Sharing the Christmas Spirit: Hail Mary the Queen Children's Choir

Christmas celebration in the Philippines includes various performances and contests for choirs. Some commercial establishments have begun a tradition of featuring choirs perform for their customers. One of these is Shangrila Plaza Mall.

I was about to go home that Friday when I passed through Shangrila Mall. I saw their huge tarpaulin and it advertises their annual Christmas tradition, which is  a month-long schedule of musical performances. It so happened that that night, the Hail Mary the QueenChildren's Choir was performing. I figured I'd sit back and relax after a long and toxic week. Besides, children's choirs are one of the choirs worth listening to. Properly trained and harnessed, children's choirs give out a unique beauty and grace to songs that they sing.

During the hour-long performance, I happen to take a video of their performance--using only a Blackberry Curve 9220. The quality isn't superb but for a keepsake, it's worth my while. Here's a compilation of six songs that I liked during the choir's performance last December 7, 2012. The sound is okay if listened to with earplugs. Speakers is fine too, but not if you use the computer or laptop's speakers. Having said that, please pardon the lack of resources for making the sounds better. :-)

For reference, here are the songs I liked (based only on what was captured by my Blackberry): Adeste Fideles, PayapangDaigdig, Heto Na Naman, Jingle (Jangle) Bells, Tuloy na Tuloy pa rin ang Pasko, Kumukuti-kutitap. Here are the lyrics to the Filipino Christmas Songs. You could click on the titles above and they will lead you to a link of those lyrics. 

Payapang Daigdig                                              Heto Na Naman

Ang gabi'y payapa                                             Heto na naman 'yong masayang panahon

Lahat ay tahimik                                                Ubas at mansanas na kahon-kahon

Pati mga tala                                                       Said na ang bulsa pagod pa ang paa

Sa bughaw na langit                                         Kahahanap ng regalong mura't maganda

Kay hinhin ng hangin                                       Heto na naman 'yong ganitong panahon

Waring umiibig                                                  Kundi kalendaryo ay maalat na hamon

Sa kapayapaan                                                   Wala na bang iba, fruit cake na luma

Ng buong daigdig                                             Exchange gift na diary, chocolate at sabon

Payapang panahon                                         Wala na ba kundi panandaliang saya                                          

Ay diwa ng buhay                                            Wala na ba kundi ako, ikaw at siya

Biyaya ng Diyos                                                Nalilimutan natin kung bakit may Pasko

Sa sangkatauhan                                              Isang nagmamahal na Diyos ang sinilang sa mundo

Ang gabi'y payapa                                           Heto na naman, mga awit ng panahon

Lahat ay tahimik                                              Si Santa Claus at Rudolph, nagtipon-tipon

Pati mga tala                                                     Wonderland ni Johnny, puting Pasko ni Crosby

Sa bughaw na langit                                       Ano nga 'yung hit ni Michael Jackson (Why don't you…)

CODA:

Pati mga tala                                                     Maligayang Pasko

Sa bughaw na langit

Kumukutikutitap                                                                         Tuloy Na Tuloy Pa Rin Ang Pasko

Kumukutikutitap, bumubusibusilak                           O bakit kaya tuwing Pasko ay dumarating na

Ganyan ang indak ng mga bumbilya                           Ang bawa't isa'y para bang namomroblema

Kikindat - kindat, kukurap -kurap                                Hindi mo alam ang regalong ibibigay

Pinaglalaruan ng inyong mga mata                             Ngayong kay hirap na nitong ating buhay

Kumukutikutitap, bumubusibusilak                          Meron pa kayang caroling at noche buena

Ganyan ang indak ng mga bumbilya                          Kung tayo naman ay kapos at wala nang pera

Kikindat - kindat, kukurap -kurap                               Nakakahiya kung muling pagtaguan mo

Pinaglalaruan ng inyong mga mata                            Ang 'yong mga inaanak sa araw ng Pasko.

