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| Rachelle Gerodias and Raul Sunico |
The release of soprano Rachelle Gerodias’ CD entitled Philippine Art Songs is a breath of fresh air and a very welcomed addition to the local recording scene that is sorely lacking material in this genre of operatic singing. This thirteen track CD is made up of well loved Philippine tunes personally hand picked by Gerodias herself. And accompanying her in this album is no other than pianist Raul Sunico.
The
album starts with Sa Kabukiran by
Manuel Velez and Johnny Benasa, a popular crowd pleaser in live performances. Another
Velez composition, Ako’y Kampupot (lyrics
by Dominador Santiago) is also included in the album. The music of National
Artist for Music Nicanor Abelardo can be heard in Bituing Marikit (lyrics by Cervando Angeles), Mutya ng Pasig
I
will not be surprised if listeners get teary eyed when they get to hear Josefino
Cenizal’s Hindi Kita Malimot, Augusto
Espino’s Kundiman ng Langit, Mike
Velarde and Dominador Santiago’s Dahil Sa
Iyo and Restie Umali & Levi Celerio’s Saan Ka
Man Naroroon. The last one had a slight change in the lyrics that will
pierce right through the hearts of Filipinos overseas.
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| Soprano Rachelle Gerodias |
The
only new track in the album is Ang Bilis
Naman Dumaan ng Panahon by Ryan Cayabyab which is just one song from a
cycle that he composed and dedicated to Rachelle. She said that they had a
chance to work together before and that the next time they saw each other, he presented
to her this newly composed work. I was able to watch the first ever public
performance of this song and it only made me determined to ask (or possibly
beg) Ryan Cayabyab to have Rachelle perform the entire cycle on stage with a
full orchestra.
Constancio
de Guzman’s Pamaypay ng Maynila, Santiago
Suarez and Davao Santiago’s Tag-Araw,
and Francisco Santiago and J. Hernandez Gavira’s Ano Kaya Ang Kapalaran round up the rest of the album. Proceeds of
the CD will benefit the Rachelle Gerodias Music Foundation Inc. which also aims
to give more scholarships to deserving music students.
Rachelle
Gerodias’ Philippine Art Songs is available at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
Copies of the album can also be ordered through her website.
Philippine
Art Songs
1.
Sa Kabukiran
2.
Bituing Marikit
3.
Kundiman ng Langit
4.
Mutya ng Pasig
5.
Ako’y Kampupot
6.
Nasaan Ka Irog
7.
Dahil Sa Iyo
8.
Tag-Araw
9.
Ang Bilis Naman Dumaan ng Panahon
10.
Pamaypay ng Maynila
11.
Saan Ka Man Naroroon
12.
Hindi Kita Malimot
13.
Ano Kaya ang Kapalaran
1 comment:
Hi, My name is Romeo C. Benasa, My grand father was the late Johnny "juan yee" Benasa. He was part of this album with the collaboartion with Mr. Manuel Velez. Can u help me find some of my grand fathers songs? Thanks.
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