FILharmoniKa
Richard Bamping With FILharmoniKA April 18 2010
19 Apr 2010 02:24 PM
Last Saturday’s concert was nothing short of amazing.
FILharmoniKA, under the baton of Gerard Salonga,
played Scheherazade (with Rechelle Alcances on violin
solo) and Dvorak Cello Concerto featuring Richard
Bamping, principal cellist of the HKPO. For the
event, I was the designated score-reader. Net 25 had
a fantastic 7-camera setup, and I assisted the
director in cuing the shots, especially of soloists
and important sectional highlights. It has been my
second time to do this (the first was FILharmoniKA’s
Inaugural Gala), and I must say I had a great time
studying the scores, attending the rehearsals, and
learning this new skill.
Now I don’t really feel compelled to write a music review; it would be much better for you guys to watch the concert instead. It will be aired on Net 25 in a few weeks, and I will just post the schedule here. In the meantime, I’d like to ruminate on a few things I’ve learned, or been reminded of, from the time that FILharmoniKA started rehearsing for the concert, up to the event itself, and the lovely dinner we all had with Rick afterwards.
1. Orchestral activity is on an upswing here in the Philippines. My colleague/boss/mentor/friend Gerard mentioned this a few weeks ago. While FILharmoniKA has been busy these past months with some recordings for teleseryes, and a few live shows, plus this season’s two first concerts (Inaugural Gala and Dvorak Cello Concerto), other orchestras like the Manila Symphony Orchestra, Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra have held several concerts and mall shows this year.
2. The masters in any field, the really REAL ones, are not the ones who are jaded, who scoff at the rest of the world, and have puffed-up egos. The real ones, even after having achieved so much success in their field and critical acclaim, are always outside of themselves.. They don’t have their ego in the way. In musicians, it’s all about the music. Hence, they retain a childlike quality. Having Richard Bamping over was an indication of this. The breadth and depth of his knowledge in classical music was such that he knew all of the pieces that anybody asked him about during his stay here.. and could even play the other orchestral parts on his cello! And his playing is so transformative that I think even the orchestra’s playing went up several notches while playing with him. Yet never once did we witness an “it’s-all-about-me” attitude. In the Philippines, I’ve observed this in the masters I’ve come to admire: Tots Tolentino, Maestro Angel Peña, even younger masters such as Gerard. It’s all about the music. Maestro Angel Peña, in his 80’s, came to my graduation recital in the early 2000’s, and told me he wanted to learn more about that kind of music that I was into.. This, from the composer who started the Pinoyjazz movement! Again, it’s all about the music.
I hope you all watch out for the remaining concerts of this season. We’re going to have Cecille Licad over for the next concert! Stay tuned for more updates..
Now I don’t really feel compelled to write a music review; it would be much better for you guys to watch the concert instead. It will be aired on Net 25 in a few weeks, and I will just post the schedule here. In the meantime, I’d like to ruminate on a few things I’ve learned, or been reminded of, from the time that FILharmoniKA started rehearsing for the concert, up to the event itself, and the lovely dinner we all had with Rick afterwards.
1. Orchestral activity is on an upswing here in the Philippines. My colleague/boss/mentor/friend Gerard mentioned this a few weeks ago. While FILharmoniKA has been busy these past months with some recordings for teleseryes, and a few live shows, plus this season’s two first concerts (Inaugural Gala and Dvorak Cello Concerto), other orchestras like the Manila Symphony Orchestra, Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra have held several concerts and mall shows this year.
2. The masters in any field, the really REAL ones, are not the ones who are jaded, who scoff at the rest of the world, and have puffed-up egos. The real ones, even after having achieved so much success in their field and critical acclaim, are always outside of themselves.. They don’t have their ego in the way. In musicians, it’s all about the music. Hence, they retain a childlike quality. Having Richard Bamping over was an indication of this. The breadth and depth of his knowledge in classical music was such that he knew all of the pieces that anybody asked him about during his stay here.. and could even play the other orchestral parts on his cello! And his playing is so transformative that I think even the orchestra’s playing went up several notches while playing with him. Yet never once did we witness an “it’s-all-about-me” attitude. In the Philippines, I’ve observed this in the masters I’ve come to admire: Tots Tolentino, Maestro Angel Peña, even younger masters such as Gerard. It’s all about the music. Maestro Angel Peña, in his 80’s, came to my graduation recital in the early 2000’s, and told me he wanted to learn more about that kind of music that I was into.. This, from the composer who started the Pinoyjazz movement! Again, it’s all about the music.
