Saturday, May 31, 2008

Philippine Brass Band



Featuring Pandacan Original Band. Conducted by Major Ambrosio Ordoña. Arranged by Martin C. Mendoza. Produced by William Leary. Released on Wilear's Record (RM. 266 William Li Yao Building; Rizal Avenue, Manila, Philippines; TEL. 3-20-16 LOC. 16). Cover Design: Dads F. Asañon. Studio: C.A.I. Recording Studio. Technician: Ric Santos. Back blurb written by Nene Riego (a Popular Philippine Publicist).

"[O]ur native tunes will come reverberating into our ears...haunting, as though knocking into our hearts to care for them...they, being a part of our souls, our lives, our ALL...
In this album, the 24-piece Philippine Brass Band under the baton of Major Ambrocio Ordoña will bring to us a string of wonderful and undying folk songs from the Visayas, Mindanao and the Luzon provinces - Pampanga, Ilocos and Rizal."

This collection of brass band beats was made by and for the Philippines. Maybe that's why I can't find anything about it online. Regardless, it's a fantastic compilation of marching music and while we often associate such songs with football and high school, these are traditional marches from the islands themselves. Eg.: Philippine Air Medley, Atin Cu Pung Singsing, Dungdungwen Kanto, Kundiman San Roque 1800 and the Philippine National Anthem. Ambrosio's done well, very well.

Final Verdict: "To them, from us....Mabuhay!!!"

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