Friday, June 24, 2011

Birthday Poem


A Grandmother's 56th Birthday Poem

For Kai Mykonos L. Fernandez

she is kai mykonos.
she is, is she?
my "gleam of sunshine"
on a day awash with falcon tears

henry wadsworth longfellow rued
while astride a horse on some
hill in the past too distant
to be searched, except through
sites like poemhunter.com,
there i searched & paused & halted & cried
bingo, kai, i found the words
that can fly to your side,
right by bibi elephant's side,
& dave the monkey's side before he can
sing "alley hoop hoop hoop
look at that caveman go!"

here's a lullaby from your booboo B
who works for thee, mamay kimi & country P
though they're not mine but the world's
these lines should sweep across
your laughter-full eyes.

god bless longfellow
god bless kai
god bless baptist john

now take your nap kai kai kai
mamay's gotta wash nappies
i gotta write a mile

think long, think fellow
think wads of paper full of worth
think henry & friendly
best yet, don't think at all

get lulled to sleep by longfellow
as it is nearly naptime
see you in a few kai kai kai

"Though thoughts, deep-rooted in my heart,
Like pine-trees dark and high,
Subdue the light of noon, and breathe
A low and ceaseless sigh;

This memory brightens o'er the past,
As when the sun, concealed
Behind some cloud that near us hangs
Shines on a distant field."

--Babeth Lolarga

June 24, 2011
2:05 p.m.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Pangalay Dancers Do Poetry, Music & Salinawit at FEU


In the email inbox today is this announcement from Nanette Matilac of AlunAlun Dance Circle. Truly a must see!
______________

Multi-awarded Artists Collaborate in a
Concert of Pangalay, Poetry, Music and Salinawit
FEU Auditorium, Manila
3 p.m. on June 23, 2011
Free Admission!


The AlunAlun Dance Circle, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and Far Eastern University present "Konsiyerto ng Pangalay, Tula, Salinawit at Musika," an exciting concert that aims to fuse different art forms with the participation of various artists. The concert will be on June 23 at 3 p.m. at the FEU Auditorium, Morayta St., Manila.

The concert will feature pangalay choreographies of Ligaya F. Amilbangsa with the AlunAlun Dance Circle. These pieces will showcase the versatility of the pangalay dance style in interpreting various types of music ranging from traditional, folk, Western classical and pop.

For the first time, Filipino adaptation of songs by Jose F. Lacaba, with rendition by pop vocalist Cookie Chua, will be choreographed using the pangalay movement vocabulary. The concert will demonstrate the versatility of the pangalay dance style in presenting poetry by Marra Pl. Lanot and Benilda Santos. The dramatic interpretation of poetry through dance also includes the poems of Dr. Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio.

"Konsiyerto ng Pangalay, Tula, Salinawit at Musika" marks the opening of FEU's Cultural Calendar for school year 2011-12 which aims to acknowledge many FEU graduates who are in the arts and have been enriching Filipino culture and heritage.

Amilbangsa is one of FEU’s outstanding alumnae. She has devoted her life to studying and teaching the pangalay, the traditional dance style of the Sulu Archipelago which has the richest movement vocabulary among all Philippine dance forms. The performance is free and open to the public. For inquiries and reservations, log on to www.pangalaydance.com.

PROGRAM
PART 1
Scene 1: What is Pangalay?
A brief annotative introduction to an endangered generic dance style
indigenous to the Sulu Archipelago, Southern Philippines

Scene 2: Traditional Pangalay Variations
A medley of kulintangan music and variations of pangalay dances:
Igal Kabkab: Pangalay choreographed with a kabkab or fan
Tawti: An exciting occupational dance that vividly portrays
a fisherman catching tawti or catfish
Linggisan: Janggay or metal claws amplify gestures portraying images of
a bird in flight, searching for food, or simply enjoying the gift of life and freedom

PART 2

Scene 3: Pangalay at Musika
Canon in D Major by Johann Pachelbel
Piano Sonata in C by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Basta’t Mahal Kita rendition by Sylvia la Torre
Pamaypay ng Maynila rendition by Sylvia la Torre

Interlude:
Ligaya Amilbangsa presents Ukkil book to FEU.

PART 3
Pangalay, Tula at Salinawit

Scene 4: Pangalay at Tula
“Pang-alay” by Benilda Santos
Selection from “Witch’s Dance” by Marra Pl. Lanot
"Sa Kabataang Pilipino" by Jose Rizal
"Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa" by Andres Bonifacio

Scene 5: Pangalay at Salinawit
“Ilog at Buwan” (“Moon River”) composed by Henry Mancini
“Mahinang Samba” (“One Note Samba”) composed by Antonio Carlos Jobim
“Kay Ganda ng Mundo” (“What a Wonderful World”) composed by George Weiss and Bob Thiele
(Salinawit by Jose F. Lacaba)

PART 4: Open Forum and Jamming

Photos by KIMI FERNANDEZ show AlunAlun Dance Circle in performance at UP Diliman campus in December 2010

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Reminder for the Week/s Ahead

This old blogger likes to visit the sites of young bloggers. And here's what I stumbled upon this morning. Being the eternally cock-eyed optimist that I am, I am sharing this with my loyal blog followers of 16. In another phrase, this optimism is nothing more than "Faith, Hope and Love." :-) Thanks, guys!

