Libera!

I was very fortunate to have secured two tickets to this October 28th musical performance at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel. My U.S.-based friend, who was here on a short vacation, got lucky too for I tagged her along. It was a choral concert by 28London schoolboys between the ages of seven and sixteen.

The concert would have been easily mistaken for a Halloween show, as it was so close to that time of the year. But it was a Christmas concert; in fact, it was tagged"The Christmas Concert of the Year!" And, true,that last Friday night of Octoberwas Christmas night.

The choir's name is Libera, a Greek word meaning "free". The musical style of the group is hard to categorizeinto a particular genre, with their unique sound crossing many musical boundaries. At times it borders on new age, at other times on classic Gregorian, but at all times gripping.

The group is raved by fans across the world. The boys have solid following in the US, the UK, the Philippines, South Korea and Japan, where their CD recordings rank high in the mainstream and classical charts and their concerts always draw a full house. They also frequently perform in major events and churches in Europe.

Libera is both ancient and modern. The boys' distinctive white robes are a style of classic origin. The imaginative stage lighting and mystical vocal harmoniesin their performances effectively present the musical treasures of many generations to enthrall the contemporary audience.

The defining inspiration for Libera is the ancient music of the medieval cathedrals and monasteries. Traditional chants are mixed with contemporary instrumentation and arrangement. The group's repertoire reflects the shapes and mood of the past while combining it with new styles and harmonies.

Many of the Libera songs are in Latin, out of respect for the integrity of the ancient devotional texts from which these songs are drawn. Their contemplative and inspirational sources, both ancient and modern, include the Holy Mass and the Psalms of the Old Testament. Now and then, they also pick works of modern-day musicians.

I must admit that my knowledge of most of their songs that night range from vague to none at all. Of course, I know Sanctus. But even the songs that I heard for the very first time hit a chord inmy heart.

Music is a highly personal thing. Different people experience music in different ways. Some get energized or agitated, others soothed orelated. That's not to mention the various types of music, each with a certain emotional charge predisposing the listener to a corresponding emotional experience.

Each song in that Christmas concert was lulling. I didn't see much of the creative lighting that went with every song number, since I frequently closed my eyes as soon as a song began. My companion had her eyes closed the whole time; I thought she fell asleep as she was not particularly a music fan.

The delicate technical enhancement of the sound was beautiful. Although, it would not have been at all necessary if only thevenue and the crowd were smaller. It was large, jam-packed hall that the music had to fill up. And, yes, the sound was as fullfor those at the far back as for those at the front row.

I can't say exactly what kind of appeal Libera had with the youth in the audience. I don't belong to that sector anymore. Yet basing on the giggles of the young girls beside me, it seems that young people are as in awe of the group as they are of the hottest boy bands today.

My companion quickly stood up at the end of the show. "Transcendent!" she murmured.She was not asleep after all.

Myown experience of Libera is difficult to describe with words. No language can fully communicate feeling. If only the heart can speak.

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