Pundaquit Virtuosi at the Mall of Asia

December 1st, 2008 | No Comments

It was a good thing that we decided to go to the Mall of Asia last night just to while away time as when we were inside, the Pundaquit Virtuosi, Zambales’ own musical ensemble of gifted children was performing at the atrium. Known Filipino violinist Coke Bolipata led the group as they played popular pieces especially select works of Antonio Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.

There were solos and duets by the child prodigies present and it was great to see people stopping to watch the performance. The music was just rousing as the familiar strains of the first movement of the Spring Concerto was filling the hall as well as Pachelbel’s Kanon beautifully rendered. And for me, other than the violin solos, I was listening more to the deep and resonant notes of the cello in the background.

The cello is the instrument that I would have wanted to learn. During highschool, I wanted to study this this one but at that time, it was not available in Cebu thus I was forced to take the violin. When I transferred to Manila for college, I was recommended by my instructor to the violinst Esmilla (sorry, forgot his name) at the UP College of Music but with no proper place to practice, I was forced to give it up. As I was listening to this group playing last night, I just remembered all of this and thought of “what if” scenarios. But that is history.

I wish these bright kids luck especially that some got scholarships to study music abroad. There is indeed hope for Philippine classical music artists.

Zelle

July 16th, 2007 | 6 Comments

zelle.jpg Last week, i caught at Myx an MTV of Zelle’s Sabihin song, a track from their latest album Searching for Warmth which was just launched yesterday. As they say in Cebuano: makapalimbawt sa balahibo! It makes your hair rise! The vocals that marks this alternative pop-rock band is just haunting, soulful, passionate, very expressive and touches the soul.

The full Sabihin song can be played at their website while snippets of the rest of the songs can be previewed. It has piqued my curiosity and whetted my appetite to listen to the full songs in the album.

I just hope I won’t be disappointed.

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