I hope you all watch out for the remaining concerts of this season. We’re going to have Cecille Licad over for the next concert! Stay tuned for more updates..
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Samu't Sari: A Benefit Concert
29 Oct 2009 11:58 AM
November 4, 2009. Samu’t Sari is fund-raising concerts for musicians in the Philippines who have suffered losses during typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana). Your ticket purchases, or participation, will help our colleagues a lot. Plus, it’s an exciting lineup of pieces!
----
Tentative Program (since a lot of musicians are joining, this list can still grow):
Brahms, Academic Festival Overture
Chopin, Piano Concerto no. 1 Mary Anne Espina, piano
II Romance – larghetto
III Rondo – vivace – 9:53
Bernstein, Glitter And Be Gay, Joy Abalon Tamayo, Soprano
Johnny Alegre:
Natural Jazz
Beacon Call
Rachmaninoff Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Jovianney Cruz, piano
Tchaikovsky, Romeo and Juliet Overture-Fantasy
Bernstein, Three Dance Episodes from On The Town
Williams, Excerpts from Star Wars
I. Main Title
II. Across The Stars
III. The Imperial March
Beethoven, Excerpts from Symphony No. 9, 4th mvt
Pop Artist:
Reymond Sajor
Choir:
Globalink Choir
Kumpas
13 Aug 2008 10:50 PM
FILharmoniKa's Kumpas is out on the market! Go get
yourselves a copy, and support Philippine orchestral
music.
For only P285, you get all these cool tracks:
(side comments regarding the arrangements are mine)
1. Laki Sa Layaw - arranged by JD Villanueva
- elegant orchestration. Stravinsky meets Copland meets San Mig Light.
2. 214 - arranged by Ria Osorio
- with a hint of electronica.
3. Kanlungan - arranged by Marvin Querido. Featuring Noel Cabangon on vocals
- sentimental, very moving
4. Muntik Nang Maabot ang Langit - arranged by Marvin Querido
5. Tao - arranged by Marvin Querido. Featuring Sampaguita on vocals.
- one of my favorite tracks
6. Banal na Aso, Santong Kabayo (by Dong Abay)- arranged by Ria Osorio
- I really enjoyed making this arrangement because this song is one of my favorites. It's sure to become a classic Pinoy Rock song.
7. Ang Huling El Bimbo - arranged by Ria Osorio. Featuring Ely Buendia on vocals.
- Had a hard time with this one because the original is so deeply etched in my mind, as I've been a fan of Eraserheads way back, but I needed to make a new version. I tried to make the arrangement sentimental/nostalgic.
8. Paglisan - arranged by Marvin Querido
9. Salamat - arranged by Dennis Catli/Sharon Feliciano
- lively, good vibes
10. Himig Natin - arranged by Gerard Salonga. Featuring Wally Gonzales on guitar.
11. Next In Line - arranged by JD Villanueva
all tracks conducted and produced by Gerard Salonga
I really enjoyed working on this album. The songs which were assigned to me were songs which I already liked, and knew by heart, back in high school. So it was real challenge to get the original versions out of my head and try to make new ones.
Buy, buy, buy it!
Here's a clip from IMEEM. You can also hear it played in NU 107.
For only P285, you get all these cool tracks:
(side comments regarding the arrangements are mine)
1. Laki Sa Layaw - arranged by JD Villanueva
- elegant orchestration. Stravinsky meets Copland meets San Mig Light.
2. 214 - arranged by Ria Osorio
- with a hint of electronica.
3. Kanlungan - arranged by Marvin Querido. Featuring Noel Cabangon on vocals
- sentimental, very moving
4. Muntik Nang Maabot ang Langit - arranged by Marvin Querido
5. Tao - arranged by Marvin Querido. Featuring Sampaguita on vocals.
- one of my favorite tracks
6. Banal na Aso, Santong Kabayo (by Dong Abay)- arranged by Ria Osorio
- I really enjoyed making this arrangement because this song is one of my favorites. It's sure to become a classic Pinoy Rock song.
