Madz Case

When I stepped into my first concert with the Madz (as the Philippine Madrigal Singers are often called), I honestly expected to fall asleep in between the program assuming how this would be one of those boring classical concerts. But as soon as they began singing, even words could not describe the sound they were producing. How in the world did they just do that?

October 2007. It was the Philippine Madrigal Singers' homecoming concert from a victorious European Grand Prix for Choral Singing. This choir, founded in the year 1963, now holds the record for being the first choir in the world and the only choir in Asia to win the prestigious competition twice (Filipino Express, 2007).

That night, they performed their impressive competition repertoire: the madrigals Revoici Venir du Printemps and Jaglied by French and German composers, the sacred Pater Noster by Filipino composer, John Pamintuan, and the playful Kaisa-isa Niyan by Madz alumnus, Nilo Alcala.

But what caught my attention was their rendition of Randal Stroope's We Beheld Once Again the Stars, an Italian composition based on Dante Alighieri's Inferno. Their impeccable musical interpretation, semicircular seated formation and heartfelt facial expressions elicited the right emotions that captivated many in the audience, most especially during the part where Dante describes the suspense-filled escape from the legion of demons towards a tiny light at the end of a tunnel. Everything was just outstandingly phenomenal to the extent of my being redundant. (Link of Philippine Madrigal Singers' We Beheld Once Again the Stars: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epT2dc2z0nc. Reader is requested to view all video links).

That evening awakened the musician in me. It blessed me with the experience of being both victim and witness to music's power of bringing people to tears, putting smiles on faces and enriching souls with life. It inspired the musicphile in me to pursue a long emerging passion after seeing how the Madz moved their audience with fervor and more importantly, how music embodied a medium that made a difference for our country and in the lives of others.