliranin (boat songs)
• Haloharin, Oyayi, and Hele-hele ( lullabies)
• Sambotani (songs for festivals and social reunions)
• Tagumpay (songs to commemorate victory in war)
• Hiliraw and Balicungcung (sweet songs)
• Dopayinin (similar to Tagumpay; more serious and sincere)
• Kumintang (love song; also a pantomimic "dance song" -Dr. F. Santiago)
• Cundiman (love song; used especially in serenading)

The Spanish scholar V.M. Avella described the Kundiman in his 1874 work "Manual de la Conversación Familiar Español-Tagalog" as the "canción indígena" (native song) of the Tagalogs and characterized its melody as "something pathetic but not without some pleasant feeling." name=Kundiman>

In his 1883 book "Cuentos Filipinos", Don José Montero y Vidal recorded in Spanish the sad lyrics of a "popular" Kundiman of the "Tagalas" or Tagalogs :

Cundiman, cundiman Cundiman si jele Mas que esta dormido Ta sona con ele. Desde que vos cara Yo ta mira Aquel morisqueta No puede traga. Cundiman, cundiman Cundiman, cundaman Mamatay, me muero Sacamay mo lamang.

The Spanish writer and historian Wenceslao E. Retana recorded in 1888 the lyrics of a popular Kundiman in Batangas. The melancholic lyrics in the Tagalog original as recorded in Retana's book "El Indio Batangueño" reads:

Aco man ay imbi, hamac isang ducha Nasinta sa iyo, naghahasic nga Di ba guin si David ng una ay aba Pastor ay nag harin ng datnan ng awa? Estrebillo: Hele ng Cundiman Hele ng Cundangan Mundo palibhasai, talinghaga lamang Ang mababa ngayon bucas ay marangal. Sa lahat ng hirap sintang dala-dala Salang cumilos isip coi icao na Acoi mananaog na hahanapin quita Estrebillo: Hele ng Cundiman Hele ng Cundangan Cundangan nga icao ang may casalanan Tataghoy-taghoy ni 'di mo pa paquingan.

In 1916, Dr. Juan V. Pagaspas, a doctor of philosophy from Indiana University and a much beloved educator in Tanauan, Batangas described the Kundiman as "a pure Tagalog song which is usually very sentimental, so sentimental that if one should listen to it carefully watching the tenor of words and the way the voice is conducted to express the real meaning of the verses, he cannot but be conquered by a feeling of pity even so far as to shed tears." [J.Pagaspas, "Native Amusements in the Province of Batangas"]

Dr. Francisco Santiago, the "Father of Filipino Musical Nationalism" declared in 1931 that the Kundiman "is the love song par excellence of the Filipinos, the plaintive song which goes deepest into their hearts, song which brings them untold emotions." [F. Santiago, "The Development of Music in the Philippines"]

T Endowed with such power, the Kundiman naturally came to serve as a vehicle for veiled patriotism in times of colonial oppression, in which the undying love for a woman symbolized the love of country and desire for freedom.

José Rizal, leader of the Propaganda movement and the Philippine national hero, has consecrated the Kundiman in his social novel “Noli Me Tangere”. Not only this but he himself wrote a Kundiman which is not of the elegiac type because its rhythm sounds the threat, the reproach and the revindication of the rights of the race.

Kundiman ni Rizal Tunay ngayong umid yaring diwa at puso Ang bayan palibhasa'y api, lupig at sumuko. Sa kapabayaan ng nagturong puno Paglaya'y nawala, ligaya'y naglaho! Datapuwa't muling sisikat ang maligayang araw Pilit na maliligtas ang inaping bayan Magbabalik man din at laging sisikat Ang ngalang Tagalog sa sandaigdigan! Ibubuhos namin ang dugo'y ibabaha Ng matubos lamang ang sa Amang Lupa! Hanggang 'di sumapit ang panahong tadhana Sinta ay tatahimik, tutuloy ang nasa! Sinta ay tatahimik at tutuloy ang nasa! O Bayan kong mahal Sintang Filipinas!

From 1896 to 1898 the most famous Kundiman, which fired the patriotic sentiments of the Tagalog revolutionaries in the struggle for liberation from Spanish colonial rule, was Jocelynang Baliuag. Officially known as Musica del Legitimo Kundiman Procedente del Campo Insurecto (Music of the Legitimate Kundiman that Proceeds from the Insurgents), Jocelynang Baliwag was the favorite Kundiman among the revolutionaries of Bulacan during the Philippine Revolution of 1896 - earning it the title "Kundiman of the Revolution."

In the guise of a love and courtship song, it features lyrics dedicated to a young and beautiful Filipina idolized in the Bulacan town of Baliuag named Josefa 'Pepita' Tiongson y Lara who symbolizes the image of the beloved Motherland, the Inang Bayang Katagalugan or Filipinas.

JOCELYNANG BALIWAG P- Pinopoong sinta, niring calolowa Nacacawangis mo'y mabangong sampaga Dalisay sa linis, dakila sa ganda Matimyas na bucal ng madlang ligaya. E- Edeng maligayang kinaloclocan Ng galak at tuwang catamis-tamisan Hada cang maningning na ang matunghaya'y Masamyong bulaclac agad sumisical. P- Pinananaligan niring aking dibdib Na sa paglalayag sa dagat ng sakit 'Di mo babayaang malunod sa hapis Sa pagcabagabag co'y icaw ang sasagip. I- Icaw na nga ang lunas sa aking dalita Tanging magliligtas sa niluha-luha Bunying binibining sinucuang cusa Niring catawohang nangayupapa. T- Tanggapin ang aking wagas na pag-ibig Marubdob na ningas na taglay sa dibdib Sa buhay na ito'y walang nilalangit Cung hindi ikaw lamang, ilaw niring isip. A- At sa cawacasa'y ang kapamanhikan Tumbasan mo yaring pagsintang dalisay Alalahanin mong cung 'di cahabagan Iyong lalasunin ang aba cong buhay.

The Filipino composer, conductor and scholar Felipe M. de León Jr., wrote that the Kundiman is a "unique musical form expressing intense longing, caring, devotion and oneness with a beloved. Or with a child, spiritual figure, motherland, ideal or cause. According to its text, a kundiman can be romantic, patriotic, religious, mournful. Or a consolation, a lullaby. Or a protest and other types. But of whatever type, its music is soulful and lofty, conveying deep feelings of devotional love." [F.M. de León Jr., "But What Really Is The Kundiman?"]