Rosalina Abejo's Guerrilla Symphony

 

Rosalina Abejo conducting an Orchestra

    Rosalina Abejo, a Filipino composer and a nun, was one of the more forgotten Philippine composers today. Her music aren't played by any orchestra or musicians ever since her death - I have no knowledge of any of her works being played in the country in the past few decades, except probably a few performances of her Tartanilla Race for solo piano in private concerts or recitals. Perhaps this is partly because of her political affiliations and connections. Fortunately for us, Abejo was one of the very few classical Filipino composers whose works are commercially recorded and preserved. About three LPs of a few of her large scale works were made, as well as a song from the 1979 LP album Pagdiriwang.

A review of an all-Kasilag album "Kasilag East/West"

"Kasilag East/West" is an album containing four of Kasilag's works. It was released in 1979 under Kubing Records. For the performers, Lucrecia Kasilag herself conducts the Cultural Center of the Philippines Philharmonic Orchestra with Zenas Reyes-Lozada as Pianist.

Lucio San Pedro's Symphonic Poem "Lahing Kayumanggi"

Lucio San Pedro, the composer

    One of my favorite Filipino pieces, Lucio San Pedro's symphonic poem was written in between 1961-1962 for Concert Band as a commission by the Music Promotion Foundation of the Philippines. Later arranged for orchestra, this piece won the hearts of the audience and critics who first heard the piece at the premiere and in subsequent performances. This was evident with the piece receiving the Republic Cultural Heritage Award in 1962. 

    Here I made a quick analysis of the work, describing the piece in detail. This will hopefully make the listener appreciate and understand the work better.

    Listen to the piece here: (recording by Gerard Salonga conducting the Global Studio Orchestra - with a summarized description of the piece in the description)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy3SjCxCY6o