Wednesday, September 20, 2023
Top 5 Boogie Woogie Women
Toma Cayabyab: The son rises
Sep 20, 2023 02:16 PM
In music, each note tells a tale and melodies carry feelings.
Also, there exists a legacy that reverberates through generations.
National Artist Ryan Cayabyab, a master whose compositions are woven into the heart of Filipino culture, has nurtured a family of musicians.
Toma, his son, rises with distinction, carving his own musical journey.
Toma embodies the essence of a true artist as he upholds his father's legacy.
In an interview, he shared his musical journey and talked about the crucial role of conductors in musicals.
According to him, being a conductor involves more than meets the eye.
"Ang conductor hindi lang siya yung nakikita lang ng audience na we're just waving our hands in the air," he said.
He explained that, before the final performance, conductors ensure a unified and synchronized show.
"Ang hindi nakikita ng audience is kami yung nag-e-ensayo. Yung mga sections, kunwari violins, nag-e-ensayo sila on their own; individually or in groups, pero yung conductor, we bring everyone together," he explained.
Toma emphasized that conductors guide and teach the ensemble. They begin by studying the piece, interpreting the composer's intentions, and then bringing their own artistic interpretation to the performance, considering elements like tempo, dynamics, and phrasing.
They set and maintain the tempo of the music, guiding musicians through changes in speed. They communicate their interpretation to the musicians through cues, indicating when each instrument or section should start playing. They also direct musicians on when to change dynamics, articulation, and other musical elements.
During rehearsals, conductors lead by ensuring everyone understands their parts.
Toma led The Orchestra of the Filipino Youth in the highly-acclaimed Filipino rock opera ballet, "Rama, Hari" at the Metropolitan Theater over the weekend. Of course, he expressed gratitude for the supportive and responsive audience.
The ballet is based on the ancient Sanskrit epic "Ramayana" which follows Prince Rama from his marriage to Sita, their 14-year banishment, and their encounters with the evil Ravana and his sister Soorpanakha.
The production stands out as an exclusive collaboration showcasing the exceptional talents of five National Artists. These luminaries include Alice Reyes for Direction and Choreography, Salvador Bernal for Production Design, Bienvenido Lumbera for the lyrics and libretto (with English Translations by Rolando Tinio), and Ryan for Music.
On the topic of Ryan, Toma was asked about the advice he received from his father regarding work.
He mentioned: Putting in the hard work and finding enjoyment in what you do.
Toma added that this approach has proven to be quite beneficial.
"Kasi some people would say na parang mas stress sila sa work or parang na dishearten, ako, I really totally understand that. Ang ginagawa ko talaga is to keep working and enjoying what I do. If it's a successful kind of production or okay lang, at least ang pinaka habol ko would be the experience," he related.
"Alam mo yung sinasabi nilang 'You only live once.' So for me gawa lang ng gawa. Perform lang ng perform. Enjoy lang ng enjoy ng buhay at magpasalamat sa Diyos na meron tayong opportunity to perform the art, to make music, perform music, ma-touch ang mga lives ng mga tao. Yan ang buhay. Live life."
When asked about the challenge of carrying on the legacy of a showbiz royalty, Toma acknowledged it's not easy. However, he emphasized that his journey isn't about copying his father's notes. Instead, he's creating his own melodies.
"At first, totoo, laging may expectations. Laging nandu'n yung shadow. Actually ang maganda kay Papa kasi hindi niya ako pine-pressure e. Ang pressure comes from other people around us," he shared.
"Kasi yun yung expectations ng mga tao kasi anak. 'Dahil anak ka, ito yung expectations namin sayo.' Si Daddy wala siyang ganu'n. Ang pagpapalaki niya sa amin 'Do what you want to do. Enjoy what you want to do.'"
Due to the familiarity of that impression, he opted to strike out on his own, which led him to initially experiment with film. Later, he returned to music and established his own jazz choir.
"Para lang makagawa ako ng name for myself and for my band," Toma said. "Gumawa rin ako ng sarili kong areglo. Sarili kong composition through my band. So yung mga ganu'n. Itong conducting also... I think it's a good avenue for me to really prove myself and to people that I can be who I can be."
Toma completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication at Ateneo de Manila University in 2013.
After two years, he pursued a Bachelor of Music in Conducting at the University of the Philippines, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude.
Since then, he has had the opportunity to conduct guest performances with renowned ensembles such as the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra, and Manila Symphony Orchestra.
Currently, he is pursuing his master's degree.
"For me, this is something that I enjoy and I want to do," he stressed.
