Rachelle Gerodias’ Philippine Art Songs Album Launch

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 (lyrics by Deogracias del Rosario), and Nasaan Ka Irog (lyrics by Jose Corazon de Jesus).

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.

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