Harana: Kay Lungkot Nitong Hatinggabi -Ruben Tagalog (Very Rare Vinyl Copy)

The Harana "Kay Lungkot Nitong Hatinggabi" is a composition of Santiago Suarez. Interpreted by the "King of Kundiman", Ruben Tagalog. Audio from a vintage vinyl phonograph LP record ("Harana, Ruben Tagalog," Villar Records LP 4032 , Mareco Inc.)



=== === === ===
HARANA

Harana, also known as Habanera Filipina, is a Philippine serenade which derives its rhythmic element from the Spanish Tango or Habanera. While the Spanish version has a lively, seductive tempo, the Filipino version is romantic, lyrical and slow.

Harana is the old Filipino courtship tradition of serenading women. It has been practiced mostly in rural areas and small towns of the Tagalog region. The man, usually accompanied by his close friends, goes to the house of the woman he is courting and plays guitar music and sings love songs (Kundiman) to her.

In a variation called "Tapat", practiced in small towns of Ilocos, the lady answers with a song that might hint that the man has to court her for a long time. The man counters with an even more passionate song, and the exchange continues until the pair come to an understanding.

Similar to "Tapat" is the Maranao tubad-tubad, where the repartee is in verse rather than in song.

==== ==== ====

RUBEN TAGALOG
(1922 -1984)

Ruben Tagalog (born October 18, 1922) is a Filipino actor and singer, famous for his revival and rendering of old Tagalog Kundiman songs. He was also once a part of the Mabuhay Singers.

He first caught the attention of radio listeners in the '40s when he hosted his own radio program, Harana ni Ruben Tagalog. His baritone voice filled his songs Ramona, Sayang, Azucena and Nasaan Ka Ngayon with emotion.

He revived danzas and balitaws like Nahan Kaya Ikaw, Bakit Ka Lumuluha, Barong Tagalog, Dalagang Pilipina and Caprichosa. He was the first artist to record Bayan Ko and Ang Pasko ay Sumapit.

Ruben Tagalog was first encouraged to take a singing career path by National Artist Atang dela Rama while singing with teenager friends in a local pier in his hometown Iloilo. In 1937, he and his two older sisters moved to Manila to try their career in singing. The three started humbly by singing from house to house, until they were discovered by showman Lou Salvador. As the group known as the Wanderers Trio, Ruben and his sisters sang at the Plaza Theater and at radio musical shows. As he went solo, his career flourished singing in radio programs and even hosting his own program entitled Harana ni Ruben, and eventually in stage shows at Clover Theater.

Inspite of his last name being "Tagalog", he was actually a Visayan from Iloilo and was a speaker of the Visayan language Hiligaynon (aka Ilonggo). He released at least two Cebuano Visayan albums. "Ruben Tagalog sings Visayan Songs" and a duet album with Cebuana singer Nora Hermosa called "Duet In Visayan".

In the early 1950s he became the first to popularize the Tagalog version of the 1933 Visayan Christmas carol "Kasadya Ning Takna-a" as "Ang Pasko Ay Sumapit". The Tagalog lyrics were written by Levi Celerio.

Ruben Tagalog emigrated to the United States in the early 1970s. He died on March 5, 1984.

PHILCLASSIC FILIPINIANA MUSIC ARCHIVE

.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Kay
• Lungkot
• Nitong
• Hatinggabi

[marmendoza8]

I learned more from your description of HARANA. I only knew that filipino habanera or danza is in 2/4 time but different from tango.

Thanks for giving us more informations!!

[philclassic]

@marmendoza8: You're welcome. Not to forget the fact that in the tradition of the Harana, KUNDIMAN songs are being sang, as Kundiman are Filipino love songs no matter whether it is in Waltz (Balse), or in Danza-Habanera tempo.

[pasigenyo]

Thanks for sharing this.

[philclassic]

@pasigenyo: You're welcome! I just listened to your very beautiful guitar rendition of this Kundiman-Harana. Thanks also for sharing.

[tonspascual]

Thank you! @philclassic for sharing your wealth of old Filipino music and your knowledge on such! Would you know if Cuenco's Nahan Ka is a song that has lyrics to it or is an instrumental piece?

[MrAdventurer59]

I first heard this song in a singing contest somewhere in Aurora Province 35 years ago & this was the winning piece.I always wanted to have a copy of the song since then but unfortunately no one could share me the lyrics.Thank you so much for uploading it.I have been seaching also the song requested by Oshaggar.It was the openning song of a midday drama in the early 70's hosted by the late kuya Cesar,if i'm not mistaken,"Pinagsisisihan Ko Ito".

[Oshaggar]

,,, nice piece. sana po merong may record nung kantang... "ang pag-ibig ay larawan ng buhay....luha't galak ay dulot sa bawat nilalang..."(dont' know the title but it is a theme song of an afternoon drama in the 60's)...paki-post naman please.