Japanese Musical Performers to Visit Manila for the Philippines-Japan Friendship Concerts

In celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation, two friendship concerts featuring Japanese and Filipino artists will be held on August 8, 2013, 6:30 pm at the Abelardo Hall Auditorium, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City and on August 10, 2013, 8:00 pm at the Corazon Aquino Hall, St. Scholastica’s College in Manila.

The first concert, “Bridge to the Future” is a collaborative concert between the visiting Japanese artists and the UP College of Music as part of the “Towards AHA@50 Concert Series,” 1st Semester 2013-2014. This event features the sopranos Satsuki Hayashisa and Ayano Kumada, internationally acclaimed pianist Naoka Matsuoka and folk artist Tatsuya Hosono on tsuguru shamisen. They will be joined by teachers of the College pianist Carolyn Cheng and bass Rainier Arthur Cruz.

The second concert titled “Across the Seas” will once again highlight the award-winning talents of the Japanese artists along with the top Filipino pianist Josue Greg Zuniega and the tenor James Doak at Scholastica’s College.
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An interesting repertoire awaits the concert goers as the Japanese and Filipino artists showcase various types of music ranging from traditional Japanese classics to Filipino Folk songs. Japanese pieces include the Nanatsu no ko, Sakura Sakura, and Sakura Fantasia. Japanese folk songs Jonkara Bushi and Otemoyan will be played by shamisen player Tatsuya Hosono. Popular Filipino folk tunes will also be performed such as Ating cu pung Singsing, Chitchiritsit, and Pobreng Alindahaw.

The two concerts are presented by the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, KTCM Music Education Laboratory Foundation, and University of the Philippines-College of Music, St. Scholastica’s College and with the support of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines, Japanese Association Manila and Japan Tobacco International.

For tickets and inquiries, please call 981-8500 local 2639 or 9296963 for the “Bridge to the Future” Concert and 559-7080 or 567-7686 local 288 for the “Across the Seas” Concert.

UP Music Pays Homage to Early Filipino Symphonic Band Composers

The University of the Philippines (UP) College of Music presents a rare concert featuring UP Symphonic Band, under the baton of Prof. Rodney Ambat, playing an all-Filipino music repertoire originally composed for symphonic band. Scheduled on Thursday, July 18, 6:30 pm at Abelardo Hall Auditorium, Quezon City, the concert is titled “Ode to the Filipino People” and pays homage to music leaders who made remarkable contributions to the development of band music in the Philippines, especially during early twentieth century when Philippine Constabulary Band caught worldwide attention for its high level of musicianship.

The highlights of the evening are pieces by Capt. Pedro B. Navarro, the first Filipino conductor of the famed Philippine Constabulary (PC) Band and who succeeded Afro-American Walter H. Loving. The musical skill and artistry of Capt. Navarro was noticed by the world’s leading band conductors of his time, including John Philip Sousa. Capt. Navarro got his musical training under the great Filipino composer Marcelo Adonay.

Only nine of Navarro’s written scores survive today although the search for more compositions is on-going. Most of his music is composed for band with light, sometimes whimsical melodies. Often a Spanish rhythmic flavor underlies the harmonies while at other times Navarro’s military influence is evident in the percussion.

Tickets for the show are priced at P 150 wih special discounts for students and the elderly. For more details, please call 9260026. 9296963, or 9818500 loc. 2639.

The concert is part of the Philippine music heritage series of UP College of Music, which aims to promote the genius of Filipino creativity in the field of music. An educational exhibit on Capt. Navarro’s musical career will be provided by ethnomusicologist and great-granddaughter of Navarro, Dr. Mary Talusan.