Bamboo Organ Festival celebrates 400th death anniversary of Italian composer

MANILA, Philippines – The 37^th International Bamboo Organ Festival celebrates the 400^th death anniversary of Giovanni Gabrieli, an Italian composer who popularized the “concertate” style, literally, the competition between two or more instrumental groups, what we now call: a concerto.  His music will be featured in a setting similar to the practice in Venice: two, three or four ensembles (choral or instrumental) facing each other. Among the works to be performed are  his “Omnes Gentes” , “Plaudite” and “In Ecclesiis” , a canzone for two organs, and a canzone for two or three ensembles. G. Gabrieli had an enormous influence on the next generation of composers, as will be demonstrated in works for double choir by Heinrich Schütz and Johann Sebastian Bach.  To perform this program are Jennifer Pascual (USA), Armando Salarza, Gerardo Fajardo , Manu Mellaerts (Belgium), Sherla Najera, Ily Matthew Maniano, Malvin Beethoven Macasaet, Arjay Nuas Viray, UP Music Education Chorale, Las Piñas Boys Choir and Las Piñas Mens Choir, accompanied by the Manila Symphony Orchestra led by Eudenice Palaruan.

Below is the schedule of performances from February 23-29:

Thursday, 23 February Gala night

Friday, 24 February

Saturday, 25 February

Concert under the trees

To serenade us in the church’s courtyard during the traditional Concert Under the Trees  with the most loved pop songs of the Philippines are (again) the voices of  The CompanY . Being Asia’s premiere vocal harmony group, they have won numerous awards and sold thousands of albums, and are responsible for popularizing great hits like “Now that I have You” and “Muntik na Kitang Minahal”.

Sunday, 26 February

Evening of Organ Music

A night of purely organ music is a must-see concert, wherein both the Bamboo Organ and Pipe Organ of St. Joseph’s Academy will be played.   For this year’s festival, Jennifer Pascual, an organist from the USA, will again be performing for the Filipino audience a variety of pieces ranging from Baroque to Contemporary.

Monday, 27 February

“Awitan-Kristo”

A Festival Para-Liturgy on the Advent-Epiphany of Jesus Christ

Every year, the festival gives recognition to Filipino composers by featuring their creations in one of the concerts.  This year, the work of Nicolas Matias Sengson entitled “Awitan-Kristo” will be performed.  This work is a festival para-liturgy on the Advent-Epiphany of Jesus Christ.  To be presided by Bishop Jesse Mercado, DD. The performers are Armando Salarza, Gerardo Fajardo, Renato Lucas, Sherla Najera, Malvin Beethoven Macasaet, Arjay Nuas Viray, Assembly Choir, Imusicapella and Las Pinas Boys Choir and accompanied by Manila Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Eudenice Palaruan.

Wednesday, 29 February

Evening of chamber music

During the last night, dedicated to Chamber Music, one will hear excerpts from Gluck’s most famous and influential opera, Orfeo, together with Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No.5 and Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola and Orchestra.  Artists for this program are Raphael Leone (Austria), Armando Salarza,  Gerardo Fajardo, Orphej Simic (Austria),  Rui Hashiba (Austria) and Minette Padilla with the Manila Symphony Orchestra conducted by Aries Caces (Austria).