Iba't - ibang palamuti                                                       Ngunit kahit na anong mangyari

Ating isabit sa puno                                                          Ang pag-ibig sana'y maghari

Buhusan ng mga kulay                                                     Sapat nang si Hesus ang kasama mo

Tambakan ng mga regalo                                                Tuloy na tuloy parin ang pasko

Tumitibok-tibok, sumisinok - sinok                           Mabuti pa nga ang Pasko noong isang taon

Wag lang malundo sa sabitin                                        Sa ating hapag mayroong keso de bola't hamon

Pupulupot-lupot paikot ng paikot                              Baka sa gipit, Happy New Year mapo-postpone

Koronahan ng palarang bituin                                      At ang hamon ay mauuwi sa bagoong

Dagdagan mo pa ng kendi                                             Tuloy na tuloy pa rin ang Pasko

Ribon, eskosesa't guhitan 

Habang lalong dumadami 

Regalo mo'y dagdagan 

Kumukutikutitap, bumubusibusilak 

Ganyan ang kurap ng mga bituin 

Tumitibok-tibok, sumisinok - sinok 

Koronahan ng palarang bituin 

Dagdagan mo pa ng kendi 

Ribon, eskosesa't guhitan 

Habang lalong dumadami 

Regalo mo'y dagdagan 

Kumukutikutitap, bumubusibusilak 

Ganyan ang kurap ng mga bituin 

Tumitibok-tibok, sumisinok - sinok 

Koronahan pa ng palarang bituin

Here is the video of the choir's performance. 

Superb Performance from Novo Concertante Manila

I had a dream the other night. I dreamt that I was asked to sing. It seemed odd to me because I haven't really sung all by myself--I've always sung with a choir. Since it was a dream, anything is possible! The one thing I remember in that dream was that I actually sang a song that I used to sing with the choir.

The next day, I started looking for that song. In the process, it led me to a video--actually two videos on Youtube. I was surprised but at the same time ecstatic because it was a live performance of a choir that recently participated in the Asia Cantate International Choral Festival 2012.

Words could hardly express the joy I felt when I heard these voices sing. I was utterly speechless; I've had goose bumps and a pleasurable tingling sensation that seemed to have lifted away all my worries and pains. It is no wonder that this choir won the top prize in this competition. It gives me great honor to share these two videos with you.

Congratulations again to Novo Concertante Manila.

Heavenly Voices with a Modern Touch

I was told that I need an outlet for my strong emotions. I need to find a way to let it out without hurting others or myself. I used to have that outlet--same as the heavenly voices I heard from a video on Youtube that my sister was playing. Turns out that the young singing voices came from a group called Scala and Kolacny Brothers.

Scala & Kolacny Brothers is a Belgian women's choir, conducted by Stijn Kolacny and arranged and accompanied by Steven Kolacny on the piano. Formed in 1996 and winning the Belgian 'Choir of the Year'-contest in 2000, they have made five studio albums, starting with On The Rocks in 2002, in multiple languages.  via Wikipedia

"With or Without You" is one of my favorite U2 songs. Scala's rendition was so good that it gave me goose bumps. The young girls sang so soothingly that it's truly a choir that's worth listening to for relaxation and entertainment. Here's a video of the choir. The girls' innocent looks and laughing reminded me of the time when I was part of the choir. Once you sing in a group and have gone to tours with them, the joy of singing extends to the joy of friendship. Don’t get me wrong though--singing in a choir requires discipline too. But the reward is simply priceless!

Java Jive -- Keepsake and Coffee

Coffee and/or tea has two functions for me--keeps me awake and relax. Ironically, enjoying a cup of coffee or tea is one of the things that I do in order to relax. Whenever I do my so-called nothing day--no worries,  no work, no obligations whatsoever--I make it a point to have a cup of coffee or tea just to cap it off. On the other hand, coffee could also cause tension and unrest especially on busy and hectic days. But to me, coffee doesn't necessarily keep me awake. I will admit that I was told to drink coffee so that I could stay awake. But in recent years, no matter how much I drink coffee or tea, sleep would still creep in every chance it gets.

While thinking about this subject, I'm reminded of one of my favorite songs that I used to sing with the choir--Java Jive. To all coffee and tea drinkers out there, this is one song that perfectly complements that cup or mug of coffee/tea. I like the rendition in this video because it's faithful to the arrangement done by Kirby Shaw. I also like the soloists here compared to the other videos I've heard. Hope you enjoy this relaxing song.

JAVA JIVE

I love coffee, I love tea 

I love the Java Jive and it loves me 

Coffee and tea and the java and me 

A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup (Boy!) 

