Kaisa-isa Niyan (Nilo Alcala) Philippine Madrigal Singers at the 2013 ACDA National Conference

Bagbagto
Nilo Alcala
Philippine Madrigal Singers


BAGBAGTO or Stone War is a composition based on a well-known gibberish chant of the Igorot tribe from Mountain Province in the Philippines. A tradition that is not practiced anymore, the chanting of Bagbagto is done during the dry season to ensure a good harvest:

The Igorots assembled at a dry river bed where opposing teams faced each other across the river and proceeded to throw stones. Those who were able to cross the river bed amidst a hail of stones are declared victors. Losers and victors alike received wounds and lost teeth but a bloody battle was thought to ensure a good crop of sweet potato. Curiously...no revenge was taken by the losers and the maimed were helped by the victors to get up and get assistance from the local herb doctors to stop the bleeding. (source: Physical Activities in the Philippines During the Pre-Spanish Period by Janice Ann Beran, Iowa State University)


Bagbagto/Stone Wars (excerpt)- Nilo Alcala/Philippine Madrigal Singers

Kusiilo Si Bao (The turtle is a Chef* - Nilo Alcala
*composition based on a folk chant from Maguindanao, Philippines

performed by The Archipelago Singers, Indonesia
(Ega O. Azarya,  dir.)

Dendi dendi, dendi dendi,
Dendi dendi, dendi bona dendi.
	Kusinilo si bao ka aya na kumpalito
Dendi bona dendi 
	Kukulan a ulonin na da pulane tiyanin.	
Dendi bona dendi (dendi bona dendi)
	Ikog gin ka kaluda, dendi, bona dendi,
Dendi o dendi, dendi o dendi 
	Kayo banso ang amin, a dendi bona dendi	


Rough Translation:

Dendi dendi, dendi dendi,
Dendi dendi, dendi bona dendi.
	The turtle is a good chef, a complete kitchen too
Dendi bona dendi 
	His head is the grater; his stomach is the stove
Dendi bona dendi 
	His tail is the ladle, dendi, bona dendi,	
Dendi o dendi, dendi o dendi 
	And his legs are firewood, a dendi bona dendi	


Kusinilo Si Bao (excerpt)- Nilo Alcala/The Archipelago Singers

Papanok A Lakitan (Messenger Bird)
Nilo Alcala/Philippine Madrigal Singers

based on a Maguindanaoan Chant (Southern Philippines)


Papanok a lakitan
Papanok a lakitan
Ilakit ako nengka ki diko mawatan galing.


Messenger bird, 
Messenger bird,
Tell my beloved I am not too far away.


Papanok A Lakitan (excerpt) - Nilo Alcala/Philippine Madrigal Singers

Ceremonial Burning
words and music by Nilo Alcala

I have fears to burn			
Thoughts too ill to let pervade
I know a flame that quickens inside must purge these wraiths.

I fan this flame and it craves for more kindling.
This torch of courage burns them, nothing escapes.

And when the embers have died
There’s new light…
from the ash

Behold this blaze inside my heart.


Ceremonial Burning (excerpt) - Nilo Alcala/Philippine Madrigal Singers

Be Thou My Vision features a haunting, otherworldly choral atmosphere underpinning a solo Celtic flute. The nostalgia gives birth to a melancholy Irish keen sung by a soprano soloist, using the original 6th century Old Irish poetry, which transforms into a lush, soundtrack-like setting of the beloved hymn. To purchase, please visit www.TimothyMichaelPowell.com

Be Thou My Vision

Wir freuen uns sehr bei Glitterhouse Records auf die kommende Veröffentlichung des Live Mitschnittes einer unvergesslichen musikalischen Nacht. Die in Holland geborene Sängerin und Songwriterin Chantal Acda als Duo vereint mit Jazz Gitarrist und Grammy Preisträger Bill Frisell's Music!

„Live at Jazz Middelheim“ erscheint am  25. Mai via Glitterhouse und kann hier vorbestellt werden:
Glitterhouse Mailorder ► https://goo.gl/bQBFUD
iTunes ► https://goo.gl/TPuUvn

Chantal Acda & Bill Frisell - 'Endless'

Acda en de Munnik en de Google Voice -  Niet of nooit geweest 

Acda en de munnik en de Google Voice -  Niet of nooit geweest

Hope; and the Songs that Inspire it (Catholic Church 2018)

Pilgrim's Hymn (from The Three Hermits) - Stephen Paulus

Geript van 'Zingen' met Acda en De Munnik, d.d. 23-01-2011.
Een duo dat klinkt alsof het niet twee, maar één paar stembanden heeft. Het ontstaan van een nieuw lied is bij Acda & De Munnik een zoektocht naar ultieme harmonie.

Acda en De Munnik - Woorden van een Ander

I'm a composer and conductor for media and stage

The STMA Concert Choir is an advanced mixed choir for SATB voices in grades 10-12. The 72 member choir is conducted by Brandon Berger & Joseph Osowski.

The nationaly-acclaimed ensemble has performed with: Voces8, The Singers (Minnesota Choral Artists), The Concordia Choir, The Iowa State Singers, The Wartburg Choir to name a few.

 The STMA Concert Choir has performed across the nation with performances at the Regional-ACDA Convention in Chicago, IL; Wartburg College - Waverly, IA; Luther College Dorian Festival - Decorah, IA; Concordia College - Moorhead, MN; MN-ACDA Convention to name a few.

Nilo Alcala’s compositions and arrangements have been performed in Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. His choral suite Manga Pakalagian has been hailed as “extraordinary...” (Eric Whitacre), “very fine...” (Morten Lauridsen), “...powerful... spectacularly engaging” (Lauri’s List), “...exuberant and at times hypnotic...”(Cultural Cocktail Hour), and “...scaled peaks of genius” (Asian Journal).

Alcala made history for being the first composer from the Philippines to receive the prestigious Aaron Copland House Residency Award (2017), as well as the first Filipino to be commissioned by the Grammy-nominated Los Angeles Master Chorale and premiered at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. 

Alcala’s awards also include the POLYPHONOS Young Composer Award from The Esoterics (Seattle, WA), the 2nd Prize Asian Composers League Young Composer Award (Israel), and Ani ng Dangal (Harvest of Honor) from the Office of the President of the Philippines. His commissions include the National Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA); Andrea O. Veneracion International Choral Festival; Korean Ministry of Culture; Asia-Europe Foundation; and premieres by the Metro Manila Concert Orchestra. 

Alcala was composer-in-residence of the Philippine Madrigal Singers (UNESCO Artist for Peace) which premiered his works in international competitions such as the Florilege Vocal de Tours (France); the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing (Italy); and events including the American Choral Directors Association National Conference (Dallas, TX); the 9th World Symposium on Choral Music (Argentina); and America Cantat 7 (Colombia). 

An Asian Cultural Council grantee, Alcala is also a Billy Joel Fellow at Syracuse University where he earned an MMus in Composition and received the Irene L. Crocker Music Award. He holds a BM in Composition at the University of the Philippines, graduating Magna cum laude. 

A versatile composer, Alcala also scores for the screen. His music for the film Homecoming (Gil Portes, Director) earned nominations for Best Musical Score at the Metro Manila Film Festival and Star Awards for Movies. He is also part of the composers team for Train Station, a ground-breaking international film by CollabFeature with 40 directors from 25 of countries. Alcala also recently scored White Horse Pictures’ short documentary Candlestick Park Fans (The Last Ticketed Concert of The Beatles) to promote Ron Howard’s “The Beatles: Eighth Days A Week”. He is currently music director of Club Six Studios, a Silicon Valley-based mobile video game company.

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