Philippines – Mindanao
Tboli Indigenous People

Wood, rattan, beeswax
ca. 1930s-1950s
Length: 48 in
Chordophones – Lutes

According to German ethnomusicologist Hans Brandeis, this is a boat lute called ‘Hegelung’ (haglong, hagelund, hagalong, heglung) of the Tboli people of Mindanao.  The names of boat lutes used by the various indigenous people in the Philippines can be divided into two categories.  First is this hegelung, which ends with the syllable -lung or -long, that indicates that it is exclusively used in the Philippines.  The other category of boat lutes, which may not even be boat lutes, but zithers, are modifications of the Sanskrit word ‘kacchapa’.  Hans Brandeis’ research shows that there are at least 25 distinct subtypes of boat lutes used among at least 38 ethnic groups in the Philippines.

The overall shape of this ‘hegelung’ has a smooth, organic transition between the neck and body, with a square, box shape at the lower end.  The frets are located on the neck, with the first fret near the head (some of the frets are missing but clear marks of location).  At the top is a block-shaped head extension with a back cover.

Reference:  For more information on the different types of Boat Lutes in the Philippines please check out publications by Dr. Hans Brandeis.  For free viewing and downloading:  https://fu-berlin.academia.edu/HansBrandeis.  There is also an advocacy page dedicated to these instruments:  https://www.facebook.com/boatlutesphilippines/ –  Special Thanks to Hans Brandeis.