I love java, sweet and hot 

Whoops Mr. Moto, I'm a coffee pot 

Shoot me the pot and I'll pour me a shot 

A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup 

Oh slip me a slug from the wonderful mug 

And I'll cut a rug just snug in a jug 

A sliced up onion and a raw one 

Draw one - 

Waiter, waiter, percolator 

I love coffee, I love tea 

I love the Java Jive and it loves me 

Coffee and tea and the java and me 

A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup 

Boston bean (soy beans) 

I say those itty-bitty green bean (cabbage and greens) 

You know I'm not that keen about a bean 

Unless it is a cheery coffee bean (talk it boy!) 

I love java sweet and hot 

Whoops Mr. Moto I'm a coffee pot (yeah) 

Shoot me the pot and I'll pour me a shot 

A cup, a cup, a cup (yeah) 

Slip me a slug of the wonderful mug 

'An I'll cut a rug just as snug in a jug 

Drop a nickel in the pot Joe 

Takin' it slow 

Waiter, waiter, percolator 

I love coffee and tea 

I love the Java Jive and it loves me 

Coffee and tea and the java and me 

A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, boy! 

Prayer for Healing

When I do my prayers, prayer for healing forms part of my daily set. These days we all need some form of healing. In the recent events that happened to our country--the monsoon, the typhoons, the death of an efficient and effective government official, the rise in prices of basic commodities among others--some may feel that it's the end of the world, the end of their lives. So what else is there to live for? Well, this may be an age-old adage, but the only way is to turn our attention to the one and only author of life: Jesus Christ.

 Any form of healing that we may need--physical, mental, spiritual, psychological--let God in and welcome him as he does the one thing he's always been doing since he created us--to heal us of our heartaches, our pains, our sufferings. Whatever it is that we've been through, know that he himself has undergone them too. He became man for us, grew up just like an ordinary human being. To this day, he remains with us in several churches all over the world. Every hurt that we feel, he feels it too. Every suffering we go through, he suffers alongside us to. Despite being the author of life, he did not spare himself of the pain and suffering that we as human beings go through in this world. Shall we not go to this man and ask for his help and learn from him what it truly means to suffer for the sake of loving others?

One song expresses this more than any other. Let's all pray that God may heal our land.

HEAL OUR LAND

If my people will humble themselves 
Humble themselves and pray 
If they seek my face and humble themselves 
And turn from their wicked ways 

[REFRAIN 1]
I will hear from heaven and forgive their sins 
I will hear from heaven and heal their land 
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsty.com/jamie-rivera-heal-our-land-lyrics.html ]
[CHORUS] 
Lord, heal our land 
Father, heal our land 
Hear our cry and turn our nation back to You 
Lord, heal our land 
Hear us oh, Lord, and heal our land 
Forgive our sin and heal our broken land 

Lord, we vow our knee, we humble ourselves 
Humble ourselves and pray 
Lord, we seek your face and humble ourselves 
And turn from my wicked ways 

[REFRAIN 2]
Father in Your mercy, forgive our sins 
Father in Your mercy, come heal our land 

[Repeat CHORUS twice] 

[CODA]
(Lord, heal our land 
Father, heal our land) 
Hear our cry and heal our broken land 

A Beautiful Blessing

While struggling to keep myself awake, I was reading chapter 6 from the Book of Numbers. Towards the end, I read a prayer that the Lord said to Moses to be used to bless the people. Upon reading it, I was reminded of a musical rendition of this song during my early years at a university choir. There is a more popular version of this song, but I couldn't help but reminisce the time that I sang John Rutter's version of "The Lord Bless You and Keep You." During the first time I sang this piece, I had difficulty with the soprano line. The female voices would sing the first half of the prayer first. The way that the soprano line soars was quite a challenge to me then. But if sung very well, it's that feeling of soaring successfully that makes the effort worth while.

The repeating lines and the extended "Amen" made me relax and calm and even made me stay awake during the reading of the bible. So much so that I think this is a song--a keepsake--that's worth sharing. Here is a rendition of the song by the Philippine Madrigal Singers. Hope that it will uplift your hearts and souls to God and be at peace knowing that He will always bless us with everything that we need to do our duties for the coming week.

Because He Loves Us

There are so many things that's happening around the world that it's almost impossible to keep up. Some are simply caught up in the immediate things like work or business or pleasure while some are busy supposedly with things that matter to us all, like the environment, good governance, educational opportunities, caring for the family and household and so on. So many things call for our attention these days that we might be forgetting the one important person who made all these things possible for us.

