LEGAZPI CITY, July 1 (PNA) – The orchestra “Kontemporaryong Gamelan Pilipino” (Kontra-GaPi) Ethnic Music and Dance Ensemble will bring to Albay and to local music enthusiasts awareness and skills training in music that is native to the Philippines.
An orchestra with 20 members from the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City, Kontra-GaPi specializes in the use of traditional (pre-Hispanic) Filipino instruments, especially the “gamelan.”
The gamelan consists of gongs and drums; wood and metal xylophones; flutes and whistles; assorted bamboo, wooden and metal percussion and voices.
More than a musical event, the activity will start with a main concert at the Albay Astrodome on July 25,
At the concert, Kontra-GaPi artists will sing, dance, mime and play as many as ten instruments each for about 90 minutes.
The Marcial O. Rañola Rondalla will be the front act.
According to Dr. Sabas C. Loriaga, president of the board of trustees of the Simon of Cyrene Foundation Inc. (SCFI), the event will help create awareness and appreciation of the Filipino culture as well as advancement of community-based and culture-based tourism in Albay.
“It will promote our advocacy for inclusion. The hearing-impaired persons with disabilities (PWDs) can watch the show. The visually impaired who can hear the music and all other persons with disability will enjoy the concert,” Loriaga said.
After the concert, he said, a series of workshops will be conducted for teachers and students from selected high schools and colleges, who would like to develop a repertoire on traditional instruments.
The workshops will run until July 31.
“All the proceeds of this project will benefit the children and PWDs in their quest for education, dignity, inclusion, autonomy and livelihood,” he said.
Kontra-GaPi has been made possible with SCFI’s collaboration with the Provincial Government of Albay, Dios Mabalos Po Foundation, Inc., TAYO, JCI Daraga and partners in the church. (PNA)