i had fun doing this article.. i was late (surprise! surprise!) for the interview (i’m blaming it on a singer popular during the bagets days who made a comeback and decided to do his album launch same night i’m doing the interview with MSO, et. al., ok?!).. anyways, so these cool MSO musical geniuses were nice enough to wait for me at st. scho.. also got to talk to three of the Imago members.. oh, and vin dancel of twisted halo became an instant textmate (at least just for the night before i had to submit my story).. he was all too willing to answer my questions through text even if it was already past midnight.. he was probably in a gig or something cz he said he won’t be able to answer my email until i don’t know when.. and i was like dozing off while his messages were coming in the last text was sumthin like, "i hope i made sense.. im kinda amats na.. heheh" so there.. you be the judge cz i quoted him somewhere in the article

anyway, i missed the rehearsals but donna from the MSO gave me a CD which has sugarfree’s rockestra-ed version of one of its songs (and i’m super sorry i don’t know the title..).. it sounded pretty cool.. like rock being sweet and all and not to bitter or angsty at some point.. it’s rock like it’s never been rocked before (does that make sense? not that i have amats or anything.. i just hope i said it right :P)

hmm.. i wonder why the font changed.. not that i have anything more to say.. it’s just kinda odd.. anyway, perhaps i have more things to say.. like i must have reached the saturation point of my murakami craze.. i dunno.. i still want to buy "sputnik sweetheart" tho.. that would perhaps be my last murakami purchase.. unless someone tells me his kafka novel is good hehehe.. ok, so maybe i’m not so over him and i hope i find my copy of "norwegian wood" soon.. it’s a good read during rainy days (which reminds me that i hate the weather. *bow*)

wow, this is turning out to be a novel already.. hahaha!! anyway, read on:

Arts & Leisure

BY ANNA BARBARA L. LORENZO, Reporter

Classical rock

Chino David started with the violin when he was five. In 1996, he joined the Manila Youth Symphony Orchestra, which eventually became the Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO). Armed with a classical background, he entered the rock scene with the band Silent Sanctuary three years ago.

Then came the lightbulb moment. Why not fuse classical and rock into a major production?

"I discovered some videos of foreign acts na may (that had an) orchestra like Metallica and Scorpions. Madami na. Dito sa Philippines, meron din konti pero hindi full concert (There were many. There were some in the Philippines but, just a bit, not a full concert)," Mr. David told BusinessWorld after the MSO’s recent rehearsals with the rock bands Imago and Sandwich.

The result is Rockestra which will be held on Aug. 19, 7:30 p.m., at the Tanghalang Francisco Balagtas (formerly Folk Arts Theater) at the CCP Complex, Pasay City.

He said while he had been toying with the idea for about two years he was reluctant to present it to the MSO, not knowing how the 50-piece orchestra would accept it. But MSO conductor Arturo Molina was gung ho.

"It’s a good project to promote the orchestra, especially to the young people. Marami na kaming (We’ve had many) concerts with the usual program, classical, but usually hindi gaanong naa-appreciate ng young people (they are not that appreciated by young people). With the bands, they will realize the orchestra is versatile. Hindi lang (we’re not just) classical, we can also sound as noisy as a band," Mr. Molina said.

MSO will be playing with Cambio, the group keeping The Eraserheads’ legacy while keeping its new identity in the indie rock scene with hits like "Divisoria" and "Patlang." Another band on the Rockestra list is Sugarfree, which is leading the airwaves with hit songs revolving around the successes and failures of love, among other things.

The orchestra will also jam with Sandwich, a popular group which has been reaping awards since it was formed in 1999. Mr. David’s band, Silent Sanctuary, will also play along with MSO, as well will Imago and Twisted Halo.

GIVING ROCK A CLASSICAL TOUCH

Mr. David arranged about 20 songs for Rockestra, with at least three numbers for each of the bands.

"I listened to the songs around three times, tapos hinanapan ko ng parts na bagay sa (then I looked for the parts that would suit an) orchestra. May mga na-add na melodies or notes para maiba (I added some melodies or notes to change things). It’s not the usual song you will hear on the radio," he added.

For its part, Imago is playing "Anino," "Taning" and "Akap," which are all singles from their second album. Imago is known for its alterna-rock style, with shades of folk and world music.

"We have been playing [these songs] for quite some time now so we wanted to experience and honor the songs in this league," vocalist Aia de Leon said.

Drummer Zach Lucero said playing with the orchestra also gives the songs an "epic feel."

"We wanted to give a big epic sound, and we trusted Chino with it. ‘Anino’ is a very fun song, ‘Taning’ is very heart-wrenching, while ‘Akap’ is also very… it kinda subtly hits you in the face," Mr. Lucero said.

Playing with an orchestra is a new thing to most of the bands, just like rock is a new world to many classical musicians.

"Individually, there was pressure. There are two of us trying to keep time, the conductor and myself. There’s a conscious effort to make sure I’m jiving with the conductor and making solid time because there are 50 other people depending on the time. It’s a bigger concern on my end, a bigger responsibility," Mr. Lucero said.

Meanwhile, it must be the structure and the preconceived stiffness of an orchestra that made Twisted Halo’s lead vocalist Vin Dancel say the challenge in playing with the MSO includes having to "rock out properly."

After a self-titled album released in 2001, Twisted Halo came up with In Loving Memory of the Fearless Exploits of the Bolo Brigade and is currently working on its third album due for release late this year.

"Chino told me about Rockestra more than a year ago. Being an indie playing with a 50-piece orchestra is a once-in-a-lifetime chance so there was no way we were saying ‘no.’ Nakakatakot (It’s scary). Ang gagaling nilang lahat sa MSO (All the MSO musicians are so good). Playing with them is such an honor and privilege. I had this huge silly grin during rehearsals and I’m just glad I didn’t pee in my pants," Mr. Dancel said.

Despite the bands’ apprehensions and concerns, Mr. Molina said it is fairly easy to work with them.

"There has to be balance at kailangan magsabay (and they have to go together). Sometimes they have to look at me or sometimes I have to look at them. They are easy to work with. They are musicians at nakikinig naman sila (and they listen)," he added.

The musicians, both from the orchestra and the rock bands, admitted they were pleasantly surprised with the effect of mixing the classical and the mainstream electronic instruments. The orchestra makes rock music softer, which in effect gave the lyrics a more romantic, and even dramatic impact.

"At the very least, we hope it opens up music to a whole different group of listeners, both for rock and classical," said Imago guitarist Timothy Cacho.

They all just aim to please. And on Aug. 19, the MSO, Cambio, Imago, Sandwich, Silent Sanctuary, Sugarfree and Twisted Halo will do just that.

(Tickets for Rockestra cost P975, P630, P350, P175 and P75. For inquiries and reservations, call 891-9999 or 879-4589 or e-mail manilasymphony@gmail.com.)

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