Of Crescendos, Colors, and Cadences
Ateneo's Department of Interdisciplinary Studies continued their season of concerts with Music and Art, a showcase of musical performance co-mingled with visual art and literature. For this concert, clarinettist, Bea Robles, and baritone, Jerome Sibulo, marry their crafts to the works of Rene Robles and Bienvenido Lumbera.
Bea Robles opened the concert with her rendition of Franz Schubert's Andane con moto from his Symphony No. 5 on solo clarinet. This orchestra piece arranged for the performer on the clarinet displays the virtuosity of the performer with its minimalist yet intricate sound. Internationally acclaimed artist, Rene Robles, takes the stage with his daughter to provide her music with visual accompaniment through pastel on canvas. The first piece set to art was Hebrides Overture by Felix Mendelssohn, inspired by the composer's visit to Fingal's Cave in Scotland. Bea Robles does not fail to capture the grand sweeping melody of the overture. Fueled by the vigour of the clarinet, Rene Robles complements with the bold strokes and stark colours of his surrealist art. Father and daughter treat the audience to a more popular piece of music with Dance of the Hours by Amilcare Ponchielli. The clarinet’s eruption of notes is paralleled with the profusion of colours on canvas. Bea Robles ends the first part of the program on a more sombre note with Jules Massenet's Meditation from Thais. Even the subdued quality of the piece is transformed by the quiet energy of the performer. Beatriz Robles graduated from Ateneo de Manila in 2005 with a degree in Creative Writing.
The second part of the program was championed by Jerome Sibulo. The baritone delivered a charismatic performance of Richard Faith's compositions based on rhymes from Mother Goose. Sibulo regaled the audience with childhood favourites such as "Where Are You Going My Pretty Maid" and "The Owl and the Pussycat" which were received with as much laughter as applause. Johannes Brahms Botschaft Opus 47 No.1 and Die Mainacht Opus 43 No.2 truly featured the baritone's vocal prowess. Brahm's pieces are exercises in text painting, where the musical progressions follow closely behind the emotional transformations in the text. Sibulo's impressive control, power and understanding of the text are elements essential to his technique. The vocal part of the program was concluded with Woman's Constancy by Jacob Wooden. Sibulo was accompanied by pianist Jonathan Arevalo Coo. Jerome Sibulo graduated from Ateneo de Manila in 2005 with a degree in Psychology and perused a Master's degree from Indiana University.
The program truly became an amalgamation of art when Bea Robles, Jerom Sibulo, Jonathan Coo, and soprano Kimberly Redick took the stage to perform texts from Bienvenido Lumbera's Ang Palabas Bukas, set to music by Lucio San Pedro. Sibulo's robust forcefulness is complemented by Redick's own lush willowy vocal style in their duet performance of Sampatak ng Hamag. Kimberly Redick's exquisite interpretation of Araw-araw sa Maynila showed just how much drama the piece can show. The National Artist was in the audience as a witness to the masterful transformation of his work.
Music and Art marks another success in the Interdisciplinary Studies Department's efforts to develop a culture of music appreciation in Ateneo.
*This article was originally featured in the 2011 edition of the Blue Sound magazine. Edited by Macky Manlulo.
**Images taken from http://www.facebook.com/BeatrizRoblesOfficial & http://www.jeromesibulo.com