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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Sound of science': Gov't researchers create PH's digital indigenous instrument sounds database

'Sound of science': Gov't researchers create PH's digital indigenous instrument sounds database

Published Jun 4, 2021 11:52 pm

The legacy of indigenous Filipino instruments and artists should be preserved.

With this in mind, state researchers have created an "open-source digital database” that serves as repository of audio recording of more than 100 indigenous musical instruments found in the country, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said Friday, June 4.

DOST Secretary Fortunato T. dela Peña (right) and DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development Dr. Rowena Cristina L. Guevara (left) use “kawagong” (bamboo tube), and marimba, respectively. (Photo from DOST / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)

DOST Secretary Fortunato “Boy” T. de la Peña said the database has been created by a group of researchers from the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman-Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute (EEEI) and DOST- Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI).

"The KATUNOG (KAlipunan ng KaTUtubong TuNOG) Project is an answer to the seemingly declining interest of Filipinos in appreciating the local indigenous musical heritage,” he said during his weekly report on Friday, June 4. The project sought to develop a Philippine Indigenous Instrument Sounds Database.

The DOST chief noted that the database "compiles audio recording of more than a hundred Philippine indigenous music instruments found in different parts of the country.”

DOST-ASTI Director Dr. Franz Asunta de Leon, who is into digital signal processing for audio and communications, leads the project.

KATUNOG is one of the collaborative projects of DOST-ASTI with UPD-EEEI.

“For the music industry, there is a resurgence of electronic music, driven by advances in technology and demands by consumers. However, it is observed that the Philippine indigenous instruments are not being given considerable attention and leverage for commercial success,” said de Leon, who has a doctorate degree related to music information retrieval (MIR).

“Having a database of Philippine indigenous instrument sounds allows for novel research including understanding pitch scales, analyzing sound textures, and sound similarities,” he added.

De la Peña said the group arranged on-site recordings using different indigenous instruments in different parts of the Philippines to further expand and add authenticity in the collection.

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INDIGENOUS INSTRUMENTS UP EEEI DOST ASTI DE LA PEÑA DOST
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