PROGRAM NOTES

George Frederic Handel Ernani Cuenco

Handel was born February 23, 1685, in Halle, Germany. Considered as one of
the greatest composer of the baroque period, a prolific composer in many
genres. Handel is well known for his outstanding contributions to English
church music, secular vocal music, and instrumental music of various type,
particularly concerto.
Joshua is based on the biblical story of the same name and premiered at the
Covent Garden Theater March 9, 1748. The libretto is thought by some
scholars to be anonymous, while most claim Thomas Morell is the librettist.
See the Raging Flames Arise, preceded by the recitative The Walls are
Levveld, is sung by the patriarch Caleb, as Jericho meets her doom and is
destroyed. This text is based on Joshua Chapter VI, verses 2-5, 17 and 22-25.
Cuenco was born on May 10, 1936. His grandaunt, fully aware of his musical
talent, decided to hire tutors in order for him to learn violin. He earned his
Bachelor of Music majoring in Piano from the University of the Philippines
Conservatory of Music. He took postgraduate studies with the late Ben Tupas.
And then, with a scholarship grant, he studied cello also at UST. Cuenco was a
member of the manila Symphony Orchestra, performing as a cellist under the
baton of Dr. Herbert Zipper.
He was given the Best Musical Director Award at the Manila and Quezon City
Film Festivals, and the Filipino Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
(FAMAS.)
He composed the song Diligin Mo ng Hamog ang Uhaw na Lupa which was
used as the theme song of the 1974 film of the same title.

Paolo Tosti
Augusto Espino
Tosti was an Italian composer who eventually settled in Great Britian. Tosti was
Augusto Agot Espino earned his Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Music
a celebrated and prolific song composer but never composed any opera.
from the University of the Philippines where he was a consistent scholar. A
Despite this his work has become a staple of classical concert repertoire and is
pianist, Christian songwriter, choral conductor, and arranger, his name has
described as light and expressive, with natural sounding melodies and
been identified with numerous classical performing groups like the U.P.
sentimental qualities.
Concert Chorus, U.P. Bel Canto Filipino, U.P. Trio, Lyrika, and The Philippine
Non tamo piu is one of Tostis most popular concert pieces, and truly Boys Choir.
exemplifies Tosti as master of the ballad with a truly Italian style. In this song,
As a collaborative artist, he has performed extensively here and abroad and
the narrator speaks with scorn about a former lover that wronged him or her,
has become a favorite assisting pianist to many classical solo artists because of
and how free he or she feels now that he or she doesnt love you anymore.
his musicality, sensitivity, and technical proficiency. Also as a solo artist, Agot
Non tamo piu (I Don't Love You Anymore) has been featured as a piano soloist by the Philippine Youth Orchestra, Metro
Do you still remember the day we met? Manila Symphony Orchestra, Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, UP
Do you still remember your promises?
Symphonic Band, and the UP Jazz Orchestra. He received the Gawad Chanselor
Madly in love I followed you,
We loved each other, Award at U.P. as Pinakamahusay na Alagad ng Sining (Music Arts Category)
And next to you I dreamed, mad with love. in the year 2000.
Happily I dreamed of a chain of caresses
And kisses fading into the sky;
But your words were false He composed the song Kundiman ng Langit
Because your soul is made of ice.

Do you still remember?

Now my faith, my immense desire
My dream of love is no longer you
 I don't think of you I dream of another ideal:
I love you no more, I love you no more!
John Jacob Niles

Niles came from a musical family, was born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1892 In the dear days that we passed together,
I scattered your path with flowers.
and grew up on a farm in Jefferson County where his musical training began.
You were the only hope of my heart,
His mother taught him to play piano; his father taught him the many ballads You the only thought of my mind.
and folk songs he knew. His musical education was continued at the You have seen me praying, turning pale,
Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, from which he was later awarded an You have seen me crying before you.
honorary Doctor of Music degree, at the Universite de Lyon at the Schola Just to gratify your slightest desire
I would have given my blood and my faith.
Cantorum in Paris, and later at the John C. Campbell Folk School in North
Carolina.
Lultima canzone, in which the persona offers one final serenade to the girl
who has abandoned him, and whom, come morning, he will lose forever with
Wayfaring Stranger is a well-known American folk and gospel song likely her marriage to another.
originating in the early 19th century about a plaintive soul on the journey of
life.
Lultima canzone (The Last Song)
I've been told that tomorrow
Nina, you'll be a bride
and me I'm going to sing you once more the serenade!

