_Philippine pianist Rudolf Golez and I are performing in recitals in St. Petersburg and Moscow from 27 March to 5 April 2012 after our shows in New York.  We are performing an all-Filipino repertoire of folksongs and kundimans, in fresh, new arrangements by contemporary Philippine composers.

Our program is as follows:

Sitsiritsit arr. Nhick Pacis
Ahay Tuburan arr. Nilo Alcala
Bituing Marikit, music Nicanor Abelardo, arr. Ryan Cayabyab

Mayon (piano solo, music Francisco Buencamino)

Dandansoy arr. Nilo Alcala
Manang Biday arr. Nhick Pacis

Ang Larawan (piano solo, music Francisco Buencamino)

Zamboanga Hermosa arr. John Pamintuan
Pamulinawen arr. Nhick Pacis

Special thanks to Joseph Legaspi who generously allowed the use of the new arrangements which are featured in his new CD.

Over the last couple of months, I gave workshops to choirs in Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, United States, Canada, Manila, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, and China.  I am very happy that all of the competing choirs abroad won in their contests (ACJC, Holy Innocents, and St. Gabriel's in Singapore, MRC in Indonesia).

Just yesterday, I gave a seminar on vocal and choral techniques to 10 choirs from all over Manila, with students numbering almost 300.  It was a very happy occasion, as all of their conductors came from one choir, the Philippine Normal University (PNU) Chorale.  This being the case, they were like a very big family but I had to keep them all awake with my jokes as the workshop was held right after lunch and it was raining outside, which made it very comfortable to fall asleep.

Last night the Cebu Chamber Singers won the Grand Prize in Busan Korea and I felt like I also won the Grand Prize because they sang three of my songs and I also coached them some time before the contest.

During my discussion with the conductor of PNU, she mentioned how tired she gets from the continual turnover of the singers, and the arduous process of annually training new members.  But she is glad to see that I still work hard and have the same passion for teaching as before, which of course I attribute to the fact that I don't have a regular schedule.

You get burned out from usual problems that a choir faces, but if you just go and visit choirs days at a time, this problem is non-existent.

Of course I have a new choir now, but we meet only once a week, and we spend more time eating than singing.  Maybe that's how I can always maintain a spontaneous approach.

In a few days, I will be in Japan to give workshops to 6 choirs, and with all the food, drinks, and nightly parties there, I am sure the teaching perspective will all the more become "fresh" :)

It's a rainy night and I'm listening to Matthias Goerne's CD of Schumann songs, accompanied by Eric Schneider on the piano.  And towards the end, I was captivated by his singing of this beautiful Stille tranen (silent tears) with a haunting melody which I'm sure will elicit a tear or two from every listener. 

I always believed that rain was the silent tears of a God, a Father whom we often take for granted.  So while listening to the song, let us reflect on the text, and appreciate how beautiful it has been set to music by Robert Schumann.

Incidentally I have a plan of forming an all-male group of 16 singers, that will specialize in the performance of transcriptions of art songs, an idea which I got from my friend, Stojan who has asked me to arrange songs for his award-winning group "VAL."  And while at it, already arranging this song for TTBB.

Stille Tränen
text by Justinus (Andreas Christian) Kerner (1786-1862)

Du bist vom Schlaf erstanden
Und wandelst durch die Au.
Da liegt ob allen Landen
Der Himmel wunderblau.

You have risen from sleep
And walk through the floodplains.
As if all the earth is
The beautiful blue sky.

[So lang du ohne Sorgen
Geschlummert schmerzenlos],
Der Himmel bis zum Morgen
Viel Tränen niedergoß.

[How long have you without worry
Dormant less painful] ,
The sky until morning
A lot of tears poured down.

In stillen Nächten weinet
Oft mancher aus dem Schmerz,
Und morgens dann [ihr] meinet,
Stets fröhlich sei sein Herz.

Weep in silent nights
Often some of the pain,
Morning and then my sake [you] ,
Always cheerful was his heart.

Today, a very warm summer afternoon, I suddenly remembered my teacher who passed away in 2004.  Our lessons were more philosophical instead of musical, spending 40 minutes to talk and 20 to sing. 

I went to youtube and found the following videos of one of her students who sounds exactly like her.  If the videos  are old, then imagine how old my teacher was when I had lessons.

My sister told me today she plans to enroll at Juilliard again then I had a fleeting thought: what if I enroll in voice too?

Then a chuckle..

Then a tear...  Maestra, I miss you...

My last post was April, as I was so occupied travelling and giving workshops/concerts the past couple of months. 

