Bringing back the ‘harana’
By Pablo Tariman
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:51:00 07/21/2008
MANILA, Philippines - The Filipino tradition of courting country maidens by way of a harana (serenade) is almost a thing of the past except in remote places in the countryside.
Courting now is faster with e-mail and text messages.
“Harana” is also the title of a very interesting concert to be mounted by the Philippine Opera Company (POC), headed by Karla Gutierrez, Aug. 28 at the RCBC Theater. This presentation will open the new POC season, which will include “Magic Flute” at the CCP on Sept. 18; “La Boheme” in October; and the restaging of the opera-related play “Master Class” in November.
“What we are doing this season is showcase one of the world’s favorite operas while reminding our Filipino audiences that we also have timeless music in harana,” Gutierrez said. “With our season finale, which is ‘Master Class,’ we are in effect telling our arts audiences that music, theater and opera have many things in common.”
Singing actress Anna Feleo said the songs in “Harana” ranged from the classic kundimans to kumintangs, folk, Muslim and tribal, and early contemporary Filipino music.
“They are especially arranged and further enhanced to suit the demands of contemporary theater,” she added. “The arrangements were beautifully done by Von de Guzman to give the songs a new flavor without taking away its authenticity. This is a new way by which Filipino classics can be greatly appreciated by everybody. By doing so, these songs, which are timeless, will hopefully reach out even to the young generations.”
But will harana actually survive the age of the Internet and text messages?
The rest of the cast—singers Deeda Barreto, Karla Gutierrez, Florence Aguilar, Juan Alberto Gaerlan, Jack Salud, Sherwin Sozon and Lawrence Jatayna—have many interesting things to say.
Many of them have no recollection of their grandparents living and loving in the age of harana, but they are positive the harana songs will survive.
Baritone Lawrence Jatayna said music in “Harana” would be tweaked to sound like movie soundtracks.
“The thing to do to make those songs come to life is to present them in a very interesting way,” he said. “For one, the setting of the songs will be modernized and singers will not just stay put on a corner and sing. They will get to act and dance.”
“Our concept of ‘Harana’ is uniquely different,” Gutierrez said. “Our main goal is to put an exciting twist to Philippine music while preserving the main theme. Our concept, too, is very theatrical, with colorful costumes and multimedia projections. This concert will show POC artists not just as singers but total performers.”
Gutierrez said most of the POC presentations from “Harana” to “Magic Flute” to “Master Class” have special packages for fundraising purposes.
“There are endless possibilities for funding worthy causes in our season attractions while they remain a source of entertainment for our opera audiences,” she added.
“Harana” will run Aug. 28 in the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium at RCBC. “Magic Flute” will run Sept. 18-27 at the CCP Little Theater; “La Boheme,” Oct. 3-5 at the CCP Main Theater; and “Master Class,” Oct. 9-25 at the RCBC Theater.
For tickets, block sales and sponsorship, please contact Doris Campaña of the Philippine Opera Company at 8928786 or visit www.philippineoperacompany.com.
Films about music
The films to watch for music lovers in the current 2008 Cinemalaya Festival are “Boses” by Ellen Ongkeko Marfil and “Concerto” by Paul Morales.
“Boses” is about the friendship that develops between a violin teacher and his student, an abused mute boy. It stars violinist Coke Bolipata.
“Concerto” is about a piano concert held in a forest outside Davao City toward the end of World War II . This looks like a setting from the novel “The Piano Tuner” by Daniel Mason.
Gerodias concert
The July 12 concert of soprano Rachelle Gerodias, guitarist Rafael Neira, trumpet player Roger Llado and pianist Najib Ismail at the BDO Francisco Santiago Hall has been reset to July 26, 7:30 p.m. For tickets, call 5355415 or 0918-3473027.
Oliver Salonga
Two-time Namcya winner Oliver Salonga has a recital at the Mini Hall of the UP Abelardo Santiago Hall July 24, 7 p.m.
His program: Mozart’ Piano Sonata No. 8 in D Major, K. 311; Liszt’s “La Valse,” Chopin: Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-Flat Minor, Op. 35; and Prokofieff’s Piano Sonata No. 7 in B-Flat Major, Op. 83. Concert is on a first-come, first-served basis.
New artistic director
The new artistic director of Tanghalang Pilipino is former CCP vice president and artistic director Fernando “Nanding” Josef. He replaces Dennis Marasigan.
|
