Lahat ng Araw (Silayan)
Written in 1939, this song is about shining a light and giving hope. Lahat ng Araw, more popularly known as “Silayan” for its opening word, was written by Miguel Velarde, Jr., the same composer of the ever popular Dahil sa Iyo. I have such deep respect for composers who can write indelible...
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Utom Videos
Just dropping these videos today! Concert dates below: June 1, 2019 – San Francisco International Arts Festival at Fort Mason, SF Tickets: https://bit.ly/2tYxR1A June 9, 2019 Brava Theater, SF Tickets: https://bit.ly/2CcWyMh
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A Sinister Sounding Christmas Song
There is something about this christmas song, Carol of the Bells, that I’ve always found intriguing. It is probably the darkest and most sinister sounding christmas song that I know of. It was pointed out to me by a friend and fellow composer Roman Turovsky (wiki) that it was a Ukrainian me...
Read MoreFun with Arranging – Erik Satie’s Gnossiennes #1
I like goofing around with known classical pieces. I don’t know why I do this but sometimes I hear pieces in my head differently. In my mind, certain pieces work better a certain way based entirely on my personal preference and musical disposition at a given time. Case in point, Erik Satie&...
Read MoreMusic Video – Death of Isagani (Pagkamatay ni Isagani)
Excerpt from Aswang the Concert performed and recorded live at the Napa Valley College Performing Arts Center. PAGKAMATAY NI ISAGANI (Death of Isagani) This is the story of Isagani, a fisherman-by-day and spy-by-night during the Philippine revolution. The song finds him being pursued by the Spani...
Read MoreHow to Write a Song When You’re in a Rut
Florante talks about one of the most reliable technique he uses when writing a song, especially when stuck in a rut. The song is called Ang Tumao, one of the songs for the Aswang Song Cycle. Here’s a link to listen to the full song:
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ASWANG the Concert Coming to Napa January 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ASWANG Comes Alive in Napa on January 28, 2018 December 13, 2017 (NAPA, CALIFORNIA) – New Art Media Productions, the makers of the award-winning HARANA documentary, will kick off the New Year with a live concert for their upcoming feature film, ASWANG, Mga Kwentong Halimaw,...
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Florante Receives 2016 Gerbode Composition Award
On February 1, 2017, the Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation announced that Florante Aguilar along with presenting organization KulArts, are one of the six recipients of $50,000 grants to support the creation and production of new music by California composers. Billed as “today’s most influentia...
Read MoreCavite el Viejo – Poblacion & Marulas
An ode to my hometown of Kawit, Cavite (formerly known as Cavite el Viejo) the suite consists of 12 movements named after the town’s barrios. The first two movements, Poblacion and Marulas, are barrios I spent a lot of time riding my bike to from our house in Gahak. These were also the str...
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