Employing a wide variety of instruments including castanets, a tuntungan (wooden percussion instrument), gongs, drums, and a rondalla ensemble of plucked and strummed strings, the Philippine dance company Bayanihan emphasizes ensemble performance. From the flutes on “Idaw,” which evoke the images of the bird in the song’s title, to the driving percussion on “Salip,” a Kalinga wedding dance from northern Luzon Island, the album’s balance between percussive and melodic pieces provides a musical map through the Philippines’ cultural influences. The album closes with three English-language choral pieces, including “Cotton Fields” (identified on the album as “Louisiana”), which draws from the album’s recording location in New Orleans.

Track Listing