In addition to his role as a conductor, Toma also heads a jazz band called Debonair District, where he is actively involved in composition.
"So in that aspect, du'n ko rin na-hone yung skill ko in performing, making music, singing. Kaya parang hand in hand siya, yung pagko-conduct at pag-areglo, at pag-perform."
Tuesday, September 19, 2023
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN, Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 19, Alexandra Dovgan
Offenbach - Barcarolle , from 'The Tales of Hoffmann'
Les contes d'Hoffmann (in English: The Tales of Hoffmann) is an opera by Jacques Offenbach. It was first performed in Paris, at the Opéra-Comique, on February 10, 1881.
The libretto was written by Jules Barbier, based on three short stories by E.T.A. Hoffmann. E.T.A. Hoffmann himself is a character in the opera just as he often is in his stories. The stories upon which the opera is based are Der Sandmann,Rath Krespel, and Das verlorene Spiegelbild.
The opera contains a prologue, three acts and an epilogue. Offenbach did not live to see his opera performed, since he died on October 5, 1880, just over four months before its premiere. Before his death, Offenbach had completed the piano score and orchestrated the prologue and the first act. Since he did not entirely finish the writing, many different versions of this opera emerged, some bearing little resemblance to the original work. The version performed at the opera's premiere was that by Ernest Guiraud, who completed Offenbach's scoring and wrote the recitatives.
The Barcarolle
The most famous aria from the opera is the "Barcarolle" (Belle nuit, ô nuit d'amour), which is performed in Act 2. Curiously, the aria was not written by Offenbach with Les Contes d'Hoffmann in mind. He wrote it as a ghost-song in the opera Les fées du Rhin (which premiered in Vienna on February 8, 1864 as Die Rheinnixen). Offenbach died with Les contes d'Hoffmann unfinished.
Ernest Guiraud completed the scoring and wrote the recitatives for the premiere. He also incorporated this excerpt from one of Offenbach's earlier, long-forgotten operas into the new opera.
The Barcarolle has been incorporated into many movies including Life Is Beautiful and Titanic.
Monday, September 18, 2023
Schlagerstar stirbt nach Schlaganfall
ROGER WHITTAKER
Roger Whittaker
© Peter Bischoff / Getty Images
Die Schlagerwelt trauert: Musiklegende Roger Whittaker ist am 13. September mit 87 Jahren nach einem Schlaganfall gestorben, dies bestätigt nun die trauernde Familie.
Schon länger haben sich Fans Sorgen um den Gesundheitszustand von "Albany"-Sänger, Roger Whittaker, gemacht, nun sind die schlimmsten Befürchtungen eingetreten. Der Schlagersänger ist mit 87 Jahren gestorben. Bereits am 13. September 2023 soll er laut "Bild" nach einem Schlaganfall in einem Krankenhaus in Südfrankreich im Kreise seiner Familie verstorben sein.
Familie bestätigt Roger Whittakers Tod
Auf der deutschen Roger Whittaker Fanpage wurde die traurige Nachricht bestätigt. In Absprache mit Sony Music veröffentlicht die Familie folgende Zeilen auf der sozialen Plattform: "Mit großer Trauer teilen wir mit, dass unser geliebter Roger Whittaker am 13. September 2023 in Frieden in Anwesenheit seiner Familie von uns gegangen ist. In dieser schweren Zeit möchten wir uns bei allen für ihre Unterstützung und ihr Mitgefühl bedanken. Roger war ein ikonischer Künstler, ein wundervoller Ehemann und Vater." Wie jede trauernde Familie bitten sie mit diesen Worten auch um ihre Privatsphäre, um von ihrem Ehemann, Vater, Onkel usw. Abschied nehmen zu können.
Bereits Anfang September hatte die Familie des britischen Sängers auf der Facebook-Seite Stellung zu Gerüchten des Gesundheitszustands von Roger Whittaker bezogen. Damals hieß es in dem Statement, er sei krank, würde sich aber in guter ärztlicher Behandlung befinden. Laut "Bild" soll der 87-Jährige Herzprobleme und verstopfte Arterien gehabt und vor kurzen einen Schlaganfall erlitten haben.
Schon während seines Studiums entdeckte Whittaker seine Liebe zur Musik. Zu seinen größten Hits zählen Lieder wie "Albany", "The Last Farewell", Durham Town oder "Indian Lady". Auch in Deutschland konnte er große Erfolge verzeichnen und trat mehrmals bei der "ZDF-Hitparade" auf und nahm Songs auf Deutsch auf.
Verwendete Quellen: bild.de, facebook.com, spiegel.de
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