This world seems to forget him and I think it's right that we should remember just how blessed we are with all the things that we need to make this world a better place. The video I'm presenting is a compilation of pictures of this one awesome man who made a huge impact in the lives of humanity. I remember someone telling me that love songs can actually be addressed or dedicated to God, whether as man loving him or God loving us. This song is not a song I sang with  the choir, but it has been one of my favorite love songs--Because You Loved Me. I like this song because it speaks of someone selfless and doing everything for the sake of his beloved one. Well, I could only think of one person who is like that for all times--Jesus Christ.

I hope you'd understand the progression of the pictures. It may not be completely in sync with the song, but it is my hope that the message will get across. Let us indeed thank God for such an incredible gift to humanity! 

To All The Great Fathers in the World...

Happy Father's Day!

To my dad and all the daddies in the world, a blessed Father's day :)

(I miss you daddy!)

Daddy and the keeds at the zoo (Parks & Wildlife). Mommy took the picture. I'm the little girl daddy's carrying.

Our Father -- composed by A.H. Malotte

Ascension Sunday -- Canticorum Iubilo

19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. (Mark 16:19)


Today is Ascension Sunday commemorating the time of the Lord's ascension into heaven after 40 days of appearing to his disciples and performing miracles and signs to them. They say that this is the end of his mission--on Earth. But his mission continued in the lives of the disciples and the saints. In our own small way, we can also be living witnesses of Christ's teaching by loving one another as Christ has loved us.

While at Mass, the choir sang a song that I knew was originally written in Latin. They sang it in English. Honestly, I'd rather hear it sung in its original Latin verse. There are some English translated songs that are not entirely faithful to its original text. But more than that, I think the Latin text is much better synched with its music and musical lines compared to when you sing the song in English. The song I am referring to is Canticorum Iubilo (i.e. Let Us Sing With Joy!). It is a song that honors Christ as our King. It is a fitting opening song for today's Holy Mass. Here is the song in its Latin verse and faithful English translation.

CANTICORUM

Canticorum jubilo
Regi magno psalite

Jamresultent musica
Unda tellus sidera

Canticorum jubilo
Regi magno psalite

Personantes organis
Iubilate, plaudite

Canticorum jubilo
Regi magno psalite

 

English Translation
Let us sing aloud! Play for our reigning King!
Let the music now strikes sharp as a spear coming from on high.
Let us sing aloud! Play for our reigning King!
Let each one play his own instrument and burst aloud in praises.
Let us sing aloud! Play for our reigning King!

Psalm 132 Ecce Quam Bonum -- United in Love

This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.  No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

(John 15:12-13)

The passage above comes from today's Gospel in which the central theme of the readings is about God's Love. As Christians, we are reminded that this is the one that should characterize our actions--that we do everything out of love and our model for this love is none other than Jesus Christ.

We have many songs in Musica Sacra that pertain to God's love and one of them is Ecce Quam Bonum. This song speaks about Christian brotherhood as expressed in Psalm 132. It reminds us that this unity that we have as Christians centered on the love that Jesus has given to us through the Holy Eucharist. We united ourselves in this sacrifice of Christ in order to share in the life and be granted the grace from the Father in heaven in order to imitate his love that Christ has shown us. And this love is to "lay down one's life for one's friends"--it is not forced, but offered, not conditional, but pure giving in the spirit of generosity. Here is the Latin lyrics and it's English equivalent from Psalm 132. (source: Breviary) The rendition sang by Novo Concertante Manila is that composed by Hans Leo Hassler.

Ecce quam bonum, et quam jucúndum * habitáre fratres in unum. 2  Sicut unguéntum in cápite, * quod descéndit in barbam, barbam Aaron. 3  Quod descéndit in oram vestiménti ejus: * sicut ros Hermon, qui descéndit in montem Sion. 4  Quóniam illic mandávit Dóminus benedictiónem, * et vitam usque in sæculum.

Behold, how good and joyful a thing it is, * for brethren to dwell together in unity. 2  It is like the precious oil upon the head, * that ran down upon the beard, even upon the beard of Aaron. 3  That went down to the skirts of his clothing : * like as the dew of Hermon, which fell upon mount Sion. 4  For there the Lord hath commanded blessing, * and life for evermore.

It's truly difficult to love one's neighbor let alone to the point of laying down your life for another. But it is a challenge to all of us if we really want to love. Sometimes I hesitate to share how I feel if it means I'll end up hurting the other person. And because it is also something that hurts me, I tend to keep it. What's dangerous about it is that whatever it is that you're hiding, might eat you up or make you isolated from people who could show love to you. Hence, in cases like these, it is also good to resort to prayer. If there's anybody who'd always be willing to listen  to our cares and sufferings, that would be Jesus Christ. Because he is the one who loved us first before he even tried to save us.

