Babandil
/ˌbɑː.bɑːnˈdiːl/noun
A small bossed gong used as a timekeeper in Philippine kulintang ensembles.
Did you know?In kulintang music, the babandil often functions like a conductor’s clock, marking the rhythmic framework while the other gongs weave around it.
Etymological Timeline
Precolonial Southeast Asia
Austronesian region
babandil
“A regional term for a small gong or gong-like percussion instrument; the precise older source is uncertain.”
Early modern period
Malay
babandil
“A gong used in musical ensembles, especially in the Malay-Indonesian cultural sphere.”
Precolonial Philippines
Philippine languages
babandil
“A small, often suspended gong used to mark rhythmic cycles in ensemble music.”
20th Century
English
babandil
“A Philippine gong used in descriptions of kulintang music and traditional instruments.”
Modern English
English
babandil
“A small Philippine gong serving as a timekeeper in a kulintang ensemble.”