Post PCN-Partem

This now makes my fourth year of helping lead the choir portion of SF State's PCN. And I'm damn proud of it too. This year I pulled in some ringers -- peeps I know who can sing and would for sure be able to hold down the sections of the choir. And it worked. I had a big choir and a smaller, more elite choir.

We also got live music for every dance.

This is a big thing. For SF State, that is. Since I've been there, at least one or two of the dances has been accompanied by taped music. But not this year. One of the guys in SF Chamber Singers is also one of the head of the Likha Rondalla, and he graciously volunteered not only his bandurria skills but also his singing skills to the choir. He helped two others to learn Binoyugan and Pandanggo sa ilaw/oasioas. Plus, I paid Master Kalanduyan for a private lesson so I could learn Pangalay to accompany the Vinta dance [the Mindanao dance where the couple dances on poles]. And then we busted out the gangsa for Idaw.

This year's big choral piece was a merging of the Philippines national anthem, Lupang Hinirang, and what some would call the unofficial national anthem, Bayan Ko in the same song [complete with fanfare ending!] Then the small choir [aka Power Choir] did a mixed voice performance of Pinay's Dahil Sa Yo [thank you Angelica].

In all, this production was the best since I've started helping out. The bar has been raised.

The only thing that sucks is that we may never be able to hold it on our own campus anymore.

I still have a few more things left this semester, but the bulk is out of the way. Of course I'll keep you posted.

~ No Tations ~