John Sacco Up there, on the deserted highlands.

Down there, in the shadowed valley
Born in Manhattan, Sacco graduated from Columbia College and Teachers Oh how many times did I sing over and over to you!
College of Columbia University. He served in the Army Air Forces in World
War II. Rose-petal,
oh amaranth flower
As a composer and conductor, he composed hundreds of songs, including though you're going to be a bride,
''Johnny the One,'' ''Six Doves,'' ''High Flight,'' ''Brother Will, Brother John,'' I'll always be close to you,
''Rapunzel'' and ''With This Ring I Thee Wed.'' Rose-petal

He was a former associate musical director of the St. Louis Municipal Tomorrow you'll be amid
Orchestra and executive director of the Starlight Musical Theater in festivities, smiles and flowers
Indianapolis. not thinking of our bygone love

But every night and day

Brother Will Brother John was composed in early 1900s. In this song he overflowing of passion
nicely plays with the idea that you have to live now. No matter how much It will come tearful to you the song of mine:
money you have you can't take it with you.
Mint leaf
Oh pomegranate's flower,
Nina, remember
those kisses I gave you!
Mint leaf, Ah!
Robert Schumann
This aria is sang by Valentin in Act two, a prayer of protection for Marguerite.
Schumann mastered the art of German lieder. He wrote 150 songs, among
them several groups and cycles, included Frauenliebe und leben (A Womans
Love and Life) and Dichterliebe (A Poets Love), which tells a tragic Romantic
Avant de quitter ces lieux (Before Leaving This Place)
story of love, its failure and his longing for death. Schumann, as a pianist and
composer, made the piano partake fully in the expression of emotion. O, holy medal
Schumann wrote Widmung (Dedication), one of his most well-loved songs, in Which comes to me from my sister
1840, the year he finally was able to marry the love of his life, the pianist Clara On the day of the battle
Wieck. To guard against death
Stay on my heart

Widmung (Dedication) Before leaving this place

You are my soul, my heart, delight, and sorrow; Native soil of my ancestors
You are my world wherein I live, To you, Lord and King of Heaven
You are my heaven into which I soar, My sister I entrust
O you are my grave,
Deign from all danger
Where deep down I have forever laid my sorrow! Always, always to protect her
This sister, so dear
You are my rest, my peace; Heaven has destined you for me. Deign from all danger to protect her
Because you love me makes me feel worthy, Deign to protect her from all danger!
Your gaze has transfigured me,
Delivered from a sad thought
Your love lifts me above myself,
I will go in search of glory
You are my good spirit, my better self! Glory in the midst of enemies
The first, the bravest
In the heat of the fray
Richard Strauss
I will go to do combat for my country
Strauss was born in 1864 in the Bavarian city of Munich. From his earliest years And if, to him, God calls me back
music played a central role in his life. His father was a professional French horn I will watch over you loyally
player with the Munich Court Orchestra, and he shared his love of music with Oh, Marguerite
his son. As a boy, Richard went with his father to rehearsals and concerts of
the Munich Orchestra and listened when the elder Strauss friends and
colleagues played chamber music at his house. Soon he was joining in those
gatherings as a participant. An excellent pianist, he also learned to play the
violin proficiently.

Strauss began composing at a remarkably early age, producing his first song
when he was only six. By the time he had turned 14 he had written a piano
sonata, an orchestral serenade and a concert overture, part of a mass, and
several pieces of chamber music.

