36th Int'l-Bamboo Organ Festival set for Feb. 17-23
(The Philippine Star) Updated February 07, 2011 12:00 AM



MANILA, Philippines - The International Bamboo Organ Festival of Las Pinas on Feb. 17 to 23 is no ordinary music festival. It may well be the only festival that has for its centerpiece a unique music instrument that has been officially named a national treasure.

Crafted by Spanish priest Diego Cera, the Bamboo Organ of Las Pinas had religious beginnings. At first, it was used exclusively for liturgical purposes until the residents were inspired to make it the focus of a full-fledged festival of sacred music. Now on its 36th season, the Bamboo Organ Festival has earned a reputation both nationally and internationally and is the source of pride among Filipinos everywhere.

The bamboo organ is a serious instrument in the classic Spanish style and some the world’s best-known organists have enjoyed its charm and color. Fr. Diego Cera de la Virgen del Carmen was responsible for the organ and the church that houses it. An Augustinian Recollect, he was parish priest of Las Pinas and the son of a family of organ builders in his native Spain. He was a gifted natural scientist, chemist, architect, community leader and organist.

The festival brought Philippine music, culture and tradition to the international stage. It has opened avenues for international artists to showcase their talents.

The bamboo organ brought together parishioners, townsfolk and artists in a celebration of life. National Artist Alejandro Roces, after an extensive study on different fiestas of the Philippines, included the Bamboo Organ Festival in his upcoming book about Philippine fiestas — a testimony of the festival’s value in Philippine history and culture.

The annual International Bamboo Organ Festival recently unveiled its plans for its 36th edition.

Excerpts from some of Johann Sebastian Bach’s more celebrated cantatas will be featured in the opening concert titled Back to BACH. It makes use of a recently-acquired collection of scores from Bach’s more than 250 cantatas. In the lineup are well-known choruses, sinfonias and organ concertos which show why Bach is the most beloved composer of the Baroque period.

Future concerts will have several choirs as performers: The Las Pinas Boys Choir, champion of the 2008 World Choir Games in Graz, Austria; Hail Mary the Queen Children’s Choir, University of the East Chorale and Imusicapella Chamber Choir. Noted Filipino conductors Joel Navarro and EudenicePalarauan will also take center stage with visiting artists Luc Ponet (Belgium), organ; Guido Segers (Belgium), trumpet and Raphael Leone (Austria), flute. Filipino soloists are Armando Salarza, organ; Gina Medina, violin; Rey Casey Concepcion, viola and Renato Lucas, cello.

An innovation in the programming is the chamber music concert that will end the festival and feature rarely-played baroque compositions. Upon the invitation of Hail Mary the Queen Children’s Choir, other children’s choirs will be invited starting this year.

Commissioned choral work Jubilate! composed by Alejandro Consolacion II, who also arranged a cycle of popular Philippine folk songs, will premiere this year.

The festival is presented by Bamboo Organ Foundation, Inc. in cooperation with National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Department of Tourism, PAGCOR, Embassy of Austria, Sen. Manuel Villar Jr., Rep. Mark Villar, Mayor Vergel Aguilar and the City Government of Las Pinas, Bishop Jesse Mercado, DD and the Diocese of Paranaque, St. Joseph’s Academy and The Parish of St. Joseph with major sponsors Diego Cera Organbuilders, Inc., Via Mare, Novellino, Bote Central — Serenity Coffee, San Miguel Brewery Inc., Meralco, A.O. Infinite Trading, Lamoiyan Corp., OOCL, Marilag Corp., BDO, Menzi Trust Fund, Inc. Astro Import and Export Corp., Riguera Realty and Development Corp., Casimiro Development Corp., Cablelink, BPI Foundation, Pamatec, Royal Air Charter Services, Inc., Innovative Educational Materials, Inc., St. Bernadette Publication, Inc., Col. Pedro Rolan, Dr. Sonny Zulueta, Garampil Garden, Paraiso Digital Photography and Video, FGOgraphics, media friends and partners and members of the foundation.

For details, call 820-0795, 825-7190, 0999- 5087838 or e-mail bambooorganfoundation@gmail.com.

Baroque Festival Orchestra

Artistic director:
ULRIKE TITZE
(violin)

Baroque trumpet: GABOR HEGYI
Soprano: NOEMI KISS

Violin: MIHAIL GHIGA, RENATA JANOS JAKAB, ERNO PETER, MIRCEA IONESCU, LILLA KOLUMBAN, KOPPANY HUNYADI, EVA KOVACS,
LASZLO KOVACS, CSABA ADORJAN, LASZLO ORBAN, MARGIT KARDOS
Cello: ZSOMBOR LAZAR, CAMPEAN CIPRIAN
Viol: ISTVAN CSATA
Double-bass: ARPAD SZOGYOR
Oboe: SANDOR GATI, MARIA PETRESCU
Natural horn: LIVIU SAVUTA, SZILARD KELEMEN
Harpsichord: CRISTIAN PAUL
Percussion: ARTUR HOMPOTH
Recorder, flute: EVA SZABO, IGNAC CSABA FILIP



Johann Christoph Schmidt (1664–1728):
Partie a deux Choeurs
Intrade / Ouverture / Air / Menuet / Sinfonie / Grand Air / Chaconne

Georg Friedrich Handel (1685–1759):
From “Giulio Cesare in Egitto” (HWV 17)
Recitativ and Aria “Piangero”
Solo: Noemi Kiss, soprano

Suite in D major (HWV 341)
Ouverture / Allegro / Menuetto / Bourree / March
Solo: Gabor Hegyi, trumpet

from “Giulio Cesare in Egitto”
Aria “Da tempeste”
Solo: Noemi Kiss, soprano

Antonio Vivaldi (1678–1741):
Concerto in G major (“Pariser Konzert”)
Allegro / Largo / Allegro

Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632–1687):
Music from “Thesee” (Tragedie lyrique)
Ouverture – La descente de Mars – Premier Air – Ceres (Air) – Second Air – Menuet
Prelude – La Marche – La Prestresse (Air) – Entree des Combatans
Air pour l’Entree triomphante de Thesee
Air (Tres vite) – Marche – Ritournelle – Air / Bergere
Ritournelle / Medee – Marche – Ritournelle / Medee
Finale

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714–1788):
Sinfonia in G major (Wq 180)
Allegro di molto / Largo / Allegro assai