Madz & Swingles: Two for the gold

This is such a wonderful coinci- dence. The Phil- ippine Madrigal Singers and The Swingle Singers, two of the best singing groups in the world today, are both celebrat- ing their 50th anniversary this year.

It was 50 years ago when Na- tional Artist for Music Andrea Veneracion gathered together some music students from the University of the Phil- ippines to form a group who would sing madrigals. This was a type of singing from Europe in the time of the Renais- sance when singers sat down in a circle and sang a cappella.

At about the same time in France, Ameri- can choral master Ward Swingle had gath- ered together some singers from around Europe to form a singing group. I do not know how it happened or if it was indeed Swingle’s intention but the Swingles came to fame, singing baroque music a cappella but with a jazz swing.

The Swingle Singers have since then cap- tivated music lovers all over the world with their uniquely blended vocal agility and stage showmanship. They have recorded over 50 albums and won five Grammy Awards for albums that featured classical pieces given jazz arrange- ments.

The present Swingle Sing- ers are Joanna Goldsmith, Julie Kench, Clare Wheeler, Johanna Marshall, Richard Eteson, Tom Ballard, Kevin Fox and Tobias Hug. They are featured in a lovely album of contemporary classics titled Ferris Wheels. The songs are pop hits but all done in the extraordinary swingle style.

Included are Unravel by Bjork; Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell; On The 4th Of July

by James Taylor; L’Ete, a French adaptation of the Michel Legrand, Marilyn and Alan Berg- man song; The Summer Knows; River Man by Nick Drake; Until (A Matter of Moments) by Sting; Eleanor Rigby by the Beatles; No More

I Love You’s popularized by Annie Lennox; a medley of Jem Griffith’s Flying High and Green Day’s Wake Me Up When September Ends; Summer Soft by Stevie Wonder; Lullabye (Goodnight My Angel) by Billy Joel; and God Only Knows by the Beach Boys.

The Madrigal Singers, now fondly referred to as the Madz, have also gone on to fame. They have become the world’s winningest choir with the World’s Best Choir prize from the Brand Laureate Awards among their many honors. They have also been appointed UNESCO Artists of Peace and mentored over 50 choral groups from all over the world.

Now, if you love beautiful music, I am very sure that you already have an idea of how the Swingle Singers and the Madz sound by themselves. But can you imagine how they will sound when they sing together? Heavenly is the best description I can think of. And that is just the music you will get this weekend when The Swingle Singers and The Madz get together for a very special golden anniversary performance.

The show is titled Two For The Gold, a golden anniversary celebration. The concert is expected to be a true showcase for great sing- ing with both groups going from baroque to classical to jazz and pop and exhibiting their famous showmanship. But come to think of it, while I am sure that the Madz will do some Filipino songs, wouldn’t it be nice if the Swingles could also sing one or two?

But whether they do or not, make sure you are there when these two legends come together on the stage of the Tanghalang Nica- nor Abelardo (Main Theater) of the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City in Two For The Gold. The shows will be held on Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. and Sept. 8, 5 p.m. It is very unlikely that something like this will happen again.

Tickets are available at the CCP Box Office 832-3704/832-1125; at Ticketworld 891-9999; or through Chichi 882-4400. Tickets are priced at P3,000 (Orchestra Center); P2,500 (Limited Orchestra Sides); P2,000 (Orchestra Sides); P1,500 (Balcony One Center); P1,000 (Balcony One Sides); P700 (Balcony Two Center); and P500 (Balcony Two Sides).

Welcome to September

We have entered the month of September and the year has now begun its wind-down process. This is the ninth month of the Gre- gorian Calendar and it marks the end of summer and the beginning of autumn.

In life, September is middle age, that time when the aging process embarks on its final years. For young people in Western coun- tries, it is the end of summer vacation and the start of another school term. It is also a time to start looking forward to the Christ- mas season.

It is a bittersweet time that has become the subject of many beautiful songs over the years. September Morn, September In The Rain, September by Earth Wind & Fire; See You In September, September by Daughtry; September Of My Years, Wake Me Up When September Ends, September Gurls, and many others. All have been worthy efforts.

But when you get down to the basics, September Song, the composition by Kurt Weill with lyrics by Maxwell Anderson from the ’30s, was the one that captured the meaning of September best , “Oh, It’s a long, long while from May to December/ but the days grow short when you reach September...”