Masses & much more from Ryan Cayabyab

It was four years ago when choreographer Douglas Nierras asked Ryan to write the music for his new ballet Metanoia. The result was Misa 2000, a brilliant combination of Filipino vocal and instrumental music that showcased indigenous instruments like the bamboo pipe and flat gong of the Kalingas and native music forms like the kundiman. This was entered into the prestigious 2001 Onassis International Cultural Competitions which was held in Athens, Greece. Misa 2000 won over entries from various parts of the world and earned for Cayabyab the grand prize for Original Music Composition for Dance.

Misa 2000, is Ryan’s greatest composition to date. Heard as accompaniment to Metanoia, it tends to take the back seat to Nierras’ enthralling work but when heard by itself, it is magnificent. Ryan’s prowess as composer and arranger is on great display here. His clever use of native instruments and choice of soloists are also impressive. But what makes Misa 2000 so special is that it has so much expression that completely involves the listener. This, I believe, is how you want your heart to feel while in prayer.

In this recent past, it was a sure bet that Misa 2000 would have enjoyed a short period of fame because of the Onassis. Of course, Ryan would have been lionized anew and the composition entered into his body of work. Then like most serious works by Filipino composers, it would have been archived and then forgotten. That is, until some unknown time in the future when it would have been performed again and sent through a repeat of the same process. It is a most unfortunate fact but that is what usually happens here. Bikining Itim has already been recorded in four versions and we will most likely see others in the future but I dread to think of how many of Lucio San Pedro’s tone poems have been recorded. Probably one or two or perhaps none at all.

But as you must have already deduced by now, I have been listening to Misa 2000, which is available on CDs. The title is The Sacred Works of Ryan Cayabyab and the performers are The San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Julian Quirit and The San Miguel Master Chorale conducted by Jonathan Velasco with soloists Grace Nono, Edward Granadosin and Teresa Fajardo. The two-CD package also includes a Te Deum, Aba Po, Santa Mariang Reyna, Aquesta Me Guiaba, Anima Christi and Misa, the first mass that Ryan ever wrote, which still sounds good but not anything like Misa 2000.

The orchestra, the choir and the recording are part of The San Miguel Foundation for the Performing Arts ongoing program for the preservation, performance and development of Filipino music. Sacred Works is the Foundation’s first ever release and that was done with no thought at all if anybody would buy the album. It was not long after that the heavens smiled. The second album, Great Filipino Love Songs became a big hit and Cayabyab has plans to produce others. So thanks to the San Miguel Foundation we will now be getting a regular dose of serious Filipino music by our local talents, which as Misa 2000 proves, are at par with the best in the world.

Gary V. Gives Thanks

Speaking of thanks giving music to God, Gary Valenciano is himself set to say a musical "thank you" on Friday, Aug. 6 at the Araneta Coliseum. Produced by GV Productions, Inc., and Manna Entertainment, the concert is titled Gary VSThankful and it celebrates Gary V.’s 40th birthday, his 20th wedding anniversary with the former Angeli Pangilinan and lots of other things to be truly thankful about.

Take Me Out of the Dark, Kailangan Kita, Natutulog Ba ang Diyos, Gaya ng Dati, Sa Yahweh ang Sayaw, Shout for Joy, How Did You Know, Could You Be Messiah, Letting Go, Warrior is a Child and That’s Why are a few of the songs that Gary will be performing in the show. Special guests are his three talented children, Paolo 19, Gabriel, 16 and Kianna, 11, plus the Manoeuvres.

The concert is brought to the public by media partners ABS-CBN, Studio 23, Zoe TV, The Philippine STAR, The Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Manila Bulletin, Monster Radio RX93, WRR 101.9, Crossover 105.1, Yes FM 101.1, Love Radio 90.7, 98.7 DZFE, 702 DZAS and sponsors Alaska Milk, Sennheiser, Goldilocks, Essensuals Toni & Guy, Njork, Universal Records, Videosonic and Soundcheck. Ticket prices are at P1,200, P800, P600, P500, P250 and P75 and are available at Ticketnet or at the Genesis office. Call 725-1937 for inquiries.