Traditional Filipino Music Performance by the University of the Philippines Alumni & Friends Rondalla

The Friends of the Cranford Public Library are pleased to welcome the University of the Philippines Alumni & Friends Rondalla. A rondalla is a string ensemble composed of plucked instruments from the lute and cittern families. The rondalla originated in medieval Spain and was introduced to the Philippines by Spanish colonizers in the 15th century. Associated with prominent universities and social institutions, the rondalla remained part of the mainstream urban culture of the Philippines through the first half of the 20th century. However, with the rise of pop culture and the growing preference for choral music in schools and government offices, interest in the rondalla waned. Nonetheless, the tradition has been kept alive among large Filipino communities living abroad as a means of expressing their cultural identity. Admission is free and all are welcome.