Jeffrey Ching composes for Andion Fernandez their wedding music

Except for Mozart, Jeffrey Ching seems to be the only composer to have written a Mass for his own wedding, this Mass dedicated to his bride, soprano Andion Fernandez. For the first time ever in this country, an entire orchestra and chorus performed at the altar of a church, that of the Santuario de San Antonio.

The Mass in F Major for baritone, chorus and orchestra consisted of the Kyrie, Gloria Credo, Sanctus et Benedictu and Agnus Del, sung in Latin, no less. Interpreters were baritone Jonathan de la Paz Zaens, the San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra, the San Miguel Master Chorale, organist Armando Salaza, choir master Eudenice Palaruan and conductor Dr. Theo Saye who expressly flew to Manila for the occasion. (Saye is a holder of a Ph.D. degree in Conducting from Harvard U. where he and Jeffrey were classmates.)

Music for each part of the Mass was a towering masterpieces which could be played separately from the others. The shimmering strings in the quiet passages, later joined by the woodwinds and brasses, would led to intense, overwhelming climaxes. The Mass was more lyrical – and marvelously so –than Jeffrey’s other distinguished works. The mighty, thundering crescendos would have sounded even more impressive in a much larger church than the Santuario de San Antonio, e.g., St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York or the Notre Dame in Paris.

The guests’ attention was divided between listening to the Mass and praying it but judging from what I heard (candidly, I was listening more than praying), the magnificent magnum opus, "a labor of love" as Jeffrey later described it, must have been divinely inspired.

And the Recessional! As the brasses simulated the pealing of bells, guests were filled with joy and gratitude for having heard the glorious music as much as for having witnessed the wedding of two of our most eminent musical artists. For deeper apppreciation, the entire composition bears repeating at the concerts, the pieces independently of each other, for its own sake.

Expectedly, after the rites, a musical program ensued at the Shangri-La Rizal ballroom. Tenors Frankie Aseniero and Nolyn Cabahug, baritones Zaens and Nomer Son were pressed into spontaneous, voluntary and most willing service.

A Tagalog song accompanied on the piano, by the similarly recruited pianist Reynaldo Reyes, was followed by an aria from a Mozart opera; Frankie interpreted Yours Is My Heart Alone, which he first sang in German, and Because. He and Nolyn then sang Nessun Dorma from Puccini’s Turandot.

The evening’s wonderful surprise came from the bride herself, Andion – a beautifully lyrical song in Chinese I Love China – her glowing, resonant, powerful, expressive voice filling the ballroom. A seasoned, accomplished soloist of Berlin’s Deutsch Oper, Andion must have dutifully learned the song as the would-be wife of celebrated Chinese composer Jeffrey.

The guests who lustily applauded numbered a thousand or so, coming as they did from the Chinese and Filipino communities. A sprinkling of Spanish relatives had flown from Spain (Andion’s father being Spanish); present likewise were notable music personalities: Nena Villanueva, Gilopez Kabayao, Fides Asensio, Nolyn Cabahug, to name a few. German Ambassador Herbert Jess, music patron and pianist, was there, too, with his wife Michelline.

Toasts were given by Winnifred Ching Laude (Jeffrey’s sister) and Ma. Celia Fernandez-Estavillo (Andion’s sister). Javier Fernandez (Andion’s father) and Alfredo Ching (Jeffrey’s father), delivered remarks, the latter speaking in Spanish, English and Chinese.

The Jeffrey-Andion love story which Mr. Ching recounted – witty, amusing and delightfully unique – began with the questions How did love begin? How did it happen? He then explained it by presenting three theories. The first was Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. Little changes came about until a higher form of life evolved. Then, too, there was the survival of the fittest. Those who courted Jeffrey (yes, there were also many who had a "crush" on him) fell by the wayside, so to speak. Andion and Jeffrey being the fittest, survived, and they would settle only for each other. The second theory, mutation, allowed for absolutely no change through the 17 eyars Jeffrey had known Andion as mere friend and colleague. Then suddenly, almost overnight, the feeling of friendship changed. The third theory was "Love at fist sight". Love, however, was hidden through those 17 long years until Jeffrey proposed marriage.

Mr. Ching added that if anyone should ask Jeffrey and Andion how love between them began, they probably wouldn’t tell. Or they themselves wouldn’t know!

The wedding was a surprise to many. Andion, who comes from a religious family, may have thought of entering the convent. Jeffrey didn’t seem the marrying type. On the other hand, just as many expected that composer and singer would eventually get married, having several interests and attitudes in common. Music, to begin with, is an enduring bond. Both are conservative, with family ties held close and sacred. Both have a refinement of sensibilities that subscribes to the same moral, social and ethical values.

Indeed, they would be a supremely happy couple, a picture of perfect bliss. As Mr. Ching observed, "Theirs is the ideal meeting of East and West."