7. Ang Huling El Bimbo - arranged by Ria Osorio. Featuring Ely Buendia on vocals.
- Had a hard time with this one because the original is so deeply etched in my mind, as I've been a fan of Eraserheads way back, but I needed to make a new version. I tried to make the arrangement sentimental/nostalgic.
8. Paglisan - arranged by Marvin Querido
9. Salamat - arranged by Dennis Catli/Sharon Feliciano
- lively, good vibes
10. Himig Natin - arranged by Gerard Salonga. Featuring Wally Gonzales on guitar.
11. Next In Line - arranged by JD Villanueva
all tracks conducted and produced by Gerard Salonga
I really enjoyed working on this album. The songs which were assigned to me were songs which I already liked, and knew by heart, back in high school. So it was real challenge to get the original versions out of my head and try to make new ones.
Buy, buy, buy it!
Here's a clip from IMEEM. You can also hear it played in NU 107.
Ten Years Ago etc.
01 Aug 2008 01:01 AM
Tagged by Jaja, one of my
friends from FILharmoniKa.
The rules are simple.
At the end of the post, the player tags 6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and leaves a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.
1. What was I doing 10 years ago?
I was in the first semester of my freshman year at the UP College of Music. Thanks to my journals, this much I know:
- Around August 1998, I was worrying about my composition for my major, because I was running out of ideas and the deadline was getting nearer each day
- An “it’s complicated” relationship was in its initial stages.
- I was busy practicing with my band Rewind, for a nationwide amateur band competition. We won first place in that competition, and here are some photos:
(L-R front: Cia, Ria, Yosha. L-R back: Alan, Marlon, Paolo)
2. What are the 5 things on my to-do list today?
I only have 3. 1) Call the bank to verify an account, 2) bid for the MOTU Ultralite on eBay (I actually delegated this to Dex), 3) and finish an arrangement for rhythm section.
3. Snacks I enjoy:
Sweets, anything creamy or cheesy
4. Place where I live:
BF Paranaque, Manila, Philippines
5. Things I’d do if I were a billionaire
Invest part of it so I won’t have to work for my remaining days, put up a music institute for the underprivileged, travel a whole lot, and write music to my heart’s content.
Tagging: Hmm, currently I only know of 3 people who read this blog, other than my mom and husband. So can I be excused from this part? He he.
Related Posts:
This is Fairly Accurate...
The rules are simple.
At the end of the post, the player tags 6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and leaves a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.
1. What was I doing 10 years ago?
I was in the first semester of my freshman year at the UP College of Music. Thanks to my journals, this much I know:
- Around August 1998, I was worrying about my composition for my major, because I was running out of ideas and the deadline was getting nearer each day
- An “it’s complicated” relationship was in its initial stages.
- I was busy practicing with my band Rewind, for a nationwide amateur band competition. We won first place in that competition, and here are some photos:
(L-R front: Cia, Ria, Yosha. L-R back: Alan, Marlon, Paolo)
2. What are the 5 things on my to-do list today?
I only have 3. 1) Call the bank to verify an account, 2) bid for the MOTU Ultralite on eBay (I actually delegated this to Dex), 3) and finish an arrangement for rhythm section.
3. Snacks I enjoy:
Sweets, anything creamy or cheesy
4. Place where I live:
BF Paranaque, Manila, Philippines
5. Things I’d do if I were a billionaire
Invest part of it so I won’t have to work for my remaining days, put up a music institute for the underprivileged, travel a whole lot, and write music to my heart’s content.
Tagging: Hmm, currently I only know of 3 people who read this blog, other than my mom and husband. So can I be excused from this part? He he.
Related Posts:
This is Fairly Accurate...
FILharmoniKa at the FilFest
25 Jun 2008 01:06 AM
FILharmoniKa, under the baton of Gerard Salonga,
played Filipino classical music last June 21, 2008 at
the Insular Life Auditorium in Alabang. Works by
Antonio Buenaventura, Angel Pena, and Lucio San Pedro
were performed. These pics were taken from my friend
Adjeng
Sarmiento-Buenaventura's site. (We kept
wondering if her husband Rodrin was related to
the composer, he he).
