As a kid, I used to listen with rapt attention and awe to the liturgical hymns and chants being performed by the parish choir in their powerful, melodious voices during Sunday Masses in our hometown of Borongan (now Borongan City) in Eastern Samar.
I never ceased to wonder how blessed and talented those young men and women as they generously gave their time and efforts to share the wonderful gift of music with the rest of the community in a supreme act of praise, adoration and thanksgiving to the Almighty.
I thought then that it would have been splendid and all-encompassing if the universal messages of love, faith, hope, understanding and peace that the choir celebrates in its music could reach a wider audience, a bigger number of people who cut across wide social, cultural, political, religious and economic boundaries.
That certainly would make for a big step in promoting international peace, harmony and understanding.
I never imagined that more than four decades later, amid the advent and proliferation of various popular musical genres like pop, rock, R&B, punk and jazz, religious-oriented and worship-inspired songs would successfully find their place in contemporary music.
It is truly amazing how praise and worship songs have developed as part of present-day mainstream music, attracting not only millions of worshippers who have found a good and effective vehicle to articulate their faith, but also young fans captivated by the energetic rock sound of their songs.
It has evolved into a popular medium that it is uncommon to find this type of music in CDs nowadays, a significant development that reflects the growing public interest in religious-oriented and worship-inspired type of music.
One of the more successful groups to have emerged out of this musical phenomenon during the last few years is Sonicflood, the internationally-acclaimed modern worship band behind the hit, Lord, I Lift Your Name On High.
The Grammy Award-nominated band will enthrall local fans with the uplifting sound of its modern rock-worship songs when it visits the country this month to perform tonight at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City and tomorrow, Aug. 16, at the Cebu Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City.
The musical event should welcome news to thousands of fans and worshippers who are familiar with Sonicflood’s songs which are not only standard features during praise and worship services in churches but have gained increasing popularity among mainstream fans, especially the youth, because of their rock-flavored sound.
Other hit songs of Sonicflood include Open The Eyes Of My Heart, I Have To Know You (In The Secret), I Will Give/Cry Holy, I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever, Better Is One Day, In Your Hands, The Heart Of Worship, You Are Worthy Of My Praise, Here I Am To Worship, Trading My Sorrow and many more.
Sonicflood has been acclaimed internationally for its pioneering and innovative works in the modern rock-worship movement through its innovative feats in putting electric guitars, distortions and audio effects to worship lyrics.
The upcoming concert series billed as Sonicflood Live! is presented by Renen de Guia’s Ovation Productions in cooperation with etc, Jack TV, c/s and 2nd avenue.
Other major supporters include The Philippine Star, BusinessWorld, Focalcast Network, Edsa Shangri-La, GetzMo!, Fig Tree, House of Praise and 70.2 AM DZAS. Among the other media partners are Energy FM 91.5, X FM 92.3, RJ 100.3 FM, NU 107 FM, 97.9 Home Radio, Monster Radio RX 93.1, The Edge Radio, 103.5 Max FM and 96.3 WRocK.
Tickets to the Big Dome concert are priced at P2,000, P1,500, P1,000, P500 and P300 and available at Ticketnet outlets at SM Department Stores and at any Praise Music outlet. For details, call 911-5555.