Your neck straight, your nose exposed
A big helmet, or a big turban
A lot of honor, very little pay
And in place of the dance
A march through the mud
Over mountains, through valleys
With snow, and heat-stroke
To the music of trumpets
Of bombard and cannons
Which, at every boom,
Will make bullets whistle past your ear
Cherubino, go to victory!
To military glory!
Charles Gounod
Gounod was one of the most brilliant French composers of the 19th century.
Gounod had a bent for both music and painting, both of which he inherited
from his parents. However, one fateful day, Charles Gounod went with his
mother to a performance of Rossini's Othello, which fomented his passion
for music and consequently tempted him into choosing music over painting.
His highly acclaimed work Faust gained immense popularity and became the
most frequently staged operas of all time, so much so that it was performed
around 2,000 at the Paris Opera alone. The entire Gounods work includes
numerous operas, oratorios, symphonies as well as several chamber music.
Gounods Faust tells the story of the elderly philosopher, Dr. Faust, who,
disappointed with his bitter life, holds a goblet of poison in his hand in a
suicide attempt. He hesitates to drink the poison after hearing a youthful
chorus outside of his window. Dr. Faust then calls on evil forces to restore his
youth. Mephistopheles appears, restores Dr. Fausts youth and promises him
a beautiful young girl, Marguerite, and restoration of youth. In exchange,
Faust promises his soul to the devil. In act two, Marguerite gives her brother,
Valentin, a medallion to guard him from death during the battle.
Morgen! was written by John Henry Mackay, Strauss had met Mackay in Berlin,
and set Morgen! to music on 21 May 1894. It was one of his four Lieder Opus
27, a wedding present to his wife Pauline. Initially, he set the accompaniment
for piano alone, and for piano with violin. It was not until three years later, in
1897, that he arranged the accompaniment for orchestra, still with the violin
solo, which is its feature. It remains one of Strauss's best-known and most
widely recorded works. Strauss himself recorded Morgen! in 1919
accompanying the tenor Rober Hutt.
(Morgen!) Tomorrow!
And tomorrow the sun will shine again
And on the way that I will go
She will again unite us, the happy ones
Amidst this sun-breathing earth
And to the beach, wide, wave-blue
We will still and slowly descend
Silently we will look in each other's eyes
And upon us will sink the mute silence of happiness
Claude Debussy
Debussy was born into a poor family in France in 1862, but his obvious gift at
the piano sent him to the Paris Conservatory at age 11. At age 22, he won the
Prix de Rome, which financed two years of further musical study in the Italian
capital. After the turn of the century, Debussy established himself as the
leading figure of French music.
Mandoline Debussys first setting of Paul Verlaine, was composed in 1882
and was later published in the Vasnier Songbook. He sets a light, airy mood by
imitating the sound of a mandolin tuning open fifths and plucked strings. The
mandolin is heard immediately after the fermata in the first measure and
continues until the end. A painting by the French painter Jean-Antoine
Watteau provided Paul Verlaines inspiration for the poem. The painting sets
the scene of Commedia dellArte's stock characters Tircis, Aminta, Clitandre,
and Damis, as they entertain women through song and dance. Verlaine
mentions each character and Debussy uses slight accompaniment variations
and alters the articulation of vocal phrases to portray each of Verlaine's
character.
 Mandoline You called me and I left the Earth
To flee with you towards the light
The givers of serenades The heavens for us, parted and exposed
And the lovely women who listen
Unknown splendors
Exchange insipid words
Under the singing branches Divine glimpses of light
There is Tirsis and Aminte
And there's the eternal Alas! Alas!
And there's Damis who, for many a A sad awakening from the dreams
Heartless woman wrote many a tender verse
I call to you, o night
Their short silk coats, Return to me your lies
Their long dresses with trains Come back, come back radiant
Their elegance, their joy Come back, o mysterious night!
And their soft blue shadows
Whirl around in the ecstasy
Of a pink and grey moon
And the mandolin plays
Among the shivers from the breeze
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Gabriel Faur
Faur was a French composer, organist, pianist and teacher. He was one of the
foremost French composers of his generation, and his musical style influenced
many 20th century composers. Among his best-known works are his
Nocturnes for piano, the songs "Aprs un rve" and "Clair de lune", and
his Requiem.
Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria. He received his first early musical
training from his father Leopold Mozart. A child prodigy, he became a good
organist, violinist, violist and an excellent pianist, all the while composing for
other instruments and vocal music. He was also fluent in Italian and French as
well as his native German. From then on, his life occupied with concert tours
to the great cities in Europe. During this trip Mozart met a great number of
musicians and acquainted himself with the works of Bach, Haydn and other
composers. Mozart composed more than 600 compositions.

Aprs un Rve is a setting of an Italian poem, freely adapted into French by

Romain Bussine. It tells of a dream of romantic elopement, away from
darkness towards an awakening light. Non piu andrai (You shall go no more)

You wont go anymore, amorous butterfly

Aprs un Rve (After a dream) Fluttering around inside night and day
Disturbing the sleep of beauties
In a deep sleep that charms your image A little Narcissus and Adonis of love
You wont have fine feathers anymore
I was dreaming of happiness, the ardent mirage
That light and jaunty hat
Your eyes were softer That hair, that shining aspect
Your voice pure and sound That womanish red color
You were shining like a sky
Lit up by dawn Among soldiers, by Bacchus!
A huge moustache, a little knapsack
Gun on your back, sword at your side