One enchanted evening with Fernandez, Young / Meralco's musical message

Since Ernestina Crisologo bowed out from the stage, Dena Fernandez has become our only outstanding marimba player, with no one threatening her position. Her mastery of the marimba has long been evident, and it asserted itself again at the Philamlife auditorium in “Marimba, Sax and Friends” whether she played with two, three or four mallets.

The tonal hues of the marimba are much more limited than those of the piano but Fernandez drew maximum as well as contrasting volumes in Bach’s “Concerto No. 4 in E Major” and Mozart’s “Sonata No. 13” — both arranged for the marimba — with Fernandez hewing to their classical structures.

Her dexterity was mind-boggling in Paganini’s “La Campanella”, a work originally for the violin and most often played on the piano. But Fernandez made it her own as she nimbly covered the length and breadth of the instrument, evoking startlingly bell-like sounds in keeping with the intent of the piece.

The evening’s other master was the youthful saxophone player Dr. Michael Young (already possessing a doctorate degree in music) whose technique (breath control) was astounding.

His rendition of Rachmaninoff’s “Vocalise” was exquisite, the saxophone approximating the human voice as closely as it could, the composition being a song without words, with Young intoning fluid, flowing, lambent sounds.

Piazzolla’s “History of the Tango” was fascinating, the interpretation fully capturing its innovative, complex, far-out and piquant treatment which combined classic and jazz with the tango, the latter’s origins harking back to Piazzolla’s native Argentina.

Starting in slow tempo, Monti’s “Czardas” quickly escalated into whirling, dizzying rhythms executed by Young with verve and fire, his technique in absolute control. (The eminent EENT specialist Dr. Benjamin Campomanes, who plays the clarinet, was vastly impressed with Young’s performance.)

An arresting highlight was Bach’s Duo Arrangement for Marimba and Saxophone with Piano and Bass, the widely varied sonorities blending in exquisite harmony. Another high point had the same ensemble interpreting Piazzolla’s “Libertango” with Fernandez producing turbulent percussive effects on the side, the Latin flavor smoothly surfacing throughout the composer’ intricate inventions.

Young rendered a beautifully lyrical work by a Filipino composer in response to audience applause.

Pianists Lourdes de Leon Gregorio and Peter Porticos were excellent assisting artists, leaving hardly anything to be desired, musically or artistically. Gregorio, who had a major share in the program, deserved a resounding “Bravo!” all her own.

The concert was part of the MCO Foundation’s “Great Performances Series”.

Meralco’s musical message

A dear friend Bonjin Bolinao, who has long been in public relations, invited me to a Meralco production she described as a “musical”. Presented at the Meralco Theater, which predates the CCP auditorium, it consisted of film clips, brief remarks by Meralco president and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan and others, songs composed for the occasion, a choreographed basket- ball game, a dance performed by three women and their male partners.

These numbers were projections of Meralco’ activities. The basketball game reflected Meralco’s sports development program. The film clips showed Meralco’s organized help to victims of calamities; the singers in doctors’ and nurses’ uniforms signified Meralco’s free medical services to the poor. The production also indicated power distribution to far-flung regions hitherto deprived of electricity, and further showed the workings of educational, environmental, energy conservation, waste reduction and climate change programs.

Indeed, there seems no aspect of community life that has not received Meralco’s assistance The presentation opened and closed with the Meralco choir singing. Finally, trustees of the Meralco Employes Fund for Charity ascended the stage to take a bow. Being the current ambassador to Japan, Meralco chairman Manuel M. Lopez was naturally absent.

The evening ended with all participants singing “Happy Birthday” to Mr. Pangilinan who, at the theater lobby, blew out a single lighted candle on top of a tiny cake.

As the audience wended its way home, it vividly remembered Meralco’s vast efforts towards the improvement of Philippine life through the years.