Kasilag and Bach: Encapsulating the Essence of Christmas
National Artist for Music, Lucrecia Kasilag, also known as “Tita King” and “The Grand Dame of Philippine Music” started off as a nonprofessional composer which means that she did not earn anything from it. For her, composing is a luxury and she really made time for music which resulted to her 250 varied musical compositions. It is also surprising how she can easily finish a work within a few hours—having set her mind into it. Quoting her, “I do write quickly. Not that I write with facility. But when I have to deliver, I deliver. God is with me. He’s my traffi
c cop. In my creative life, He enlightens me” (An Artist for The World, p. 57).
Kasilag’s works include cantatas such as Awit ng mga Awit (1966), Teacher, Dearly Beloved (1967), Aguinaldo sa Niño (1986), In the Beginning (1988), and Benedictus Cantata (1990). A cantata is a piece of vocal music which is intended to be sung by a soloist or choir with musical accompaniment. It consists of several parts namely arias, recitatives, choruses, and duets (The Dynamic Teeners of the 21st Century, p. 8, 2005). Aria is movement for solo voice, duet or trio with accompaniment, while a recitative is a sung movement resembling speech and is much more fluid as compared to the aria (Emmanuel Music, Dellal).
Delving more in her work—Aguinaldo sa Niño (1986), which is translated as Gift for the Infant, by just reading the song title, one can already sense how it revolves around the essence of Christmas with children as the audience. Spanish word, niño is defined as child, or little boy, usually given to the first-born (Ancestry, 1997). On one hand, Santo Niño is the Child Jesus, whom we should imitate, and respect.
The libretto is by Rene Villanueva who was a playwright and author, famous for his involvement in theater, television, and children’s literature. For his great contributions to Philippine literature, he was given several awards at the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards and by the Manila Critics Circle for his play collections.
A Christmas cantata, also known as a Nativity cantata (see photo above for sample) is a musical piece divided in several movements meant to express what Christmas is and what is there to be celebrated for, sung by voice or voices—somehow like an orchestral production. For many composers, it is a season to be celebrated festively, whether it be inside or outside the church. Additionally, Christmas cantatas have been written in several languages such as Italian, Romanian, and Spanish.
Comparing Kasilag’s Aguinaldo sa niño (1986), to another Christmas cantata entitled Gloria in excelsis Deo (1742), translated as Glory to God on high. It is a church cantata for the First Day of Christmas composed by Johann Sebastian Bach.
Johann Sebastian Bach is Baroque-era composer, regarded as one of the greatest composers of all time. His works range from keyboard works, to chamber music, to orchestral, and vocal works. It is also important to note that his works are labeled with BWV (Bach Werke Verzeichnis/Bach Works Catalogue), as notated in the score above.
The cantata is structured and divided in three movements: chorus, aria, then chorus again.
For the first chorus, the soprano, alto, tenor, and bass are included. In the aria (duet), only the soprano and tenor, and finally for the last chorus, the soprano, alto, tenor, and bass once again sing together.
Below are the lyrics (Latin and English text, translated by Francis Browne):
The Latin text is translated by Francis Browne (2008) who has translated about 160 cantatas and others in progress. His translations are formatted interlineally and are very popular among Bach’s vocal works—one of which is the Gloria in excelsis Deo. This specific cantata is quite different as compared to other works of Bach words are taken from the Gloria and Doxology.
Admittedly, comparing both cantatas—Kasilag and Bach’s would be challenging since most of Kasilag’s works are yet to be published, nonetheless, I think what sets Kasilag and Villanueva’s work apart is them being able to produce a work that caters to and is inclusive of children. Through this, children can understand Christmas further in a fascinating manner which is through music with (perhaps) simpler words. In the process of researching for Christmas cantatas, most, if not all are based on the Scriptures and is made for people of all ages, unlike Kasilag’s which is primarily for kids. It should also be noted that cantata texts came from several sources— devotional poetry, biblical quotations, and verses from Lutheran hymns which center on pains and joys of humankind, thus leaning towards Protestant practices (Protestant Reformation, Bach, and Modernity, 2018). And here, we see how Kasilag used cantata still, made it palatable to the Roman Catholic religion.
Both works were influential in terms of the year and time it was composed as well as the effect it had to their respective audiences. After all, both Kasilag and Bach were regarded great musicians during their time, who composed not only for themselves, but also for others.
References:
“Cantata BWV 191 - English Translation [Parallel Format].” Viloncello Piccolo in Bach's Vocal Works, www.bach-cantatas.com/Texts/BWV191-Eng3P.htm.
“Christmas Cantata.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 8 July 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_cantata. “Featured Artist - Lucrecia R. Kasilag.” Header, Himig, www.himig.com.ph/ features/32- lucrecia-r-kasilag. Dacanay, Alvin I. “Rene Villanueva: Remarkable Writer.” The Manila Times Online, The Manila Times, 17 Dec. 2017, www.manilatimes.net/rene-villanuevaremarkable- writer/369012/.
“Gloria in Excelsis Deo.” All of Bach, allofbach.com/en/bwv/bwv-191/.
“Gloria in Excelsis Deo, BWV 191.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 8 July 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloria_in_excelsis_Deo_BWV_191.
“Johann Sebastian Bach.” Jama Masjid, Delhi - New World Encyclopedia, www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Johann_Sebastian_Bach.
Lopez, Lorna Fe P., et al. The Dynamic Teeners of the 21st Century. 1st ed., Rex Bookstore, 2005.
“Lucrecia Roces Kasilag.” History of Classical Music - Eras, Naxos Records, www.naxos.com/person/Lucrecia_Roces_Kasilag/23491.htm.
“Nino Family History.” Ancestry, www.ancestry.com/name-origin?surname=nino.
“Rene Villanueva.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 27 June 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rene_Villanueva.
“The Protestant Reformation, Bach, and Modernity.” Vancouver Cantata Singers, 13 Apr. 2018, vancouvercantatasingers.com/protestant-reformation-bachmodernity/.
“What Is a Cantata?” Emmanuel Music - Bach Cantata BWV 140 - Translation, www.emmanuelmusic.org/notes_translations/notes_cantata/what_is_a_ cantata.htm.
Photo Resources:
http://bworldonline.com/kaleidoscope-araceli-limcaco-dans-her-life-art-lifestyle/ https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/gloria-in-excelsis-deo-cantata-191-sheetmusic/19812438 http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Johann_Sebastian_Bach
Video Links
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpwB8vWGdqs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlQsO4eVbC8&list=RDvlQsO4eVbC8&t=284 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eChEWK_4B3Q