Baroque to Modern: A journey of songs

CEBU, Philippines -Huddled together, arm-in-arm, they started with a fervent prayer  of gratitude, for guidance and an acknowledgement that everything is a gift and a blessing.

The University of the Visayas Chorale appeared sombre, their minds clearly on the daunting task ahead of them. They quietly made their way up the choir loft as Eudy Palaruan set the stage for the Baroque part of the program.

Palaruan said that the presentation will be the same as it was done 350 years ago. The choir stays at the loft, above and behind the crowd, as the people face the altar. There were no distractions from prayer or meditation. The rich music from the voices raised in song and the pipe organ only enhance the people's adoration of the divine.

Following tradition, the program started with an intro, the pipe organ masterfully played by AJ Consolacion, who, like Palaruan, is an expert on Baroque. Hearing music from the pipe organ is already a rare treat, as churches nowadays do not anymore use the pipe organ during Mass, opting instead for the convenient guitar and keyboard.

The haunting music of the pipe organ was so soothing that some septuagenarians succumbed to its soporific sounds.

When the UV Chorale started singing Baroque, however, goosebumps started to appear and unexpected tears would shimmer, albeit unshed. The chorale has finally found their niche.

The urge to show appreciation for each song must be stifled, however, as Palaruan already forewarned that applause would only come after the "Alleluia" in keeping with the traditional form. When the set finally ended, thunderous applause resounded from the packed crowd inside the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral that rainy Saturday evening.

After a short intermission, the second set followed. Donning their signature green costumes, and with Chorale Director Anna Tabita Abeleda-Piquero at the helm, they performed contemporary songs by modern composers, this time in front of the audience. The modern set was light and carefree, rich and vibrant. Not only can the audience hear the music, they now can also appreciate every gesture, every emotion pulled from the song as the choices varied from lamentation to hilarity.

Piquero earlier said, "we injected some world folk songs as well to end the concert in a light note. We have put in an upbeat Basque (Spanish dialect) music, an Indonesian Pop song, and a Papua New Guinea folk song for the audience's listening pleasure."

In the modern set, the applause and whistles were unrestrained, with the crowd wholeheartedly showing their appreciation and support for the chorale. Even after the last note from their last song faded, people were reluctant to let them go so the group had to grant an encore, twice.

After the curtain call, the "fans" who have followed this group's journey realized how much they have grown and how far they have achieved. Joeberth Ocao, The FREEMAN's copy editor, has this posted on his Facebook wall after the Baroque to Modern concert: "In the few times I got to work with these young men and women, I saw awkward smiles turn into polished confidence, witnessed raw talent turn into award-winning performances... They composed the UV Chorale my friends and I have grown to love. Seeing them cheer for their juniors made me think they must have learned their lessons quite well — valuable ones on acceptance and humility. To the 'grown ups,' I wish you success in every aspect, on or off stage. To the new UV Chorale, may you believe that you're just a song away from being great." (FREEMAN)