Kulintang & Crystal Sound Baths 💓
+ a story of ancestral remembrance & healing with sound
This email includes an invitation to gather in the Soft Power Sanctuary for a Crystal Sound Bowl Bath experience on Wednesday, December 4th at 12pm PT/2pm CT/3pm ET. Register here.
It was during my final year of doctoral studies when my interest to understand the power of sound, frequency, and vibration was piqued. I had recently reunited with my biological Dad (separated by adoption) and was learning more about my Ilokano-Filipino ancestry, which immediately led me to researching the pre-colonial music of the Philippines. Right away, I was drawn to learn more about kulintang music and its traditions in the Southern Muslim region of the Philippines. Cassie Ordonio writes:
”Kulintang has about five instruments: the kulintang, which includes a row of eight, small gongs that make high pitch sounds; the agung, which are larger gongs that have a base sound; the dabakan, a goblet-shaped drum; the babandir, the "timekeeper" gong; and the gangingan, a four-gong set.” Read more about kulintang music here.
As part of completing my degree, I was required to do a “lecture recital”—a recital of choral music, prepared & conducted by me, along with a spoken lecture on the historical background, genre/style, and musical content—and as long as it was related to choral music, it was a go.
However, this was Fall 2020, and our choirs were still meeting virtually. So due to the unprecedented grounds of the COVID pandemic, I was given permission to give a virtual lecture recital about Nilo Alcala’s composition “Kaisa-isa Niyan,” a vocal/choral piece based on the children’s chant from Maguindanao (Southern Philippines) and musically-inspired by the kulintang ensemble.
If you are curious, I invite you to watch this performance by the Ateneo Chamber Singers, a university choral ensemble from Quezon City, Philippines!
In particular, the kulintang, an instrument made up of 5-9 high-pitched gongs (see image above), became a source of interest for me because it is believed to have never been colonized by European settlers. One reason why it would have been challenging to colonize is because the tradition is passed down orally [without the use of written notation] as is common in indigenous cultures and communities. Although this also makes it challenging for diasporic Filipinos to access traditional kulintang performances & apprenticeship. But as I learned and listened more, I became increasingly fascinated by the visceral sensations felt by experiencing kulintang [gong] music, as well as other related instruments, such as the Indonesian Gamelan.
And this fascination, along with my ancestors, led me to another—what I may call—a very distantly-related colonized cousin that is extremely accessible these days in wellness & healing spaces…
Pure silicon quartz crystal sound bowls are said to have emerged in the 1980s and 1990s, alongside the rise of the computer technology industry:
“In a merger of new and ancient technologies, the computer industry made very high quality, pure silicon quartz crystal bowls utilized to grow pure silicon chips for their computers. If the bowls were not precise enough, they were thrown out. Apparently, someone on the way to the trash bin discovered they have incredible pure sounds, also, and decided to stop discarding them! This birthed the singing crystal bowl industry.” (Zacciah Blackburn from Sunreed Instruments)
A complete set of crystal sound bowls consists of seven bowls of different sizes that correlate to the seven pitches of the C-major scale and the seven energetic centers of the Western Chakra system. By playing or listening to crystal sound bowls, it is believed that the sound vibrations can penetrate, tune, and align our etheric and physical bodies for holistic healing.
So, although there is no authentic relationship between the music & traditions of the kulintang ensemble and crystal sound bowls, I feel called to this sound healing modality as a way to bring the medicine of sound to myself, my clients, my family, and our community at Soft Power.
And I do not doubt the power of sound, frequency, and vibration when there is an intention for healing, whether that is crystal sound bowls or carpool karaoke.
A *new* sound healing offering!!
As our Soft Power Choir 🌟 season comes to a close, I am so excited to share a different type of offering that I hope can support us all as we close out 2024. Join us tomorrow (Weds, December 4th) from 12pm PST in our Soft Power Sanctuary to rest & receive the medicine of frequency and vibration at our Crystal Sound Bowl Bath.
Sound baths have been found to:
relieve stress & anxiety
support mood
reduce pain
increase focus & clarity
expand body awareness
and so much more!
This offering is open to the public and registration is available for those who want a calendar reminder! Participants are encouraged to wear headphones for best sound quality and experience.
Join us tomorrow, December 4th at 12pm PST, hope to see you there!
See you soon!
xoxo, Dr. Kiki
Can’t make it to the Sound Bath? ✨
Join us for Movement Cafe 🐉
Facilitated by
Date: Thurs, 12/5 from 5:30-6:30pm PST
Movement Cafe is a 60-minute session to drop in and connect with your breath and move your body. This transformative movement class integrates the principles of breathwork, Qi Gong, and yoga into a holistic practice that nurtures the mind, body and spirit. Flo will guide a gentle movement practice to release stress and tension in the body, followed by music for your creative expression and freestyle. Embrace the flow of energy and movement, & express your creative spirit at Soft Power’s Movement Cafe.