26/07/2021
Bumbl_loid Productions is one with the WMSU Grand Chorale against sensational and unprofessional commentaries made by 89.9 Brigada Zamboanga DURU.
We are one with the choir for a proper and better understanding on how music must be appreciated and understand.
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The WMSU Grand Chorale is in solidarity with our Choirmaster Maestro Jeremiah Calisang, and his sister, Ms. Shalmai Calisang, whose talents are well recognized by the ZamboangueΓ±os, and had brought the Filipino pride in the 2007 World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA).
On July 22, 2021, a commentary program called "Punto Brigada" was aired on 89.9 Brigada Zamboanga DURU, and was anchored by its station manager, Dan Vicente, and radio commentator Jerome Roxas. In their program, the two made a commentary about the performances of Ms. Shalmai Calisang and Maestro Jeremiah Calisang for the song "Zamboanga Hermosa Hymn".
The song was presented as an inspirational song for LUMBRE: A Concert of Hope last May 2020. It was presented by the City Government of Zamboanga in providing hope to ZamboangueΓ±os at the height of COVID-19 Pandemic.
While we understand the intent of their commentaries, we strongly disagree with their comments that were made on the show, especially when the hosts poke fun at how Ms. Shalmai delivers her rendition of the song.
We wish to educate everyone that songs can be delivered differently, depending on how the artist interprets the song, and it varies depending on its genre or theme.
The song was meant to be performed for a concert, and due to the nature of its concert theme, Ms. Shalmai Calisang and Maestro Jeremiah Calisang decided to redeliver the song that can make ZamboangueΓ±os inspired, and to stand up from the crisis that this COVID-19 pandemic has brought to us.
In addition, the organizers of the event had requested to make a unique rendition of Zamboanga Hermosa Hymn for the benefit of the concert.
Despite the song was delivered differently from its original composition, the original musical structure of the hymn was still recognizable.
The idea on making a soulful Zamboanga Hermosa Hymn was approved by the City Government of Zamboanga, of which was then showcased at LUMBRE: A Concert of Hope, and was aired through their official social media accounts.
The city government even utilized the said concert video for its official events. This is in accordance with the City Ordinance 396, series of 2012, where Zamboanga Hermosa Hymn must be performed right after the doxology and the singing of the Philippine National Anthem.
When the song was showcased at the concert, the song immediately received mixed reactions from ZamboangueΓ±os. The majority from these reactions did welcome the song as if it was something new for ZamboangueΓ±os. However, we understand the sentiments from those who disagreed with the deliberation of the song, and that it was performed differently than the way they've used to.
Prior from that performance made by the Calisangs, there were different versions and variations of the Zamboanga Hermosa Hymn that exists and were performed by various ZamboangueΓ±o performers. The deliberation of the hymn from these performers, varies on how they deliver the hymn in accordance to their liking and their genre.
Back to their show, Vicente and Roxas did present various renditions of Zamboanga Hermosa Hymn, to make a comparison with the one that Ms. Shalmai Calisang and Maestro Jeremiah Calisang did at the concert. They presented the Zamboanga Hermosa Hymn which was produced by the Ateneo de Zamboanga University, and another from the Zamboanga Hermosa Chorale.
The one from Ateneo was sung by a female student and was performed in a mellow, high-pitched song, with violin and piano as its accompaniment.
The version by the Zamboanga Hermosa Chorale sang in a choir, complete with four voices of which the chorale arrangement was of their own.
The two performances in comparison were presented differently, with their respective musical arrangements, and both performances were different from the original arrangement of the Zamboanga Hermosa Hymn.
Different arrangements and alterations to the hymn otherwise are allowed, so long as the original musical structure were still recognizable by its listeners.
The WMSU Grand Chorale do have its own arrangement for the Zamboanga Hermosa Hymn, which was originally arranged by Prof. Norma Camins-Conti and is still being used today.
Regardless, we believe that music shouldn't be compared, as artists and performers are not bounded with limitations. We believe that there's nothing wrong with each version, interpretation, and rendition of the Zamboanga Hermosa Hymn, unless if the local government states otherwise.
To begin with, Zamboanga Hermosa Hymn was a music, composed by the country's "King of Jazz", Borromeo Lou. And despite the song didn't sounded like Jazz, the Zamboanga Hermosa Hymn becomes a symbolic song to the hearts of ZamboangueΓ±os, no matter how it was interpreted by various musicians and artists.
We wish everyone to have a better understanding about musical arrangements, the musical structure, and differences in various songs and genres. The deliberation of each performance does vary, depending on how the song was delivered by its performers.
The WMSU Grand Chorale family was also disturbed when Dan Vicente and Jerome Roxas fail to recognize such talents that brought us pride and honor...not just for ZamboangueΓ±os, but also to this country. Being themselves as a journalist from a reputable radio station in the country should have done better by making a thorough research about how music was interpreted and how the song varies from different performers.
We wish for Brigada News FM Zamboanga to have an open discussion with us, in order to correct their commentaries that were made earlier, and that both parties can settle this in a democratic and open manner.
Thank you, and have a great day.