My Challenging Piece: Sleep

I was about to write a blog until I realized why not just do it tomorrow. I'm home, sick and uneasy. I lost my voice today in the worst possible way. In a way, I saw it coming and I never thought it would come to pass.

Well, my sore throat began last Friday, May 4. Then...the weekend came. Money came too late. Obligations to the family set in. Change of plans disrupted some part of my weekend activities. Although it was a fun and new experience, I realized that it was the beginning of my present condition--lacking sleep.

Little did I realize that the sore throat would gravitate into a dry cough by Monday. And Tuesday was the clincher--I merely thought doing my service to the community would be enough. Oh no! I didn't stay up that late because I wanted to. I wanted to go home, badly! I wanted to sleep…(was it so wrong to ask???)

And now? Lost my voice...couldn't work...no replacement… so what now? If there will be any sleep at all it'll probably be something like this.

Sleep by Eric Whitacre (click this link for the story behind this song)

The evening hangs beneath the moon

A silver thread on darkened dune

With closing eyes and resting head

I know that sleep is coming soon

Upon my pillow, safe in bed

A thousand pictures fill my head

I cannot sleep my minds a flight

And yet my limbs seem made of lead

If there are noises in the night

A frighting shadow, flickering light

Then I surrender unto sleep

Where clouds of dreams give second sight

What dreams may come both dark and deep

Of flying wings and soaring leap

As I surrender unto sleep

As I surrender unto sleep 

This is one of my favorite challenging pieces for me. When the sopranos soar towards the end and transitions into that pianissimo "sleep", I couldn't help but wonder if I could ever sing like that again. Now, my voice isn't much. I just wish that this illness of mine would come to pass.

My Challenging Piece: Nach Soviel Nebel

Procrastination--putting off or delaying. Despite having the privilege of having 120 hours of surfing, I only managed to write one blog in a week. I kept putting it off for some strange reason or maybe it's because I still have yet to hold on to an inspiration--the one motivation that made me began this blog in the first place. Sometimes when faced with a choral piece that's not too easy to learn, the choir would at times "procrastinate." But eventually, we get it done in time for the performance or competition. Amazingly, we'd be successful at it.

Nach Soviel Nebel is one of those pieces. Composed by Bruno Strobl for the competition in Austria, Nach Soviel Nebel is a challenging piece because honestly, it's no ordinary piece. As Strobl would say in his profile, "My composition style is structurally determined. In the late 1980s I decided to experiment with the partial tone row as a basis for composing. It took me a year, and several compositions, to consolidate the features of this style. Since then, I have been fascinated by the versatility, diversity and the incorporation of many musical elements in which this style can be used." via Bruno Strobl.

Here is the composition as performed by the Paragita Choir. There are parts in the song which is sung in piano or pianissimo--very softly. It's a difficult piece but one that's worth singing.

My Challenging Piece: Tangueando

Ever encountered a song or a choral piece you thought was impossible to sing? Or maybe the kind of choral piece where you think only the best choirs can sing but not your own group? When I was a chorister, I had my personal share of choral pieces that I thought I'd never be able to sing--let alone the choir I belong to. But once you get to sing it, it's like an accomplishment that is unmatched.


The song I'm about to feature today is Tangueando. I remember this song so well that I had to listen to another choir's rendition of this song so that I could have a reference or a clue as to how it is sung. At least, this was my style. When I was able to sing this with the choir, what I thought was an impossible and annoying song to learn turned out to be one of my favorites. 


Just a little background, Tangueando is a song composed by Oscar Escalada. It was composed in 1990 with a minimalist style and published by Lawson-Gould in 1994. It was entitled "Tangueando" because its structure goes through the various rhythms from Argentina, adapting the fast-pace dance beat and meshing it with overlapping lines of texts. However, the texts don't even sound like words. So it's part of the challenge to sing with seemingly non-word texts alongside the musical harmony that's supposed to be brought out. Thus, what you get is a rich polyrhythmic and enjoyable masterpiece in choral singing. More information about this song and its composer is found here: Tangueando. The website is in Spanish but there is also an English version of it.


What's included in the website is information about various choirs that sang this song. I'll feature the one sang by the Philipppine Madrigal Singers. To be honest, I listened to their rendition of the song first before I started learning the piece itself. Without further adieu, here is Tangueando. Hope you enjoy it!

