Field Notes: a Multi-Media Concert at the University of the Philippines College of Music

The Department of Theory and Composition of the University of the Philippines College of Music presents “Field Notes,” a concert of new multi-media works by Dr. Maria Christine Muyco at the Abelardo Hall Auditorium, September 30, Friday, at 7 PM. The concert is inspired by Muyco’s research on the music from Panay highlands. Some of her works in the event are InBukasyon for dance, indigenous music instruments, and a chanter; Papel at Espasyo for video and computer music; a work based on the Panay concept of voice or limog; a video on the idea of affixations and structural play (with dance choregraphed by Myra Beltran) called Pagba-bagtas-bagtas (Tra-ver-sing); a choral piece entitled Duruduruhat, based on the music of indigenous bowed instrument called litgit. The highlight of the concert is the music titled Di Pagsara kundi PagSibod. This is based on the ideology in music-making and other forms of multisensorial expressions in inland Panay.

Muyco is one of the most active women composers of the Philippines today. A recent fellow of the Asian Cultural Council (ACC), New York for her Computer Music training at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), she has put together some compositions using the Pure Data software developed by Miller Puckette. She also writes for large orchestra, piano, choir, chamber opera, strings, Japanese koto, percussion, and winds. Her music have been widely performed in the Philippines and other countries such as the U.S., Italy, Canada, Japan, Australia, and Hong Kong. Recently, she was awarded the “Best Film Scorer” by the Philippines’ Cinemalaya for the film Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa or “Dance of the Two Left Feet.” She also serves as the Chairman of the U.P. College of Music’s Theory and Composition Department and the Chairman of the Asian Composers League, Philippines.

Performers in this concert include the U.P. Dance Company, the Tugtugang Musika Asya (TUGMA), and individual artists such as Rolinda Gilbaliga, Eliz Tolentino, Kevin Castelo, Jeanelle Bihag-Roldan, and Myra Beltran. This will also feature conductor Eudie Palaruan with his choir consisting of Phoebe Bitoon, Spephanie Quintin, Nikka Mae Lopez, Patricia Poblador, Sara Matsuura, Gabriel Molina, Jeandro Rabang, Terence Teh, and Arjay Viray. For computer music, Erwin Fajardo and Michael Bulaong will serve as controllers who will manipulate the music in real time.

There will also be an exhibit of field notes by various ethnomusicologists curated by Dayang Magdalena Yraola. These ethnomusicologists include, among others, Jose Maceda, Ramon Santos, Jose Buenconsejo, Mary Talusan, Marialita Yraola, Maria Christine Muyco, Raul Navarro, Laverne de la Pena, and Elena Rivera-Mirano.

Admission is free.