Ang Bagong Harana to showcase Filipino musical heritage

It is easy enough at times to sell the merits of contemporary Filipino songs to young listeners around, think Minsan Lang Kitang Iibigin or Picture Picture. But there is, most of the time, a marked resistance when the goods are old Filipino songs.

And when I say old, I really mean old as in Nasaan Ka Irog or Libis Ng Nayon, the songs that were created during the time of our grandparents and older forebears. Just because they are young, Pinoy kids nowadays think of those songs as old-fashioned or uncool.

This is most unfortunate. This is like killing one’s legacy. Songs, when they do not get performed or recorded or listened to, die. They have no place else to go. So many of ours, have already died unlamented in the quiet. This is also very strange because if we really take the cue for local music tastes from the U.S. of A., then we should by now be listening to the Pinoy counterparts of Jackie Evancho and Il Volo.

We are not. At least not yet. But we will get the chance to check out our musical heritage when Ang Bagong Harana goes on a limited run at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium of the RCBC Plaza in Makati from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1 at 8 p.m. with a matinee at 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 1. That is too short a run, only four performances. So make sure you catch this show and treat yourselves to beautiful Filipino music.

Directed by the multi-awarded and Palanca winner Floy Quintos, Ang Bagong Harana is part of the 2011-2012 season of the Philippine Opera Company. The POC first bravely ventured into this direction with the musical revue Harana in 2008. Audience response was very good and Harana later had a successful tour of Amsterdam and of the Philippines. And now we have Ang Bagong Harana.

The program will be divided into seven suites. Paghabi Ng Buhay, songs associated with children and the experience of youth; Katutubo… Kalikasan at Kabuhayan about reverence for nature and traditions of stewardship; Tara Na Sa Piesta, the joys of village life; Indio, Illustrado at Rebolusyunaryo for love of country, love of God and love of fellow man.

There are also Kenkoy, Saging at Balut for Pinoy humor and sensibility in the bodabil era; Canseco/Cruz/Cayabyab, a medley of songs by the greatest songwriters of recent times, George Canseco, Ngayon At Kailanman Willy Cruz, Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas and Ryan Cayabyab, Kay Ganda Ng Ating Musika; and Pamilya, Kalikasan at Bayan, expressions of love of nation.

Performers will be Karla Gutierrez, Charley Magalit, Twinkle Prietos, Marian Santiago, Janine Santos, Al Gatmaitan, Marvin Gayramon, Lawrence Jatayna, Nazer Salcedo, Jack Salud, Floyd Tena and Jurgen Unterberg. They are young, talented and they sing classical. At a time when economics dictate that singers should take on what is popular, it is most commendable to find them choosing to sing classical and in the case of Ang Bagong Harana, Filipino songs.

The harana or serenade is a performance done to bestow honor. Its now popular concept is that of a swain courting his ladylove with song. I see Ang Bagong Harana as a way to give honor to Filipino music. Heaven knows it is most deserving and I am hopeful that with presentations such as this, today’s Pinoys will discover the beauty of their musical heritage.

Still on great Filipinos in music. The Philippine Madrigal Singers are now basking in the glory of another landmark performance abroad. This happened at the famed Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, Argentina where the much-awarded vocal ensemble performed to a packed house last Aug. 13.

The Madz, who are now on the later legs of its tour of the U.S.A., Canada and North America. While the tour has been very successful, this one turned out to be quite special. They became the first Filipinos to perform at the Colon, which is acknowledged as one of the best concert venues in the world. It was a back-to-back show with the also much acclaimed Coro Universitario de Mendoza. And it is most heartening to learn of the standing ovations and cheers of excelente concierto and noche inolvidable thrown to the Madz.

Coming stops in the South American tour are the Salon Piazzolla Teatro Argentino in La Plata, Argentina on Aug. 23; Teatro Maccio in San Jose Paraguay, Aug. 27; Salon Dorado in Buenos Aires Argentina, Aug. 30; Escuela Calvino Parque Avellaneda Argentina, Sept. 2; Nuestra Senora del Carmelo Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sept. 3; and then it is off to the U.S. of A.