Regina Coeli (A. Lotti) - Easter Season Prayer

Happy Easter! This week marks the beginning of the Easter Season. For the next fifty days (culminating on the Pentecost), the noon time prayer to our Blessed Mother changes from the Angelus to Regina Caeli. The latter speaks of the joy of our dear Blessed Mother to the glorious resurrection of his son Jesus Christ from the dead.

I've sang two versions of this song when I was starting out as a choir member. I sang this with a group of all female vocalists and this was one of the songs we'd sing during the Easter Vigil. I had a hard time looking for the specific version that I like on the Internet. I didn't know the name of the composer then. But after trying every combination of search words on Google, I finally found the version I was looking for--Antonio Lotti.

Antonio Lotti was born at Venice in 1667; died there, 5 January, 1740 and studied under Legrenzi, producing an opera, "Il Giustino", in his sixteenth year. On 31 May, 1692, he was appointed second organist of St. Mark's, and on 17 August, 1704, he succeeded Spada as first organist. On 2 April, 1736, he was elected maestro di cappella, though Pollarolo, Porpora, and Porta were formidable rivals for the much-coveted post, with a salary of 400 ducats. Between the years 1703 and 1730 he composed numerous masses and motets, especially his "Miserere", which supplanted the version of Legrenzi and is still sung at St. Mark's on Holy Thursday. Lotti also composed twenty-seven operas (1693-1717), and he spent two years at Dresden, producing various works. After his return to Venice, in November, 1719, he gave up secular writing, and devoted himself solely to church and chamber music.
 via Catholic Encyclopedia

Additional reading on Lotti can be found here.

In this rendition, the choir is accompanied by organ. This song could also be sung a capella style. I like this version of Regina Caeli because its tone is a combination of solemn soft tones and grand celebration style tones. Hope you enjoy this video. Happy Easter once again!

Latin Text

Regina coeli laetare, Alleluia,

Quia quem meruisti portare, Alleluia,

Resurrexit sicut dixit, Alleluia.

Ora pro nobis Deum. Alleluia.

English Translation

Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia.

For He whom you were worthy to bear, alleluia,

has risen, as He said, alleluia.

Pray for us to God, alleluia.

Christus Factus Est -- A Reflection on the Passion and Memories of Singing

Philippians 2:6-11

Christ, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name.

Thus it is written in today's second reading. Today is Passion (Palm) Sunday. I was looking for a song that would be featured in my blog. Upon doing so, I stumbled upon a memory, a song that I sang with the choir during my first year with them--Christus Factus Est.

Christus Factus Est This text is used both as a gradual and, during the triduum, as an antiphon in place of the responsory. In the modern Graduale Romanum, this text is the Gradual for Passion (Palm) Sunday and The Exultation of the Holy Cross (September 14). In the extraordinary or ‘Tridentine’ rite, this text is the gradual for the Mass of Maundy Thursday, as well as for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. via ChoralWiki

The composition I'll be featuring is the one of Anton Bruckner. Josef Anton Bruckner was born on September 4, 1824 in the upper Austrian town of Ansfelden. His father was a schoolteacher and church organist, and Bruckner's initial studies followed similar lines. When Bruckner was 13, his father died, and he enrolled in the church school at St. Florian (some ten miles from Linz) as a chorister. There, he studied organ, piano, and music theory. On his own, Bruckner assiduously studied the music of Renaissance Italian polyphonic masters such as Palestrina and German Baroque composers, especially J.S. Bach. via Notes on four Bruckner Motets.

The video presents the beginning of the Liturgy of the Eucharist in a Holy Mass presided by Pope Benedict XVI at Westminster Cathedral. The Westminster Cathedral Choir sings Bruckner's Christus Factus Est, which became a beautiful background to the offertory ceremonies being conducted at this point in the Holy Mass. The text of the song came from the quoted text above, the letter of St. Paul to the Philippians.

