A new album dedicated to compositions of renowned Filipino composer Nicanor Abelardo opened the celebration of Philippine Heritage Month at the Philippine Center in New York on May 4.
Presented by Mariqueño Music and iPeakServices with the support of the Philippine Consulate General in New York, the launch of the limited edition album produced by Mariqueño Music titled “Songs of Nicanor Abelardo†featured selected performances by Filipino musical artists based in the United States (US).
The performers included Joseph Legaspi (baritone), Katrina Saporsantos (soprano), William Lim (tenor) and Benjamin Dia (pianist). All are active performers, choral conductors, arrangers and teachers in the US. They are products of leading music institutions in the
Philippines and in the US, such as the University of the Philippines College of Music, Indiana University, and the Manhattan School of Music.
The Kalayaan Hall was packed with guests. Robert Perez de Tagle of iPeakServices provided the guests with information about the life and times of Nicanor Abelardo and spoke about the creative milieu within which the Maestro Abelardo produced his popular
works, such as Nasaan Ka Irog?, Bituing Marikit, Mutya ng Pasig and novelty songs such as Kenkoy.
In her opening remarks, Deputy Consul General Theresa Dizon-de Vega noted that the album launch coincided with the start of Philippine Heritage Month, the celebration of Asia-Pacific Heritage Month in the US and also the commemoration of the 120th birth
anniversary of Abelardo. She observed that this was an historic occasion as there are very few recordings of the works of Maestro Abelardo who helped to popularize the kundiman form and also incorporated a number of western musical influences in his works.
The program ended with a short question and answer portion about the work of Nicanor Abelardo and a message of appreciation from Mike Arguelles, a descendant of Nicanor Abelardo, who along with his family, represented the Abelardo clan at the event.
There was a CD signing after the performance at the Kalayaan Hall. The public may visitwww.mariquenomusic.com for more information on the limited edition CD. (DFA PISU)