Beginning March, I travelled non-stop to:

Vietnam
Manila
Singapore
Singapore (yeah I went back after a few days!)
Indonesia
Singapore
Manila
Japan
Baguio
Manila
Singapore
Indonesia
Singapore
Manila
Singapore
Indonesia
Singapore
Manila
Baguio
Manila
Beijing
New York
Boston
and Canada next week for Festival 500!
I hope you excuse me for my absence :)

this is from a Japanese student's blog, which I believe is more important than any critic's review.  thank you, whoever you are..

a Filipino composer Mr. J · A · Pamintuan performed "Dulcis Maria" I joined the choir sing. Mr. Pamintuan make the lessons (it was amazing how real everything he put out from bass to the soprano voice ...), a very valuable opportunity, and personally led! During the lesson, the teacher is "feeling well the meaning of poetry, to sing with all your heart," he proclaimed, I was constantly impressed by that. Some religious songs, but that, like singing and deep prayers.

I am very excited to see all of you at the 2011 OSAKA Chorus Messe. It will be a very educational weekend of singing lessons and choir concerts that will surely be enjoyed by music enthusiasts from all over the Kansai area, as well as nearby cities. I am also looking forward to teaching and conducting the premiere of the new music I wrote for this festival, "Dulcis Maria".

At this time where suffering is experienced by Japan, we look towards the future with optimism. Many of my friends ask why I am going to Japan. As a musician, this is my humble way of helping rebuild the morale of the people, by sharing music to ease fear and sorrow and to quiet agitated hearts.

I hope to see all of you at the Chorus Messe.

I have just come from the Vietnam International Choir Competition where I sat as a member of the jury.  The competition was held at the Hoi An Convention Hall, in the city of Hoi An in northern Vietnam.  

It was a week full of fun as we listened to about 1000 singers comprising 30 groups from 11 countries.  The international jury itself was very diverse, with members coming from Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Hongkong/China, Indonesia, Philippines and Malaysia.

I am so proud of my fellow Filipinos who are champions in three categories: Sacred Music, Children's Choirs, and Folksong.  All in all the Philippines won 6 Gold and 3 Silver medals.

This week I am going to Baguio for the summer competitions in piano and other instruments of Yamaha,  Then next week I will be in Singapore and Indonesia to give choral and voice workshops.  The week after that, I will be guest conductor and speaker at the Osaka International Chorus Messe in Japan. 

In between the hectic daily schedule in Vietnam, i was able to squeeze in writing two new arrangements for choirs in Holland, and Indonesia.  What I need, though, is a lot of sleep :)

I felt very sentimental this afternoon, as I re-wrote Paring Pilipino (Filipino Priest) for my friend Jasper.  He is going to be ordained into priesthood on the 25th. 

I used to let him render illustrations for books I did for the United Nations.  Now I will kiss these same hands that I asked to work for me a couple of years back.

If you happen to have a friend who is being ordained as a priest, I would like to share this piece that I originally wrote for Bishop Juanich in June 2002, and now which I re wrote and orchestrated for "Father" Jasper.

You may find the pdf and midi orchestra file of Paring Pilipino in the catalogue page, under Sacred Filipino.

God bless :)

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the text reads thus:

Ikaw ang Paring Pilipino
You are the Filipino priest

hinirang mula sa bayan mo
chosen from your hometown

tinawag ng Diyos upang mamuno
called by God to lead

sa lipon ng mga Kristiyano
a multitude of Christians

Ikaw ang Paring Palaweno
You are the Priest of Palawan

sandigan naming mga tao
bastion of the people

sa 'yong halimbawang taglay ang karunungan
as a model of wisdon

at kasikapan upang aming puso'y
and diligence, that our hearts

iakay mo patungo sa pagmamahal ng Maykapal
you may guide towards God’s love

at sa bawat sandaling kami'y malilihis
on the occasion that we go astray

nar'yan ka upang magsilbing tanglaw
you are there as our beacon

Ikaw ang Paring Pilipino
You are the Filipino priest

hinirang mula sa bayan mo
chosen from your hometown

tinawag ng Diyos upang mamuno
called by God to lead

sa lipon ng mga Kristiyano
a multitude of Christians

Ikaw ang Paring Palaweno
You are the Priest of Palawan

sandigan naming mga tao
bastion of the people

at sa bawat sandaling kami'y malilihis
on the occasion that we go astray

nar'yan ka upang magsilbing tanglaw, Paring Pilipino
you are there as our beacon, the Filipino priest

lmao!