Christus / factus / est / pro / nobis / obediens 
Christ / made / was / for / us / obedient 

usque / ad / mortem, / mortem / autem / crucis. 
even / unto / death / death / on / cross 

Propter / quod / et / Deus / exaltavit / illum 
because of / this / and / God / raised / him 

et / dedit / illi / nomen, 
and / bestowed / on him / name 

quod / est / super / omne / nomen. 
which / is / above / all / names 

Truly it is a mystery to be grasped. Our Lord's passion is the perfect example of obedience to the will of the Heavenly Father. By this act of obedience, Jesus opened the doors for us to save us from our sins. He bore it all on the cross in the spirit of a willing victim to be offered up once and for all to our Father God. It is difficult to explain the magnitude of this act of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hopefully, when we join the activities of the Catholic Church this week, we'd focus our minds in reflecting upon our Lord's passion and death.

Hearing the song once again brought back memories of joyful singing with the choir. We sang many sacred music pieces as it forms part of our usual repertoire when preparing for concerts. The singing of sacred music became the first in the line of pieces to be sung. The purpose of which is to give glory and honor to God for the wonderful gift of music. These are memories truly worth cherishing.

Ave Maria (Jacques Arcadelt) -- One of My Firsts

Ave Maria is one prayer that has several arrangements by well-renowned musicians. During my early stints as a chorister, I had the opportunity to sing Jacques Arcadelt's arrangement.


Jacques Arcadelt (also Jacob Arcadelt) (c. 1507 – 14 October 1568) was a Franco-Flemish composer of the Renaissance, active in both Italy and France, and principally known as a composer of secular vocal music. Although he also wrote sacred vocal music, he was one of the most famous of the early composers of madrigals; his first book of madrigals, published within a decade of the appearance of the earliest examples of the form, was the most widely printed collection of madrigals of the entire era. via Wikipedia

In preparation for Holy Week 2012, I will feature some of my favorite sacred music choral pieces. Ave Maria by Jacques Arcadelt is one of the first sacred music choral pieces I've learned. Since it's a Saturday, the church dedicates this day to our dear Lady, which is why I saw it fit to feature this song.

Ave Verum Corpus -- Worth Reflecting Again

“I am troubled now. Yet what should I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour. (John 12:27)

Although there were other verses that the priest emphasized in today's Gospel, I chose to reflect on these words. It reminded me of a song I featured in one of my earlier blogs in January of this year: Ave Verum. Here I will feature the song again, this time presenting Mozart's composition. When I was still singing with the choir, this is the version I learned first. It's accompanied by an orchestra or an organist. It's solemn and uplifting. Here are the words in Latin and English. It will truly help in reflecting the passage above. Have a wonderful day!

Ave, verum corpus                       Hail,true body
natum de Maria Virgine,               born of the Virgin Mary,
Vere passum immolatum              Who truly suffered, sacrificed
in Cruce pro homine,                   on the Cross for man,
Cujus latus perforatum                 Whose pierced side
unda fluxit et sanguine,                 overflowed with water and blood,
Esto nobis praegustatum              Be for us a foretaste
in mortis examine.                        In the trial of death.

Recharge In His Heart

A colleague has this Dilbert mug with the following inscription: "Away you demons of stupidity!" Well, so many struggles in our life involve in one form or the other--not just demons of stupidity--but the "daemon" himself. After this gruelling week of training, I remember a song entitled "Daemon Irrepit Calidus" by Gyorgy Orban. It's one of the songs I used to sing with the choir in which I was quite challenged with the pacing, exchange and overlapping lines among the different voices. Also, this song brought back wonderful memories of my first trip outside of the Philippines. It's nice to sometimes go back a relish the good times as a way of recharging oneself and prepare for another possible challenging week ahead. And it's my personal prayer as well as a command in the name of Jesus Christ--away with you "daemons."

Daemon Irrepit Callidus György Orbán
Daemon irrepit calidus,
Allicit cor honoribus.
Quid amabile Daemon dat
Cor jesu minus aestimat
Daemon point frauds inter cantus,
Saltus, Daemon!
Caro venaratur sensibus;
Sen sus adhaeret dapibus;
In aescatur, impinguatur dilatatur.
Cordis Aestum non explebunt, non arcebunt, Daemon! Daemon!


Translation:
The Demon sneaks expertly
Tempting the honorable heart:
He sets forth trickery amidst praise, song and dance.
However amiably the Demon acts,
It is still worth less than the heart of Jesus.
The Flesh is tempted by sensuality;
Gluttony clings to our senses;
It overgrows, it encroaches, it stretches.
However appealing the Flesh is,
It is still worth less than the heart of Jesus.
Though the Universe may confer
Thousands upon thousands of praises,
They neither fulfill nor put out the desire of the heart.
However appealing the whole Universe is,
It is still worth less than the heart of Jesus.