Gong and Bamboo music takes spotlight at the Tunog-tugan Festival

February 16-22, 2013 Dipolog City

February 22-26, 2013 Maasin, Iloilo

February 27-28, 2013 Metro Manila

During the second half of February, the Philippines will be the host of the very first International Gongs and Bamboo Music Festival. Dubbed as the Tunog-tugan Festival, this festival will gather some of the Philippines’ and Asia’s finest gongs and bamboo ensembles and scholars. The festival starts in Dipolog City from February 16-22, 2013, will journey to Maasin, Iloilo from February 22-26, 2013.

Gong and bamboo performing groups, scholars and craftsmen from China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, India, South Korea and the Philippines will converge in Dipolog City, Maasin, Iloilo and Metro Manila to participate in a series of concerts, workshops, conferences and an exhibit.

Participants from the Philippines include Bagobo Clata of Davao City, The Cordillera Music Tutorial and Research Center of Baguio City, Dipolog City Bamboo Marimba Ensemble of Dipolog City, Ifugao Performing Arts Group, Ingat Kapandayan Artist Center, Tausug  of Jolo, Sulu, Maguindanao Kulintang Ensemble of Cotabato City, Panay Bukidnon of Iloilo, Roxas Ahadas Yakan Music Cultural Group of Basilan, Subanen of Lapuyan of Zamboanga del Sur, Subanen of Siayan and Subanen of Sindangan of Zamboanga del Norte, and Teduray Agong Ensemble of Maguindanao.

Participants from other parts of Asia include Central Conservatory of Music Konghou and Bamboo Music Ensemble of Beijing, China, The Vayali Folklore Group of Kerala, India, Ensamble Modero Palu of Sulawesi, Indonesia, Persatuan Seni Budaya Sabah of Sabah, Malaysia, Noreum Machi of South Korea, Taiwan Bamboo Orchestra, Prasarnmit Performing Arts Alliance, Bangkok, Thailand, Khac Chi Bamboo Music of Vietnam and Canada.

I find it very interesting to see and hear various configurations of gongs and bamboo instruments coming from the various participating nations. The variety of the bamboo instruments out there is vast that even Dr. Ramon Santos, Tunog-tugan Festival's director, is excited to discover the unusual instruments that the participating artists from other nations will bring.

Dr. Ramon Santos, Festival Director of Tunog-tugan

During the press lunch for Tunog-tugan, I learned from Dr. Santos that gong and bamboo music is more than just the sound of it. There is another layer of experience attached to the music which is a characteristic of Asian cultures. Gongs are usually used to communicate with the spirits putting more significance with the power of its sound. On the other hand, Bamboo instruments which are pitched and measured, are used to communicate with fellow human beings. Playing these instruments in Asian cultures is closely tied with social life as it is not just purely for entertainment.

The main highlight of the Tunog-tugan Festival will be the concerts to be held at the Dipolog Sports Complex (DSC) and at the Dipolog Boulevard. The general public will be able to see the various performing ensembles at these concerts. Dr. Santos expects that the various gong and bamboo ensembles will showcase the changing breadth and structures, as well as modern techniques of performances during the concerts at the festival. The conferences and the workshops will be held at the Top Plaza Hotel while the exhibit will be held at the second floor of the DSC.

After the initial stop at Dipolog City, Tunog-tugan will fly over to Maasin, Iloilo on February 22-26, 2013 with concerts happening at the Maasin Gym. Metro Manila audiences will not be left out as outreach concerts will be held on February 27-28, 2013 at the University of the East in Caloocan, St. Paul University in Manila, University of the Philippines in Diliman, and University of Asia and the Pacific.

The first ever International Gongs and Bamboo Music Festival or the Tunog-tugan Festival is a project of The National Commission for Culture and the Arts-National Music Committee (NCCA-NMC) through the Musicological Society of the Philippines (MSP) in partnership with the Dipolog City Government in cooperation with Municipality of Maasin-Iloilo and the UP Center for Ethnomusicology (UPCE).

For inquiries:

926-0028, gongsandbamboofest@gmail.com

Japanese and Filipino puppet and mask artists perform at the CCP

February 12, 2013, 3:00 PM

Tanghalang Huseng Batute (CCP Studio Theater)

CCP Complex

Pasay, Metro Manila

A puppet and mask show featuring Japanese and Filipino artists will be held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Huseng Batute (CCP Studio Theater) on February 12, 2013 at 3:00 PM as part of the Papet at Maskara series of events.

The show features Naoshima Onna Bunraku, an all-women community puppetry troupe from the southern Japanese island of Naoshima performing Bunraku pieces Dango Uri (The Dumpling Peddlers) and Keisei Awa no Naruto Junreika no Dan (The Song of a Pilgrim scene from The Courtesan at Awa), the UP Center for International Studies Bunraku Ensemble presenting Ebisu Mai (The Dance of Ebisu), and the UPCIS Noh Theatre Ensemble II restaging Lapeña-Bonifacio’s prize-winning play Ang Paglalakbay ni Sisa, Isang Noh sa Laguna, as a Shinsaku (newly-created) Noh complete with dances, chants, drums with vocal music, costumes and a mask.