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Dear Dear Dear Music Lovers of Metro Manila & Nearby Provinces

Following is a letter from Pablo A. Tariman of Music News & Features on the next couple of intimate concerts for the season at Balay Kalinaw, University of the Philippines Diliman campus, Quezon City. The July 22 concert is a fund-raising event of Church Cafe, a Quezon City-based community of cultural workers, in behalf of poet-essayist-painter Jolicco de Cuadra who is under treatment for the early stages of Parkinson's disease.The July 22 event includes an exhibition and art raffle-auction apart from a dinner-concert.

_______________________________

Dear Music Lovers,

After the successful opening night of the UP Balay Kalinaw Intimate Concert Series on May 28 with violinist Gina Medina and pianist Mary Anne Espina, we would like to invite you to the remaining three concerts of the season: pianist Oliver Salonga on June 18, cellist Wilfredo Pasamba with pianist Mary Anne Espina on July 8 and baritone Andrew Fernando with mezzo soprano Clarissa Ocampo, flutist Christopher Oracion and pianist Espina on July 22.


Please fill up the ticket order form below, and Music News can deliver the tickets free. Or remit ticket payments through BPI Savings Account No. 2449-0956-88 under Account Name: Pablo A. Tariman and your tickets will be reserved on the night of the concert. Call us at (02) 7484152 or 09065104270.

Here is the background of the artists and their program.

Hoping you can join us in the forthcoming concerts, we remain

Very truly yours,


PABLO A. TARIMAN

Ticket Order Form
Music News
116 Edinburgh St.
Pasig Green Park Subd.
Manggahan, Pasig City

Gentlemen:
We would like to order the following tickets indicated below:

1. June 18, 2011 Concert of Pianist Oliver Salonga
( ) ____ tickets at P1000 (with dinner)
( ) ____ tickets at P500 (concert only)
( ) ____ tickets at P300 (student price)


2. July 8, 2011 Concert of Cellist Wilfredo Pasamba and pianist Mary Anne Espina
( ) ____ tickets at P1000 (with dinner)
( ) ____ tickets at P500 (concert only)
( ) ____ tickets at P300 (student price)
3. July 22, 2011 Concert of Baritone Andrew Fernando, mezzo-soprano Clarissa Ocampo and flutist Christopher Oracion.
( ) ____ tickets at P1, 500 (with dinner)
( ) ____ tickets at P500 (concert only)
( ) ____ tickets at P300 (student price)

Please deliver above tickets to the following:

Name:
Address:
Contact Nos. & Email Address:
* * *
Concert 2
Saturday, June 18, 2011, 6 p.m.
Oliver Salonga, pianist
Tickets at P1000 (with buffet dinner); P500 (concert only)
“What a dazzling pianist Oliver Salonga turned out to be! At his CCP concert, Bach’s Prelude and Fugue No.3 in C Sharp Minor and crisp-sparkling tones produced by remarkably nimble fingers. The distinctive phrasing, the brio, the sense of drama made the piece sound fresh and yes, even contemporary. Yet the style ummistakably hewed to Bach… the talent, the sensitivity, the impetuosity, the sense of drama are all his own.”--The Philippine Star

“He plays with power, technique, clarity, precision and coloring… A most satisfying evening!”--Business World

“…Remarkable musical sophistication… A clear standout!”--Malaya

Program
Piano Sonata No.58 in C Major, Hob.48 Haydn

Andante con espressione
Presto

Fantasiestucke, op.12 Schumann

Das Abends
Aufschwung Warum?
Grillen
In der Nacht
Fable
Traumes Wirren
Ende vom Lied

Intermission

Piano Sonata No.31 in A-flat Major, Op.110 Beethoven
Moderato cantabile
Allegro molto
Adagio espressivo
Fuga: Allegro ma non troppo
Apres une lecture du dante
"Sonata quasi fantasia" Liszt

Praised for his pianistic power and poetry, Oliver Salonga has gained a good following in his first recitals in the US, Asia and the Pacific. At a very young age, he has demonstrated an outstanding ability to communicate with audiences on a deeply personal level that made him one of the most promising pianists of his generation.

