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Adonay, The Maestro from Pakil

The music of renowned 19th century Filipino composer Marcelo Adonay (1848-1928) will be brought to life by the Philippine Madrigal Singers led by Mark Carpio, with bass soloist, Greg de Leon, pianist Nita Abrogar-Quinto, violinist Chona Noble, the UP Cherubim and Seraphim, conducted by Elena R. Mirano, and the UP Orchestra under the baton of Prof. Edna Martinez in a concert entitled Adonay, the Maestro from Pakil. 



An informal talk on the maestro and his milieu at 1:30 PM at the CCP Dream Theater will precede the concert. 

Produced by the Cultural Center of the Philippines, this event is part of the Center’s thrust on Arts Education in line with the continuing crusade of historical musicologists from the University of the Philippines to acquaint Filipino audiences with the lost music of their Spanish colonial heritage, in the aftermath of the launching of the book, “The Life and Works of Marcelo Adonay” (UP Press 2009, National Book Awardee, Art Category ), by Elena Mirano, Corazon Dioquino, Melissa Mantaring, Edna Martinez, Ma. Patricia Silvestre, Inigo Vito and Patricia Lopez. 



Repertoire will include La Marieta, La Julita for solo piano; Pequeña Balse, Meditacion Lugubre for violin and piano; Salve Regina, Libera Me Domine, Gozos a la Santisima Virgen (a Nuestra Señora de la Consolacion), Villancico a Belen Pastores, and two movements (Kyrie and Gloria) from his greatest sacred work, the Pequeña Misa Solemne (1903), which Adonay based on a fragment of Gregorian chant taken from a Flemish mass dated 1669. For this, he came to be called the “Palestrina of the Philippines”, manifesting his reverence for tradition alongside then current musical trends. 

Marcelo Adonay (1848-1928) hailed from Pakil, Laguna, and entered San Agustin Church as a tiple (boy soprano), as was the custom then in Spanish colonial times. His musical genius unfolded at the convent, a combination of self-taught and friar-honed skills, as he soon became adept at playing the organ, piano, violin, contrabass, flute and trumpet, composing liturgical as well as secular pieces. He eventually became the first Filipino maestro de capilla (chapel master) of the San Agustin music establishment, a much in-demand orchestra conductor and music teacher. Together with other Filipino musicians of his time such as Jose Canseco, Francisco Roxas, Bibiano Morales, Rosalio Silos and Manuel Mata, he lived and worked in what has been called “The Golden Age of Filipino Music” - 1880-1890. He was also instrumental in founding two important music societies--the Union Artistica Musical in 1885, and the Sociedad de Santa Cecilia in 1888, organizations which aimed to promote and uplift Filipino music, and protect the interests of Filipino musicians. 

Come and be part of a rare musical journey back to the glorious days of the Maestro’s era, when San Agustin Church reverberated magnificently with Adonay’s music.

Contact Details:
For ticket inquiries, please call the CCP Music Division at (63 2) 832-1125 loc. 1604, the CCP Box Office at (63 2) 832-3704, or Ticketworld at (63 2) 891-9999.

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