Dango Uri

Papet at Maskara is a series of cultural dialogue activities happening this February 10-17, between UPCIS performance groups and visiting Japanese artists commemorating the 40^th anniversary of ASEAN-Japan relations. Japanese puppet and mask artists will interact with UP University Professor Emeritus Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio of Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas, the UPCIS Bunraku Ensemble and other puppet troupes in activities such as a workshop, lecture-demonstration and public performances in UP Diliman and Los Baños, CCP, and Maestranza Park in Intramuros, Manila.

Keisei Awa no Naruto

Papet at Maskara is presented by the UPCIS in cooperation with Embassy of Japan, Japan Foundation Manila, Department of Tourism’s Intramuros Administration, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Ticket price:

P400

For inquiries:

CCP Performing Arts Division 832-1125 local 1607

Bloggers' Night with Sabrina

Sabrina

Exactly a year after her first ever meet up with bloggers, acoustic singer Sabrina met up with them again at the MCA Music office giving everyone an update with what has happened to her since then and also to inform them of the things to look out from her as well. And I was very fortunate to be present in both these events.

Since that time, Sabrina was able to release two albums under MCA Music, the Acoustic Love Notes that featured popular radio personality Joe D’Mango and I Love Acoustic 5 which is the latest installment of her I Love Acoustic series. During the conference, she pointed out that I was one of those who really looked forward to the day when she would finally record original songs. She not only did exactly that but actually raised it up a notch by recording her own compositions as well. Now, Sabrina can add “songwriter” to her résumé. With all the acoustic concept albums in the market, all featuring recent hits with a stripped down, acoustic treatment, having original tracks assure Sabrina that hers can stand out from the rest.

In I Love Acoustic 5, Sabrina has a duet with Christian Bautista, another Filipino who has made a name in Indonesia. Their track, Terrified, features the mandolin, an instrument not commonly heard in songs locally produced. This is actually their second duet since Christian’s First Class album released in Indonesia has Sabrina singing with him in the acoustic version of In Love with You.

It was indeed a very fun evening at MCA Music as Sabrina looked more comfortable this time and she gamely answered questions from the bloggers regarding her music. What really interested me most was her insight regarding her songwriting. She said that she wrote songs when she was heartbroken, hence her songs dealing with heartbreak. When she ran out of tears, that’s when she would have the capacity to write. But since she’s gained some experience in song writing, she no longer requires tears to begin. She also looks forward to writing songs that make people happy and motivated this time

Sabrina treated the bloggers present to a handful of numbers including the never been released Make Believe, another one of her new compositions. She also sang other songs she wrote like Over for Now but Not Forever and Oh Boy. She also gave in to requests to sing one of her previous releases Saranghae which proved to be popular among the bloggers there. While her acoustic covers showcase her clear, cool and light voice reminiscent of Alison Krauss, Sabrina now brings out another side to her artistry, that of an upcoming singer/songwriter. And as someone who champions original material, I am absolutely pleased with this development in her career.

Sabrina’s I Love Acoustic 5 and the rest of her I Love Acoustic albums along with Acoustic Love Notes, released by MCA Music are available at record stores nationwide. Terrified and all of Sabrina’s tracks are available in digital format via MyMusicStore Philippines and iTunes.

Sabrina’s Bloggers’ Night was presented by MCA Music, LionhearTV, Pinoy Magazine and BND Hair Gallery Salon.

UST alumni lead tribute concert at the CCP

February 10, 2013, 7:00 PM

Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater)

CCP Complex

Pasay, Metro Manila

Featuring:

Lemuel dela Cruz, tenor

Eugene delos Santos, tenor

Randy Gilongo, tenor

Ronan Ferrer, tenor

Jun Francis Jaranilla, bass

Joy Allan dela Cruz, viola

UST Symphony Orchestra

Herminigildo Ranera, conductor

Programme:

Sigmund Romberg Stout-Hearted Men from New Moon

Giacomo Puccini Nessun Dorma from Turandot

Cecil Forsyth Viola Concerto in G minor

Giuseppe Verdi Overture from Nabucco

Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67

The UST Conservatory of Music, in cooperation with the Cultural Center of the Philippines presents a one night concert happening on February 10, 2013, 7:00 PM at the CCP's Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater). Classical artists who are all alumni of the University of Sto.Tomas, join the UST Symphony Orchestra led by Herminigildo Ranera in this concert entitled Tribute to the Thomasians.

The UST alumni performing in this evening are tenors Lemuel de la Cruz, Eugene de los Santos, Randy Gilongo, and Ronan Ferrer, and bass Jun Francis Jaranilla singing Stout-Hearted Men from New Moon by Sigmund Romberg and Nessun Dorma from Turandot by Giacomo Puccini. Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra’s viola principal, Joy Allan de la Cruz will be the featured soloist in Cecil Forsyth’s Viola Concerto in G minor. The UST Symphony Orchestra will also play Giuseppe Verdi’s Overture to Nabucco and Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67.

The UST Symphony Orchestra, a resident performing group of the CCP is the official orchestra of the University of Sto. Tomas. The orchestra holds regular concerts at the CCP and participates in the CCP Outreach and Exchange program. Its members also serve as a pool for additional players as the needs of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra dictate.

Tickets:

P1000 Orchestra Center

P800 Orchestra Side

P600 Balcony I Center

P500 Balcony I Side

P350 Balcony II

For inquiries:

UST Conservatory of Music 731-4022, 406-1611 local 8246