What Is A Bandurria? Meaning And Origins Of This Musical Instrument

BANDURRIA – In this topic, we will now know the meaning and origins of one of the musical instruments in Philippine rondalla, bandurria.

Meaning

It is a plucked chordophone or a string instrumen that is similar to the mandolin. It is primarily used in Spanish folk music.

In the Philippines, a variation of it which is a harp bandurria consists of 14 strings and is used in many Philippine folk songs. This is an evolved version of it during the Spanish colonization period (1521 – 1898). It is one of the main instruments used in a musical ensemble called rondalla. The tuning is lower than its Spanish version, which is F#, B, E, A, D, G from low to high.

Origins

This musical instrument originated from Spain. Back in the Medieval period, it used to have three strings tuned in fourths

In the 18th century, it had a round back, which was eventually replaced by its flat-back version, which have five double courses of strings.

The term before was mandurria, which was coined by Juan Ruiz in the 14th century in his Libro De Buen Amor.