Philippines seeing a renaissance in choral music
By Suisan Isorena-Arcega
CEU
MALOLOS
Thanks to the seemingly unbreakable habit
of Filipino choirs bringing home trophies and medals from the world’s most
prestigious choral competitions, there is a renewed appreciation for choral
music hereabouts—and the Yuletide season heightens it even more.
This is more than underscored in Manila
Broadcasting Co.’s (MBC) National Choral Competition on Dec. 3-7 at Aliw Theater
in Pasay City.
In keeping with MBC’s reputation as being
attuned to the masa, the contest has been designed to draw public attention to
the outstanding vocal talent in schools, churches, offices and the community,
and at the same time provide grassroots entertainment.
Choral music has been part of community
life in the Philippines since Spanish colonial times. Although indigenous island
people did not have choruses, music—both instrumental and vocal—was certainly a
part of their lives and rituals. Later, the rise of public and private education
during the American era gave rise to choral groups on various campuses.
UNIVERSITY of Baguio
Voices
Today the Philippine choral community
finds its members extending to both the public and private sector, with
special-interest groups thrown in for good measure.
UP
versus UST
The University of the Philippines has led
the academic sector in putting a premium on choral music. Three of their
groups—UP Concert Chorus; UP Singing Ambassadors; and what is now known as the
Philippine Madrigal Singers—have taken the European circuit by storm.
PAMANTASAN ng
Lungsod ng Maynila
With the help of alumni communities in the
United States, Asia and the Middle East, they have made Filipino choristers a
force to reckon with on the global musical stage. The Madz is the only choir to
have won the European Grand Prix twice.
Not to be outdone, the University of Santo
Tomas Singers has also been named Choir of the World at the Llangollen
Eisteddfod in Wales twice. (Wales is a place in the United Kingdom where
musicality seems to run in the blood.)
Being the oldest university in Asia, UST’s
Dominican heritage links it to another ancient musical institution, the Tiples
de Santo Domingo, which, having been founded in 1578, makes it also the oldest
existing boys choir in the Philippines and, perhaps, in Asia.
The Dominican-Tiples shares honors with
the Benedictine communities of Mendiola and Malaybalay in having produced the
country’s finest all-male choruses.
Unsung heroes
Other schools such as the University of
the East, Ateneo de Manila University, the University of San Agustin-Iloilo,
University of the Visayas, Philippine Normal University, De La Salle University,
Adventist University of the Philippines, Miriam College and Ilocos Norte National High School have
earned their fair share of accolades overseas.
A slew of children’s choirs led by the Las
Piñas Boys Choir, Loboc Children’s Choir, Mandaluyong Children’s Chorus, Vox
Angeli, Hail Mary the Queen Children’s Choir, and the Calasiao Children’s Chorus
have all taken their turns at competing—and winning—in the World Choir Games.
ST. MARY
University
But since Filipino choirs have reaped
awards from major festivals abroad, particularly in Europe, all things being
equal, beating another Filipino choir on home ground is the ultimate test.
Many choristers remain unsung heroes, and
are often taken for granted. But community choristers are also volunteers who
give much of their time to come to rehearsals, usually needing to take leave
from work just to be there. They buy, rent or have their costumes made for
concerts, usually on personal funds.
Unlike athletes who sometimes receive
living allowances from their teams, some choristers even have to pay dues for
the privilege of being in a chorus.
Why
do they do it then?
Choral music adds great meaning and
richness to their lives. In today’s depersonalized world of rush and stress,
choral activity is one source available for people to be inspired, refreshed and
rejuvenated.
Singing allows them to sift through
emotions and feelings, but being in a chorus allows them to make friends who
could empathize with whatever situation they’re in.
TARLAC
State
Choristership, indeed, is one way of
answering questions relating to the nature and purpose of contemporary music.
After all, it is considered by many as being halfway between art and life,
between aesthetics and reality.
In this year’s MBC National Choral
Competition, for instance, Claude Debussy will be given equal treatment as
National Artist Felipe Padilla de Leon and Psy of “Gangnam Style” fame.
Contenders
A cursory look at this year’s roster of
choirs which will be competing in the semifinals of the MBC National Choral
Competition supports this view.
Seeing action in the Children’s Division
will be Himig Bulilit of St. Paul Parañaque; Pasig Catholic College; Malate
Catholic School; Juan Luna Elementary School; Batasan-Commonwealth Singing
Voices; Himig Silangan; Himig ni Juan; Himig Pag-asa; Laoag City Children’s
Choir; Fatirium Children’s Choir; Angelicus Children’s Choir; CES Himig ng
Kabataan; GenSan’s The Voice; Banga Elementary School of Koronadal; Himig Hilaga
of Lagao Central Elementary School; and the Angelicum Choir of San Fabian,
Pangasinan.
UNIVERSITY of Manila
Singers
Semifinal qualifiers in the Open Category
include Regina Coeli; Coro Obscento; FEU Chorale; OMPHP Youth Ensemble IV; Coro
Amadeo; Vox Amigos; Chorus Vocales; St. Mary’s University Choral
Society-Bayombong; Tarlac State University Chamber Choir; Gloria Patri Singers;
ISU-Ilagan Rhythmic Society; Voices and Graces Cultural Federation of Nueva
Vizcaya State University; Junior Teens Choir of San Antonio de Padua; Leviticus
Chamber Singers; La Salle Bacolod Chorale; Kinaadman Chorale of John B. Lacson
Foundation Maritime University of Iloilo; Himig Sanghaya; Kammerchcr Manila; 2nd
Chronicle Singers; University of Manila; Centro Escolar University-Malolos;
Capitol University of Cagayan de Oro; University of Baguio Voices; Coro de
Manila; Mariano Marcos State University CTE Choral Society; New UMAK Chorale;
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Student Choral Society; Philippine College of
Criminology-Manila Law College Chorale.
Even with the incredible diversity of
opportunities today, people still want to create music as a gift they can offer
back to another entity—whether God or the community. Listening to a
choir—whether in school, at work, while worshipping in church or watching a
high-profile competition, still give immeasurable fullness to our daily lives.
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