Adjeng, Rodrin, Dex and me...
Ardie de Guzman (guitarist), Adjeng, and Rodrin...
FIlharmoniKa...
I played in one piece, Angel Pena's Peace Beyond. The piano is on the far right side of the stage, so I'm not visible from where Adjeng is taking pics...
The one and only Tots Tolentino, special guest soloist.
More FILharmoniKa.
Not in pictures, but Regina Buenaventura was also featured as a soloist on "Meditation" (composed by her grandfather Col. Antonio Buenaventura) and "Sa Ugoy ng Duyan" (music by Lucio San Pedro). She was fabulous!
Recordings of these composers' works are available here at the Musika Natin website... The purchase details for Col. Antonio Buenaventura's CD, "Heritage", isn't there yet but this is available in leading record bars.
Angel Pena's UGNAYAN
(click for more info)
Lucio San Pedro's LAHING KAYUMANGGI
(I wrote the blurbs on the music, on that particular page, namely the info on Lahing Kayumanggi, Buan Sa Kabundukan, and Sa Dalampasigan.. I am not an expert, okay, so that was for general consumption. Finally, all those years writing concert reviews for Music Literature class paid off)
(click for more info)
Col. Antonio Buenaventura's HERITAGE
Adjeng, Rodrin, Dex and me...
Ardie de Guzman (guitarist), Adjeng, and Rodrin...
FIlharmoniKa...
I played in one piece, Angel Pena's Peace Beyond. The piano is on the far right side of the stage, so I'm not visible from where Adjeng is taking pics...
The one and only Tots Tolentino, special guest soloist.
More FILharmoniKa.
Not in pictures, but Regina Buenaventura was also featured as a soloist on "Meditation" (composed by her grandfather Col. Antonio Buenaventura) and "Sa Ugoy ng Duyan" (music by Lucio San Pedro). She was fabulous!
Recordings of these composers' works are available here at the Musika Natin website... The purchase details for Col. Antonio Buenaventura's CD, "Heritage", isn't there yet but this is available in leading record bars.
Angel Pena's UGNAYAN
(click for more info)
Lucio San Pedro's LAHING KAYUMANGGI
(I wrote the blurbs on the music, on that particular page, namely the info on Lahing Kayumanggi, Buan Sa Kabundukan, and Sa Dalampasigan.. I am not an expert, okay, so that was for general consumption. Finally, all those years writing concert reviews for Music Literature class paid off)
(click for more info)
Col. Antonio Buenaventura's HERITAGE
On Johnny Alegre Eastern Skies part1
30 May 2008 12:30 AM
Listening to the album now makes me wish I had made some detailed documentation regarding the arrangements, what Johnny/I had intended to do, and if the actual results matched his/my intentions. I know that I was the arranger and not the composer, but I could say I was very compositionally involved in the songs, because Johnny was generous in that aspect. I could liken his pieces to jazz standards in a real book – there are already solid structures (maybe AABA or AABC, or what), the melody is already laid out, and most of the harmony. But the possibilities for interpretation are endless, and as with good pieces or great songs, one can come up with so many good things out of it, that the tricky part is trimming down the possibilities so that it will still sound cohesive.
Yes, I wish I had made more detailed documentation. As of now I’m also thinking to post some of the arrangement sketches (not the actual arrangements themselves, but their planning and doodling stages), if I can find them in my haystacks of sheets.
I did record in my journal how amazed I was with the orchestra (FILharmoniKa, back then known as Global Studio Orchestra) and Gerard Salonga's conducting.
Right now, though, I hope you can visit my Works page (Arrangements section), and give some of the Eastern Skies clips a listen. I don’t own the copyrights to the songs, so it’s not wise to post the full songs themselves. Even if I posted them in non-downloadable (streaming) format, lots of software are available nowadays which can capture those streaming media as mp3’s, so I thought it best to just post 1-minute sections of the songs.
I’ll be posting more on these in the weeks to come.