My generation still knows what a "harana" is, not from experience but from watching the Tagalog films of olden days. The classic Filipino movies never fail to include a scene of a young gentleman wooing the love of his life through songs at night, while she watches from the window of her house. How romantic it seems as it mimics the balcony scene of William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet."
And I realize that it is the film industry's way of preserving that bit of Filipino culture so that the next generations would know and hopefully appreciate the way love (or at least like) is communicated back then. However, I can imagine the younger generation watching such scenes might react -- they might squirm uncomfortably or giggle in laughter because at present day, wooing is done in a casual manner, through texting (SMS) or web chatting, most often than not.
Outside of film, the 'harana' or 'kundiman' became a mainstream musical style until the late 1960s. Unfortunately, it had been quietly left behind as newer music genres took over. This is why the Philippine Opera Company is reviving this beautiful Filipino culture.
The Philippine Opera Company produced the critically-acclaimed hit "Harana" back in 2008 to showcase the evolution of Philippine music through songs and movements, even reaching a wider audience when they toured in Amsterdam in 2009 and when the company did a regional tour of Cebu, Roxas, Antique, Bohol, Dumaguete and Palawan in 2010. Earlier this year, they conquered Bacolod, Ormoc, Tacloban and Samar.
For the 2011-2012 season of the Philippine Opera Company, "Ang Bagong Harana" will take on a newer and fresher version with an array of immortal and classic Filipino songs that will be interpreted in "never before seen performances." The show shall integrate the past and the present -- mix old and new songs, re-arranged and re-edited -- with the goal of reaffirming "who we are as Filipinos" and validating "where we have all come from," and will showcase the best of all the Filipino composers from different music genres, namely Nicanor Abelardo, Ryan Cayabyab, Willy Cruz, Francisco Santiago, Antonio Molina, Resti Umali, George Canseco, Ernani Cuenco, Levi Celerio, Jose Estrella, Constancio de Guzman and Felipe de Leon, among others.
I won't reveal much in this post yet, just enough information to tickle your brains and hopefully bring you to watch "Ang Bagong Harana," which will have a limited run from September 29 to October 1 at 8 pm, with matinee at 3:30 pm on October 1, at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium of RCBC Plaza in Makati City. For ticket sales, please call Philippine Opera Company at 881-7168 or 0917-5272880 or Ticketworld at 891-9999. You may also log on to the POC's website or Like Harana on Facebook.
NOTE:
A re-run is happening on June 6 - 10 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium of RCBC Plaza in Makati City. For ticket sales, please call Philippine Opera Company at 881-7168 or 0917-5272880 or Ticketworld at 891-9999.
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