Rizal, A Musical

May I dedicate this little work to a town called Maco where I was born and raised (though not vertically) not through formal piano lessons (for I have yet to learn how to read music) but on affirmations from family, friends and teachers in a joyous community. There, for six months, I worked on the songs of this musical as a commissioned professional, but what truly sustained my spirit was the very same candid folksy affection of a lively people in a small place with a big river and a bigger heart that can only be Maco, ever my home.

PLEASE TAKE NOTE

This is not the soundtrack of the actual musical, obviously. This recording represents the original intention of the composer (sort of a composer’s cut). A recording of the music used in the play should be available soon. We are quite sure you will enjoy both versions, but expect a couple of differences. One, as compositions, the emphasis of this version is the melodic line rather than the orchestration and choral harmony (note the very bare instrumental arrangements and choir parts rendered in unison). And two, in this one there is a deliberate attempt to engage Rizal in a theoretical mess. For instance, while admiring Rizal’s El Filibusterismo, Jaena questions the vagueness of Rizal’s political agenda. Also, Bonifacio is dismayed by Rizal’s apparently confused loyalties while living his own confusion in continuing to use Rizal’s name as figurehead of the Katipunan. And so forth.

On the side, all these talk about revealing ‘the human side of Rizal’ doesn’t make sense, as if to be truly human is to be truly mediocre. Rizal is human, because it is truly human to be very passionate about one’s convictions and pursue such very truly human things as liberty, equity, justice, progress and self-determination. It is truly human to be really intelligent and to work real hard and to have real fun. It is truly human to invest the prime of one’s life in humanity’s enduring quest for human compassion and human solidarity. Unless of course we’re saying there aren’t too many human Filipinos.

Parties interested in performing and/or recording the songs should seek permission from Infomatrix. Parties interested in staging the musical should make arrangements with Music Theater Philippines.