By聽Mariamme D. Jadloc, images by Jefferson Villacruz.
(JUN. 19)鈥擬usic filled the Balay Tsanselor in the morning of Independence Day as the Voices of Aloha of the University of Hawai鈥檌 at M膩noa (UH-M膩noa) paid the Chancellor a visit as part of a tour of the Philippines from Jun. 8 to 17. 聽UP 茄子视频app was the fourth stop on their 8-leg performance.
The concert was not originally meant to celebrate Independence Day, said College of Music (CM) Dean Jose Buenconsejo.聽 It was actually the only available date that Voices of Aloha can interact with UPD鈥檚 choirs.聽 And Jun. 12 being a holiday, Balay Tsanselor proved to be the perfect venue for this intimate gathering.
Voices of Aloha is an ensemble of students and alumni of the UH-M膩noa.聽 Considered as the University鈥檚 most selective choral ensemble, its singers are members of some of Honolulu鈥檚 most prominent choirs.
The choral ensemble visited UPD in recognition, among others, of UH鈥檚 close academic ties with the university.聽 Many of UPD鈥檚 faculty members are UH alumni.
鈥淢any faculty members of the CM had their PhDs in UH, like Dr. La Verne dela Pe帽a and the late Prof. Elmo Makil,鈥 said Buenconsejo, himself a UH alumnus.
Joining the Voices of Aloha at the gathering were the UP Concert Chorus (Korus) and the Novo Concertante Manila.聽 Korus is the university鈥檚 official choir and the pioneer of choreographed chorale in the country, while Novo Concertante Manila is a chamber choir established in 1998 and based in New Manila.聽 It also serves as a laboratory choir for choral conducting students of CM.
The choral ensemble from Hawai鈥檌 performed an array of songs that represented the various traditions or influences of the American music known today.
Prof. Miguel Felipe, Voices of Aloha conductor said the songs are 鈥渁 musicological tour of what the American music is.鈥
From the European tradition, the Voices performed Thomas Tallis鈥檚 鈥淚f ye love me.鈥澛 This was followed by the haunting 鈥淢an of Constant Sorrow鈥 as arranged by Jeffrey Douma.聽 From the Hawaiian tradition was the song 鈥淜u鈥檜 Pua i Paoakalani,鈥 as arranged by Robert U. Cazimero from the original work of Hawaiian royalty Queen Lili鈥檜okalani; and from the African-American tradition, the moving 鈥淔ix Me, Jesus鈥 as arranged by Augustus O. Hill.聽 This was followed by the American pop songs聽 鈥淏ridge over Troubled Water鈥 by Paul Simon arranged by Vince Peterson and 鈥淟ight of a Clear Blue Morning鈥 by Dolly Parton.聽 The group ended their performance amid the clapping and encouragement of the audience with their singing of the folk song, 鈥淓zekiel saw the Wheel,鈥 which is about the prophet Ezekiel鈥檚 divine vision as mentioned in the Old Testament book Ezekiel of the Bible.
Prof. Arwin Tan of the College of Music and conductor of Novo Concertante Manila best described the group鈥檚 performance as full of 鈥渨onderful vocal colors.鈥
Meanwhile, the Korus under the baton of Prof. Janet Sabas-Aracama and the Novo Concertante Manila themselves gave powerful performances that earned them standing ovations from the guests.
Korus showcased their prowess in 鈥渃horale choreography鈥 as they performed Willy Cruz鈥檚 鈥淪ana鈥檡 Wala ng Wakas,鈥 the traditional awiting pambata (song for children) 鈥淭ong, Tong, Tong, Tong, Pakitong-kitong,鈥 Freddie Aguilar鈥檚 鈥淎nak鈥 and Paul McCartney鈥檚 鈥淟et It Be.鈥澛 This last song had Korus鈥 director Aracama doing a solo, earning Korus shouts and claps of approval from the audience.
Meanwhile, Novo Concertante Manila began their repertoire with the poignant hymn, 鈥淢y Lord What a Morning.鈥澛 The choir followed this up with an impressive and heart-stopping rendition of the vocally-challenging Maguindanao folk song, 鈥淧amugun,鈥 about a sparrow and a hunter.聽 In answer to the Voices of Aloha鈥檚 and Korus鈥 cover of pop songs, Novo covered Ryan Cayabyab鈥檚 鈥淧araiso鈥 made popular by the singing group Smokey Mountain and capped it with the upbeat Brazilian song 鈥淢as que Nada鈥 by Jorge Ben, which became the signature song of S茅rgio Mendes.
UPD Chancellor Michael L. Tan said the groups鈥 performances and there mere presence itself brought in 鈥渓ife鈥 to the otherwise quiet and almost lonely Balay Tsanselor. 聽He expressed his hope that such event be reprised at the Balay.
Also present at the event were Community Affairs Vice Chancellor Nestor Castro, College of Music Dean Jose Buenconsejo, College of Music Prof. La Verne dela Pe帽a and UPD foreign guest academicians Prof. Frederic Laugrand (Universit茅 Laval/Canada), Prof. Isabelle Parnentier (University of Namur/Belgium), Prof. Serge Schmitz (University of Liege/Belgium) and Prof. Olivier Servais (Universit茅 catholique de Louvain/Belgium).
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