He was the winner of 2004 Lynn Concerto Competition and was a two-time Grand Prize winner in piano of 2003 and 2004 Madelyn Savarick Annual Scholarship Competition of the Centre for the Arts in Boca Raton, Florida. He had master classes with Sarah Davis Bueckner, Yoshikazu Nagai, Rebecca Penneys, Cecile Licad, Jon Nakamatsu, Jerome Lowenthal, Robert McDonald, John O’Connor and Philip Evans where he received positive comments and great appreciation. At Lynn University, Oliver graduated summa cum laude under the tutelage of Dr. Roberta Rust.

Born in Manila on June 26, 1986, Salonga started playing the piano at age 7 under Prof. Carmencita Arambulo. He gave his first solo public recital at age 11 playing Mozart's Piano Concerto in d minor K. 466. He recently obtained his Master of Music in Piano Performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music under the guidance of 2001 Van Cliburn Silver Medalist, Antonio Pompa-Baldi and was awarded the Sadie Zellen Piano Prize for his superior musical talent. Under his guidance, Salonga won Gold Medal in 2008 Joenju International Piano Competition in South Korea He is continuing his studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music as an Artist Diploma candidate.

Concert 3 Wilfredo C. Pasamba, cellist
Mary Anne Espina, pianist

Friday, July 8, 2011, 6 p.m.
Tickets at P1000 (with buffet dinner); P500 (concert only)

Program: Barber’s Sonata in C Minor, Debussy Sonata and Brahms’ Sonata No. 2 in F Major

Pasamba has performed worldwide as soloist, recitalist and chamber musician. His recent performances include guest solo appearances at the Heidelberg New Music Festival performing the music of George Crumb, and at the Olivier Messiaen Centennial in Missouri; collaboration in the Arnold Schoenberg Retrospective at the University of Missouri-Kansas City; a chamber music appearance with the Omaha Chamber Music Society, and guest solo recitals in San Francisco, Moscow and St. Petersburg.

He has appeared with the Juilliard Symphony, Reno Chamber Orchestra, Wichita Symphony, Syracuse Chamber Orchestra, Ithaca College Chamber Orchestra, Manila Symphony Orchestra, Cebu Philharmonic and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. He has attended music festivals in Tanglewood, Norfolk, Bowdoin and at the Ithaca Violoncello Institute and a conducting fellowship in South Carolina.

He has performed in cello master classes of Janos Starker, Natalia Gutman, Colin Carr, Bonnie Hampton Aldo Parisot, Bion Tsang, Einar Holm, Lawrence Lesser, Michael Grebanier and Carter Brey and has collaborated with conductors such as
Pierro Gamba, Pamela Gerhardt, Basilio Manalo, Arturo Molina, Robert Olson, Michael Palmer, Ruggero Barbierri, Vahe Kochayan, among others.

Pasamba has garnered top honors at the Jennings Butterfield Young Artist
Competition, Juilliard Cello Concerto Competition the National Music
Competition for Young Artists, Reno Chamber Orchestra Competition and was
a semi-finalist in the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow.

No less than The New York Times hailed Pasamba for his “audacity and
brilliance” at his New York debut at the Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie
Hall. He has since appeared in concerts at the Merkin Concert Hall,
Metropolitan Museum, Rachmaninoff Hall, Sviatoslav Richter Museum and the
Omaha Chamber Music Society. He has extensively performed throughout the
US, France, Germany, Turkey, Italy, Russia, Malaysia and the Philippines.

As a chamber musician, he has performed with Peter Wiley, Ani Kavafian, Benny Kim, Karl Paulnack, Reynaldo Reyes, Albert Tiu, Raul Sunico, Brendan Kinsella and with artist members of the Beaux Arts, Argenta Trios, Alexander, Orion and Ying String Quarters. As cellist and co-founder of the Battig Piano Trio, he embarked on its first European concert tour in 2001.

Pasamba is a product of an exceptional music education. He began his music
lessons on his mother's lap, the accomplished pianist, conductor, composer and now music ministry director, Angelita Cariaso Pasamba. At 14, he started cello lessons under the late Martiniano Esguerra. Two years later, he won first prize in the National Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA). Soon he received a full scholarship at the Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory in the former
Soviet Union. Later, he took postgraduate studies at the Juilliard School
of Music in New York and the University of Missouri-Kansas City
Conservatory. He studied under master cellists Natalia Shakhovskaya, Fred
Sherry, Carter Enyeart and later with Maria Tchaikovskaya and Alexander
Rudin.

After his studies abroad, Pasamba came back to his homeland and taught as
assistant professor at St. Scholastica’s College Manila and at the
UP College of Music. He has lately served as faculty member at Pittsburgh State University, and at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory. Previous orchestral positions include membership with the Kansas City, Omaha and the Des Moines Symphony Orchestras.

