First Friday of the Year

Today is the first Friday of the month and the first for the year 2012. It marks the end of the first weekday of 2012. This first weekday of the year for me has been one of rest and preparation for the coming week. For the next two weeks, I'll be having training sessions and God knows maybe even until a third or fourth week. And speaking of God, this first Friday is specially dedicated to him. I've sang many church songs with the choir. The one below is one of my favorites--Ave Verum Corpus.

Ave verum corpus is A short Eucharistic hymn dating from the 14th century and attributed to Pope Innocent VI (d 1362). During the Middle Ages it was sung at the elevation of the Host during the consecration. It was also used frequently during Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

The most popular version is Mozart's composition. Personally, I prefer Charles Gounod's version of the hymn and this is the composition being sung in the video. 

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
fluxit unda et sanguine,                 overflowed with water and blood,
Esto nobis praegustatum              Be for us a foretaste
in mortis examine.                        In the trial of death.


O dulcis, O pie,                           O sweet, o merciful,
O Jesu, Fili Mariae.                     O Jesus, Son of Mary
Pro nobis miserere.                      Have mercy on us!

Ah, what a way to end the first weekday of the year. The weekend has come and there's more time for relaxation and reminiscing and sharing my fave choral pieces.

Sing, Dance, Move and Groove

It's kinda late. I got home late. I start work early and I realize...I haven't written my blog for the day! I don't even have a draft, a definite plan. Here I am trying to figure out what to share with you today. I think of a song that I used to sing with Novo...or what about songs from the other choirs we've met on tours...but what song will I feature today? What choir?

And then while browsing on Youtube, I remember another favorite Filipino choral group. This one of many groups I've come to know and grow fond of when I joined Novo: the University of the East Chorale.

Now, next question: What song? Hmm...there are a lot of choices. I figured it should be a song in which they sang beautifully...and grove to the beat...what could that be? Ah, Mas Que Nada!



O aria aio opa opa opa
O OOOO aria aio opa opa

Mais que nada
Sai da minha frente
Que eu quero passar

Pois o samba esta animado
A que eu quero e samba
 
Este samba que a mistura de maracatu
E smaba de preto velho, samba de preto du

Mais que nada
Um samba come este tao legal
Voce nao vai querer que eu cheque no final

O aria aio opa opa
O OOOO aria ail opa opa opa

I like this video because I get to see their choirmaster sway and dance while conducting. Really! It's one of the reasons why I like watching this choir.

Hats Off to Africa!

In 2009, I had the rare opportunity to be with Novo on a concert and choral competition tour in Europe. While taking advantage of the appreciating the different culture and atmosphere of another country, there is one that I’ll always treasure: acquiring friendships with other choral groups. I’ve met choral groups from different countries around the world--Asia, Europe, North and South America. The next two blogs is a show of my gratitude to two choral groups we’ve met in Spittal ander Drau, Austria. This choral group garnered the first place in the folk song category. While it is true that this category is one of the Philippines’ strong suit, I simply need to bow down to this choral group for bagging it. What’s great about it though was that they thought that we would win the first prize. Without further adieu, I’m pleased to share in this blog the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Choir and this was their winning performance.

Don't even ask me for the lyrics. Just listening and watching them speaks for itself. Congrats my friends from NMMU!