The rondalla uses five main instruments. The bandurria is a small pear-shaped instrument with 14 strings and a high, sparkly sound - the main melody player. The laud is a little bigger with a deeper tone. The octavina has a softer, mellow voice. The Spanish guitar plays the chords - the harmony. And the bajo, the big bass, provides the deep low notes underneath.
All the strings are plucked with a small piece of tortoise-shell, plastic or bone called a plectrum (or pick). Skilled players can pluck so fast that one note becomes a shimmering 'tremolo', like a string of beads of sound. Listening to a rondalla in full flow is a bit like listening to a giant musical box.
Rondallas grew from instruments and styles brought to the Philippines hundreds of years ago, mixed with local tunes. Today, rondalla concerts feature Filipino folk songs, classical pieces and even modern pop songs. Schools sometimes compete in big rondalla festivals, dressed in matching baro't saya (traditional outfits).
Joining a rondalla is a great way for Filipino children to learn music. Many kids start at primary school, sitting next to older players who show them the chords. It is a sociable kind of music - you make the sound together, no one plays alone, and the band feels like a big musical family.