Concert 4 Andrew Fernando, baritone, Clarissa Ocampo, mezzo soprano, Christopher Oracion, flute, and Mary Anne Espina, piano

Friday, July 22,6 p.m.
Tickets at P1,500 (with buffet dinner); P500 (concert only)

“A major presence!”--Musical America

International Filipino Baritone Andrew Fernando is the First Prize winner of the prestigious 2003 Loren L. Zachary National Vocal Competition in the United States and an alumnus of the world renowned San Francisco Opera Merola Program. Also a prize winner in the Metropolitan Opera National Auditions in the Los Angeles district and in the Pacific region, The Palm Springs Opera Vocal Competition, a recipient of the Opera Buffs Inc. scholarship grant and the Grand Prize winner in the Pasedena Opera Guild Vocal competition in 2004 and a grand finalist in the Licia Albanese Puccini International Vocal Competition held in New York in 2003. He was Opera Pacific’s resident baritone from 1999-2002 where he worked constantly with internationally acclaimed conductor John De Main.

Andrew has performed as principal artist with San Francisco Opera Merola, Opera Pacific, Eugene Opera, Chicago Opera Theater, Singapore Lyric Opera, The Orange County Performing Arts Center, The Cultural Center of the Philippines, Pacific Symphony Orchestra, Macau Sinfonietta, The Hong Kong Arts Festival/Los Angeles Opera, The Hong Kong Urban Council, First Act Opera of England, Bangkok Symphony Orchestra, Pasadena Pops Orchestra, Palm Dessert Orchestra, Herbert Zipper Hall, The Los Angeles Metropolitan Symphony, The Walt Disney Hall, the International Bamboo Organ Festival, Syrinx Concerts Orchestra of France, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra among many others. The Los Angeles Times has hailed him as “The young singer to watch.”

In 2005, Andrew made his debut with the Syrinx Concerts Orchestra in Cote D ’ azur France singing the baritone solo in Handel’s The Messiah and appearing as Sagestrano in the Opera Pacific’s production of Tosca under the baton of acclaimed conductor Christian Badea. Andrew recorded the tone poem Sa Dalampasigan with the Global Symphony Orchestra in the Philippines. Also in 2005, Andrew made his debut at the Walt Disney Hall as Baritone Soloist of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.

In the 2005-2006 seasons, Andrew gave an acclaimed performance as Count Almaviva in the Singapore Lyric Opera production of Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro. In the same season Andrew gave full concerts in the city of New York, Boston, Panorama, Los Angeles, Manila, San Francisco and New Jersey. Seen in the title role of Eugene Onegin at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Andrew was praised by critics for his beautiful singing and powerful presence.

Andrew, as a young artist, had the opportunity of being presented in public master classes given by Carlo Bergonzi, Tom Krause, Jane Eaglen, Deborah Voight and Dolora Zadjick and has performed on the opera main stage with Helen Donath, Vinson Cole, Maria Ewing and Federica Von Stade, Lauren Flannigan to name a few.

Andrew sang Rigoletto in Modesto in February 2007 to critical acclaim. He created the role of Powhatan in World Premiere of Linda Tutas Haugen’s and Joan Vail Thorne’s Pocahontas presented by the Virginia Arts Festival in cooperation with Virginia Opera in May of 2007 as a contribution to the 400th Anniversary of the settlement in Jamestown and the story of Pocahontas.

He recently sang the role of Bluebeard in Bartok’s Bluebeard’s Castle presented by Let’s Shout Out Inc of Boston. Musical America called him “A major presence!”

Andrew’s 2007-2008 season include his debut season with New York City Opera and his participation in their productions of Cendrillon and Tosca; singing the title role of Rigoletto in his Opera San Jose debut and the baritone soloist in Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra and singing the title role in Bluebeard’s Castle presented by the MCO Foundation in Manila.

This past season Andrew participated in the world premiere of Stephen Schwartz’s first opera Séance on a wet afternoon where he covered the role of Mr. Cole and sang as Reporter #1 with Opera Santa Barbara. Also in this past season Andrew was heard at the San Agustin International Music Festival singing the baritone solo of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. He was guest baritone soloist of the Jakarta Simfonnia and Oratorio Society in their production of Faure’s Requiem.

Andrew started the current season by doing a US tour giving recitals and concerts. He sang Vison Infernales at a recital in Fullerton with esteemed colleague Benjamin Makino. He is appearing as Alfio in the University of Santo Tomas production of Cavalleria Rusticana and will be performing the baritone solo in The Messiah with Simfonia Jakarta. Andrew will be the featured bass-baritone soloist in Verdi’s Requiem with by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. He returned to Long Beach Opera for Moscow, Cherry Town by Shostakovich in the role of Sasha.

Photos of concert organizer Tariman with Salonga, Salonga, Espina, Oracion and Fernando (left with cultural volunteer and music patron Wilson Go) by Sinag de Leon and Anna Leah Sarabia. The ground-breaking intimate concert series was first done at the Kiss the Cook Gourmet restaurant on Maginhawa st., UP Village, QC.