The babandil is a small, narrow-rimmed gong from the Philippines. It is used mainly to keep the beat in the Maguindanao kulintang ensemble.
Description
The babendil typically has a diameter of about one foot, making it larger than the largest kulintang gong and similar in size to the agung or gandingan. However, unlike the gandingan or agong, the babendil has a boss that is pushed inward, which makes the boss not useful for playing. Because of this sunken boss, babendils are struck either on the flange or the rim using tools such as bamboo betays or a strip of rattan. This produces a sharp, clear metallic sound and sometimes leads to the babendil being called a “false gong.” This feature classifies the babendil as a bell in the Hornbostel-Sachs system (if struck on the boss, it would be classified as a gong).
Babendils are usually made of bronze. However, because bronze is rare in Mindanao, most gongs, including the babendil, are made from more common metals like brass, iron, and even tin cans.
Technique
The babendil can be played while standing or when seated with the instrument suspended about half a foot above the ground. To play correctly, the player holds the babendil upright, tilted slightly away from their body, and grips the gong at its edge between the thumb and the other four fingers. The thumb should be parallel to the edge of the gong. The player strikes the edge of the gong with their betay to create basic rhythms that are similar to those played on the dabakan drum or the lower-pitched agung.
Uses
The babendil was traditionally played by both boys and girls. In wooden kulintang ensembles, the kagul is often used instead of the babendil. Among the Tausug, Samal, and Yakan people, the babendil-type instrument is no longer used. Instead, the highest gong on the kulintangan is used to control the tempo. The Samal call the repeating beat pattern "solembat," while the Yakan refer to it as "nulanting." Among the Tagbanwa, the babandil is used not only to keep the rhythm of music but also to accompany songs.
Origins
The word "babendil" may have come from the Middle East or the Indian Subcontinent. Some experts believe it comes from the Arabic word "bandair," which means a type of circular drum used across the Arab world. Others think the babendil is connected to the Javanese "bebende" or "bende," which is a gong used in gamelan music. This gong may be related to an ancient Indian drum called "behri," as old Sanskrit texts describe a similar bronze instrument.
Other derivative names
This term is also known as babendir, (Maguindanao) babndir (Maranao), bandil, babandil, babindil, bapindil, (Other Southern Philippine Groups), babandir (Tagbanwa, Batak, Palaw’an), banendir, tungtung, (Tausug), salimbal (Samal), and the mapindil (Yakan).