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 from the word “Kung Hindi

Man”. It is 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.
Examples of kundiman: “Nasaan Ka Irog”,
“Mutya ng Pasig”, “Bitiung Marikit”, “Kundiman
ng Luha”