Dr Jose Maceda holding a flat gong during a trip in Bontok

The legacy of National Artist José Monserrat Maceda, composer, scholar, philosopher and humanist, covers a wide breadth of human endeavours, interests and aspirations, with special significance to the musical cultures of the Philippines and Southeast Asia vis a vis the Asian civilization at large, as well as the rest of the world.

To celebrate Jose Maceda’s 100th birth year, the U.P. Center for Ethnomusicology launched the Maceda100, a series of special events featuring an international symposium, musical performances of his compositions, exhibits, and research activities scattered throughout the year of 2017 with an official kick-off on January 31, 2017 (his 100th birthday). 

The centrepiece of the Maceda100 year- long celebration will be held on September 25-26, 2017: The Maceda100: Jose Maceda Centennial International Symposium.

It will be conducted in the form of speeches and round-table discussion and will be attended by speakers and participants who are experts in the field of musicology, ethnomusicology, music performance and composition, as well as contemporaries and guests from related fields.

Pagsamba display during the Maceda100 Prelude exhibit

EXCHANGES, the first of two concerts that coincide with the Symposium, will be held on September 25, 2017 (7:30 PM). It features 3 works by Maceda, namely: 2 Pianos and 4 Percussion Groups, Exchanges, and Siasid. The concert is under the direction and baton of Chino Toledo and will be performed by Grupo 20/21.

On September 26, 2017, an exhibit curated by Dayang Yraola titled “Attitude of the Mind” will have its official opening at 4:30 PM in the Bulwagang Juan Luna, Main Gallery of the Cultural Centre of the Philippines. 

The artists featured in the exhibit are Ringo Bunoan, Tad Ermitaño, Leo Abaya, Chris Brown, Malek Lopez, Arvin Nogueras, Ricky Francisco, and Rayla Heide.

Cassettes100 performance at the Vargas Museum last February 2 2017 during the Maceda100 Kick-off

The second concert will be held on the same day at 6:00PM-- the re-staging and homecoming of Casettes100 in the Main Theater Lobby of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Cassettes 100 was first performed in 1971 at the CCP lobby where one hundred ‘musicians’ weaved their way through an ‘audience’ strolling around, each carrying a cassette player playing one of the hundred pre-recorded tracks of various Philippine instruments.  

This restaging will make use of new media (MP3 players) in the performance and will be under the direction of Dr. Jonas Baes and will feature artworks by Lani Maestro and Jun Yee.

Young Jose Maceda

The symposium, performances, and exhibits intend to showcase artists and scholars who are students and alumni of the University of the Philippines and are open to experts and scholars in music composition, musicology, ethnomusicology, anthropology, and related fields; archivists and information specialists; and, teachers and undergraduate and graduate students of music.

 

For those interested, you may e-mail  upethno@gmail.com to secure a spot for the exciting events to come.