https://matthewmuneses.bandcamp.com
Matthew MuñesesNoli Me Tángere, released 03 June 20221. Alin Mang Lahi2. Kundiman ni Rizal3. Canto de María Clara4. I. A Son Returns5. II. Cruelty and Injustice6. III. Education for All7. IV. Revolution and LiberationOn his second album, Noli Me Tángere, Matthew Muñeses explores his heritage by paying tribute to the late 19th-century Philippine national hero José Rizal.Inspired by the novel of the same name by Rizal, Muñeses began writing a suite of music in 2019 that would form the backbone of this album. Half-Filipino, but born and raised in America, the saxophonist wrestled with questions of identity and belonging—as he puts it, “being in a country and trying to normalize or assimilate in a way, but still trying to retain your roots.” The first half of the album unfolds with instrumental interpretations of music and poetry by Rizal and his contemporaries, a showcase for Muñeses’s confident yet sensitive approach to these fin de siècle melodies heard in a modern jazz quintet setting. Supported by a working band of Chicago-based musicians that include trumpeter Zubin Edalji on trumpet (in a return appearance following Muñeses’s 2015 début, Threshold), Stu Mindeman on piano, Clark Sommers on bass, and Dana Hall on drums (formerly the leader’s teacher at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign), Muñeses illuminates these historic works with an elegant, understated flair. A multi-part sequence on the opening track, “Alin Mang Lahi,” alternates rhythmic cycles of five and a broken triplet feel, while impressionistic harmonies fill out the solo improvisations on “Canto de María Clara.” Edalji’s cantabile trumpet statement during the minor key “Kundiman” strikes a plaintive note before the piece concludes in major.On the album’s centerpiece and namesake, the Noli Me Tángere suite, Muñeses takes greater liberties in his own compositions without forsaking the foundational melodic and rhythmic ideas set forth in the preceding tracks. Saxophonist Miguel Zenón joins as well, and the two altos punctuate and interweave throughout as sonic counterparts (Muñeses can be heard in the left channel, Zenón in the right). Highlights include the leader’s stately solo over a rich field of harmonic color on “A Son Returns” and the sparks flying between Muñeses and Zenón on the polyrhythmic “Cruelty and Injustice.” The third movement, “Education for All,” has a remarkable metrical contour that brings to mind precursors like Joe Henderson and his tricky composition “Gazelle,” providing ample inspiration for the soloists. The final movement, “Revolution and Liberation,” ends on an optimistic note while leaving something unresolved—more work to be done in the present day, despite the progress that’s been made.In drawing a line from the historic emergence of a post-colonial Philippines to the ongoing battle for justice in America in the 21st century, Muñeses shows how music can provide both a respite from our daily challenges and a renewal of our motivation to persevere. Noli Me Tangere is his call for a more equitable and fair society in contemporary America; hear it now.—Kevin SunDecember 2021 About the Music:Alin Mang Lahi Translated as "In Any Race," Alin Mang Lahi is a song composed by José Rizal that expresses 19th-century Filipinos' desire for sovereignty (or at least equity) during the last years of Spain's colonization of the islands. The text can be understood as an anti-imperialist poem, reflecting Filipinos’ unwillingness to be ruled by Spanish foreign oppressors as well as their willingness to fight to restore freedom and self-governance to their countrymen.Kundiman ni Rizal A kundiman is a love song, traditionally a serenade from a young man to the woman of his affections. The text of Kundiman ni Rizal was written by Rizal and the musical setting composed by Francisco Buencamino, and they express Rizal’s intense love for his Philippine motherland and of his vision of a sovereign Philippine nation. This work also shows how Filipino culture is inextricably linked with Spanish culture; the Spanish influence, both rhythmically and harmonically, is most apparent here.Canto de María Clara A poem in Rizal's landmark novel Noli Me Tangere (1886-87), Canto de María Clara is featured during a scene where María Clara, her love Ibarra (the protagonist and stand-in for Rizal), and their friends are having a picnic and fishing on a lake. María Clara, described as having the most beautiful voice in the village, performs this song describing her love for her homeland along with a foreboding final verse about patriotic martyrdom. The original musical setting of the poem was composed by Juan de Sahagun Hernandez.Noli Me Tángere SuiteThis suite represents my impressions of major themes in Rizal's novel: oppression and injustice, hope and faith. The Latin phrase noli me tangere was used in Rizal's time to describe a cancer of the eyelids; as an ophthalmologist by training, Rizal chose these words to allude to the Philippine natives' blindness to the corrupt practices of the government and clergy. I wrote this music in the hope of promoting change towards a more racially just and equitable society.I. A Son Returns My bittersweet interpretation of Ibarra's return to the Philippines at the beginning of the novel. His relief in returning home is tempered by his sadness for the cause: his father has passed away. II. Cruelty and Injustice The twin alto parts symbolize the brothers Basilio and Crispín, altar boys frequently accused of stealing from the Church at the expense of their mother’s mental health. This movement conveys the pain of trying to stand together, only to be torn apart by the cruelty of others.III. Education for All Ibarra discovers that children in the village are being mistreated and skipping school altogether because of the severity of their schoolmasters and their own need to work for food. Ibarra works to build and start a new school to provide universal access to education; this movement represents his inherent optimism.IV. Epilogue: Revolution and Liberation Rizal's novel helped inspire a revolution in the Philippines, but I am under no illusion that this musical work will have a similar effect, nor do I advocate for a new American nation. What I do advocate for, which is more in line with Rizal's original intentions, is that people who live together, despite coming from different heritages and cultures, commit to self-governing with fairness and equity for all. —Matthew Muñeses
Category: Arts & Entertainment
Country: United States of America (US)
Currency : USD
Platform: Bandcamp
Technologies used: Fastly CDN
Social links:
Suitable for marketing agencies, app developers and new business ideas.
No credit card required.
The easiest ecommerce data platform for lead generation and market research
© Copyright 2024 MyLeadFox