Kirial De Baclayon book launched

MANILA, Philippines - Kirial De Baclayon Ano 1826, a book on Hispanic Sacred Music in 19th Century Bohol, Philippines was recently launched by the Intramuros Administration with the Filipino Heritage Festival and the Ateneo de Manila University Press at Almacenes Reales in Fort Santiago, Intramuros with the world-renowned Loboc Children’s Choir as guest artists.

The launch was followed with a 6 p.m. Mass at the Manila Cathedral where the Loboc Children’s Choir with Alejandro Consolacion II, organist, sang Misa Baclayana and other sacred music from 19th century Hispanic Philippines.

Published by the Ateneo de Manila University Press and written by UST Professor and Musicologist Maria Alexandra Inigo-Chua, the book discusses the surviving collection of cantorales found in the ecclesiastical museum of the church of Baclayon in the province of Bohol. The complete set of choir books extant in the museum collection dates to the early part of the 19th century. The study focuses on the Kirial de esta Yglesia de Baclayon dated 1826 and contains mass cycle compositions used in the liturgical service of the Catholic Church.

Chua came across the choir books and a veritable treasure trove of sacred music 10   years ago. She says, “My visit to Bohol at that time ignited by lifelong interest in the music of our past and my passion for the rediscovery of our glorious heritage of Hispanic sacred music.”