Tongkaling

Group: B'laan

A Tongkaling with a particular design

Tongkaling, bronze bells, on a dance girdle

Classification

Idiophones, pellet bells or crotal bells

Description

Brass bells, used as an amulet or as a musical instrument. In the picture fourteen brass bells is fixed to a metal girdle. Nine of these bells have a particular design (a tiger's face). The girdle is used during a particular dance. For an extensive explanation of this particular type of bells and its use, see the pages on tiger bells.

Local names

Tongkaling: larger brass pellet bells
Gurung-gurung: smaller brass pellet bells

Remarks

Ethnic group: B'laan
Location: SE Mindanao

Similar instruments (both with and without the face-like design) are used by:
- Bagobo, SE Mindanao,
- Kalagan, SE Mindanao,
- Tagbanwa, Palawan,
- Muslim groups, Muslim south,
and other groups.