Joseph Legaspi, baritone

Happy feast day of St. Francis!

Music by Ryan Cayabyab
Sung by Joseph Legaspi
For. JC Merino, piano

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi Music by Ryan CayabyabSung by Joseph LegaspiFr. JC Merino, piano

https://youtu.be/9wSgoqumC5U

Lucio D. San Pedro (1913-2002)

Maestro Lucio San Pedro is a giant in the Philippine music scene, with a wide-ranging body of works that include chamber of music, concertos for violin and orchestra, choral works, cantatas, band music, songs for solo voice, and music for violin and piano. In 1991, at the age of 78, Maestro Lucio San Pedro was conferred the title of National Artist for Music — the highest award that can be given to any Filipino Artist. It was a fitting honor to cap the bevy of awards he had already received throughout his illustrious career, among them are: Republic Cultural Heritage Award in 1962, the Tanglaw ng Lahi Award from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1982, and the Signum Meriti Award from the De la Salle University in 1983.

The Maestro and his music were firmly rooted in the small town of Angono, an idyllic setting blessed with a view of both lake and mountains. It was Angono's rustic charm — the colorful fiestas and the verdant scenery, as well as the simple nobility of its common folk — that inspired the Maestro to write his music.

Maestro San Pedro called his musical philosophy "creative nationalism," but instead of being parochial, his music is universal; it is evocative without being literal. "I do not believe that nationalism in music can be expressed solely by literally using the materials of folk songs. The composer, rather, should squeeze from these materials the essence, style, atmosphere, and the common touch that is Filipino and express it in terms of his personality, style, and temperament."

Ugoy ng Duyan
Levi Celerio

Translated as “Sway of The Cradle”, this striking piece is punctuated with a surprising sorrow unexpected from a lullaby. Its tender melody calls to mind the calm of childhood sleep, with a soothing rhythm that mimics the lull of a rocking cradle. However, these serene aspects belie the yearning that is evident throughout the work. The text first presents an adult persona nostalgic of his innocent past. The emotion eventually melds into his longing for the comfort found only in his mother’s arms. Such a longing is reminiscent in Brahms’ Heimweh II or ‘Homesickness II’ (with text by Klaus Groth).

Ugoy Ng Duyan, which he composed while on his way home to Philippines aboard a ship with master lyricist Levi Celerio (who penned the words after Maestro San Pedro set down the melody). "Sa Ugoy Ng Duyan," now a classic Filipino lullaby, also forms the fourth movement of his most famous orchestral work, "Suite Pastorale," which pays tribute to his hometown to Angono

Sa Ugoy ng Duyan Words by Levi Celerio | Music by Lucio San Pedro Lucio D. San Pedro (1913-2002) Maestro Lucio San Pedro is a giant in the Philippine music scene, with a wide...

"When I, in awesome wonder, consider all the worlds thy hands have made..." The classic hymn "How Great Thou Art" is one of our favorite songs to sing at St. Aedan's. Here it is, now on video, for everyone to sing and pray along to any time. "How Great Thou Art" is based on a Swedish traditional melody and a poem written by Carl Boberg (1859–1940) in Sweden, in 1885. It w...