Written by Rene Estremera | 19 January 2010

The Kontemporaryong Gamelan Pilipino (Kontra-GaPi), the Resident Ethnic Music and Dance Ensemble of the UP Diliman College of Arts and Letters, will perform in Davao City on the weekend of February 12-14, 2010. This was announced by UP Mindanao Chancellor Gilda Rivero today. “The visit of Kontra-GaPi is a cultural exchange between UP Diliman and UP Mindanao that was made possible through the assistance of UP Diliman Chancellor Sergio S. Cao”, she said. “The series of performances, workshops and interaction by Kontra-GaPi is an offering of UP Mindanao to the people on the occasion of UP Mindanao’s 15th Anniversary. This is a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ opportunity for people in the Mindanao region to hear and experience Kontra-GaPi under the leadership of ethnomusicologist Prof. Pedro R. ‘Edru’ Abraham, Jr. We are inviting the public to attend.”

On Friday, February 12, at 1:30 P.M. will be the musical performance of Kontra-GaPi at the Atrium, UP Mindanao Administration Bldg., Mintal, Davao City. At 3:00 P.M., a simultaneous workshop for music, dance, mime and a painting interaction will be conducted by Kontra-GaPi in the same venue.

 

Chancellor Gilda C. Rivero welcomes the visitors and the audience to the event

Dean Ma. Araceli Dans Lee introduces the group

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Saturday, February 13, at 4:30 P.M. will be the gala performance of Kontra-GaPi at Davao City Peoples' Park.

(Photos below)

On Sunday, February 14, at 10:00 A.M., Kontra-GaPi will have an interaction with local artists and indigenous groups at UP Mindanao School of Management, Anda Street, Davao City. (Photos below)

Also on Sunday, February 14, Valentines Day, from 3:00 P.M. until 10:00 P.M., Kontra-GaPi activities will be at Matina Town Square (MTS), Davao City. At 3:00 P.M. will be held a simultaneous workshop on music, dance and mime. At 8:00 P.M. will be a musical performance of Kontra-GaPi at Matina Town Square . At 9:00 P.M. will be the “jamming” of Kontra-GaPi with local musicians. At 10:00 P.M. will be a painting interaction. (Photos below)

 

 

 

 

 

Kontra-GaPi uses ideophones such as the kulintang, gangsa, tongatong and kalutang; chordophones like the hegalong, kulibet, gitgit and kuritang; aerophones such as the diwdiw-as, esmi, tonggali and suling; and membranophones like the debakan, solibaw and Cordilleran drums of varying sizes and shapes. The human body itself by way of applause, stomping, chest pounding, clicking and other means turns into a producer of myriad sounds.

 

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Prof. Pedro R. "Edru" Abraham. Jr. of the College of Arts and Letters, UP Diliman, is the person known as the Nagtatag at Lider ng Kontra-Gapi. UP Diliman Chancellor, Dr. Sergio S. Cao, has provided full support for this cultural exchange.

CHSS Dean, Prof. Ma. Araceli Dans-Lee will coordinate this event and other Kontra-Gapi activities during the group’s visit from February 12-15, 2010 in cooperation with the UP Alumni Association-Davao and the UP Mindanao Alumni Association.