How the tumpong makes its sound
In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the tumpong belongs to the flutes (edge-blown): an air jet is split on a sharp edge, setting the air column vibrating – flutes, recorders, whistles and panpipes.
More broadly it is one of the aerophones (wind instruments), where sound comes from vibrating air.
Press play above and watch the spectrum: the evenly spaced peaks are harmonics, and their relative strength is what gives the instrument its character.
From Wikipedia
The tumpong (also inci among the Maranao) is a type of Philippine bamboo flute used by the Maguindanaon, half the size of the largest bamboo flute, the palendag. A lip-valley flute like the palendag, the tumpong makes a sound when players blow through a bamboo reed placed on top of the instrument and the air stream produced is passed over an airhole atop the instrument. This masculine instrument is usually played during family gatherings in the evening and is the most common flute played by the Maguindanaon.
Other flutes
Frequently asked questions
What does a tumpong sound like?
As one of the flutes, its sound comes from the way an air jet is split on a sharp edge, setting the air column vibrating.
What type of instrument is the tumpong?
It is classified as flutes (edge-blown) (Hornbostel–Sachs 421.111.12).
Sources & credits
- Wikidata Q7852690 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Tumpong – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Image by IlshatS Ilshat Saitgalin bashkir from Bashkortostan of Russian Federation – CC BY-SA 3.0