In its 200 years of existence, the Bamboo Organ in Las Piñas has been an enduring symbol of Philippine culture, history and heritage.
Declared a National Cultural Treasure in 2003, it has gone through several restorations, survived wars and natural calamities. Even the festival that celebrates its grandeur has had its share of financial and logistical problems. But the challenges have always been hurdled.
The International Bamboo Organ Festival is now on its 42nd edition. To take place Feb. 16-20, the festival remains one of the most awaited events of classical-music lovers from different parts of the world. The festival has brought to the country musicians and artists from the United States, Europe, Australia, Latin America.
The Bamboo Organ itself continues to produce beautiful healing music that Recollect Diego Cera, Las Piñas’ first parish priest, might have envisioned upon its completion in 1824. The instrument and the music it emitted has since continued to inspire and strengthen the Filipino Catholic faith.
When the festival opens this month, music lovers and guests may be doubly inspired as a new pipe organ is set to be unveiled to the general public. It is designed by Filipino organ builder Cealwyn Tagle and constructed by the Diego Cera Organ Builders Inc.
Donated by the Villar Foundation, the new pipe organ is at the San Ezekiel Moreno Oratory (Semo) C-5 extension in Las Piñas.
Baroque
On Feb. 16, 17 and 19, a program of German, Spanish and Latin American Baroque music will feature the Villancico Vocal Ensemble and Las Piñas Boys Choir performing an arrangement of the Filipino villancico, “Parvulus Filius,” by Eudenice Palaruan. Conductor will be Beverly Shankuan-Cheng.
Instrumental intermissions will be provided by the Ensemble Musica Sophia, with Luc Ponet of Belgium playing the Bamboo Organ; Lambert Colson of France, cornetto; Raphael Leone of Austria, piccolo and flute; and Carsten Linck of Germany, guitar.
Festival Mass will be celebrated at Semo on Feb. 19 at 4 p.m. It will be presided by Bishop Jesse Mercado of the Diocese of Parañaque, with the Las Piñas Boys Choir (conducted by titular organist Armando Salarza) performing the Little Organ Mass by Fr. J. Haydn, and Johann Trummer (Austria) at the organ.
During the closing concert on Feb. 22, Salarza will play the new Semo pipe organ. He will be accompanied by the Ateneo de Manila College Glee Club under Shankuan-Cheng, performing highlights of choral music by Parry, Britten, Rutter, Stanford, Dubra and Mendelssohn.
Belgian organist
Ponet, who will be performing at the festival for the fourth time, will hold his organ recital on Feb. 20 together with Colson and Leone.
They will perform music from the 16th-20th century as well as a special composition, “Souvenir from the Philippines,” which Ponet composed for the Bamboo Organ, piccolo and cornetto.
The ever popular “Concert under the Trees” on Feb. 18 will be presented with the support of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, will feature the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra with conductor Herminigildo Ranera, soprano Stef Quintin, Leone, Linck. It will be hosted by Michael “Eagle” Riggs.
Main sponsors of Festival are the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Department of Tourism, City Government of Las Piñas, Villar Foundation and Embassies of Austria, France and Switzerland. —CONTRIBUTED
Visit www.bambooorgan.org; Like the 42nd International Bamboo Organ Festival page on Facebook.