Two on the National Anthem

DON'T be bored by all the columns on the flag and the National Anthem, this will be the last -- at least for a few months. Based on e-mail response to the different ways the anthem is sung these days, we hope to standardize it by the end of the year to guide everyone on the proper and respectful way of singing it.

Let me share two e-mail comments that provide different views on the subject. From Rolf Campo:

"I read your column about the right way to sing the National Anthem. I am impressed with your knowledge about our National Anthem. As I read your column, I have a notion that the particular arrangement that you are describing is the beautiful arrangement of the late Prof. Lucio D. San Pedro. I was able to play it when I was still in the symphony orchestra and concert band. I also heard it probably from the UP [University of the Philippines] Concert Chorus, the Madrigal Singers and, as you said, the choral group of Mr. Joel Navarro for the sign on and sign off of a particular
TV station.

"Well for me, despite what you stated as against the flag and herald code, I found the arrangement very nice and inspiring. As a musician, whenever I hear and play that arrangement, I have goose bumps because of its calm and slow start that eventually change[s] to higher key and culminates in a very triumphant ending. It might not be the standard way of singing the National Anthem but we have to appreciate the effort of our fellow Filipinos to show and demonstrate in any way they sing or play. For me the effort of a person to contribute to enhance any of our patriotic hymns not only the anthem is a commendable effort.

"We might have different perspectives on this matter but for me as a Filipino and one who appreciates music, the contribution made by the composer is laudable enough and deserving of praise. The version for me is intended to enhance our National Anthem but I think the composer and the singer have no intention of desecrating it."

Jonathan Velasco, conductor of the Ateneo Chamber Singers, commented on the San Pedro arrangement:

"San Pedro's arrangement start[s] slow, almost prayer-like, then repeats from the beginning with the brisk tempo, albeit in a key that is only singable for a choir. I believe this is also the arrangement behind the solo singer that you heard in the mall.

"Before this 're-arrangement,' the popular choral version was the Madrigal Singers'. This arrangement starts in the key of F (first note fa), and is totally in unison (no division into soprano-alto-tenor-bass) until 'kailan pa ma'y di magdidilim.' Then in the next line, 'Lupa ng araw, ng luwalhati't pagsinta,' all the way until the end, the chorus bursts forth into four parts, and, combined with the change in key (built in by the composer, and which I consider brilliant) to B flat, is enough to make hair stand on end. And all of these WITHOUT any change in tempo. The Madrigal arrangement in F major was easier to sing, because the highest note (Bu in 'Buhay' and Ang in the line 'Ang mamatay') is only E flat, which is easily reached by anyone. On the other hand, the "official" key of G major, in the new arrangement by Ed Nepomuceno, has the highest note F, which is a little bit straining for ordinary folks. It also has no change in tempo.

"In all my workshops for choral conductors here in the country, I emphasize that, although the official key is G major, it will be better for all concerned if they sing it in F major. Because, I said, 'Nobody from the DepEd [Department of Education] is bringing a tuning fork every time you sing the National Anthem anyway.' As long as everybody can sing it in a very comfortable key (not very high and not very low), then all is well. "

I e-mailed and asked whether it was a good idea to have various recording artists sing the anthem and get young people to appreciate the anthem in their times and idiom. Velasco replied:

"If they do the arrangements like the one done by San Pedro, then I think it will be detrimental rather than helpful. The young 'uns will certainly take notice, but then they take notice of anything new and controversial anyway. Wouldn't it be enough to get the artists and let them sing the anthem in a key easily sung by Juan de la Cruz? Like my proposed F major. No frills, no scatting, no Grace Nono-esque wailing. Just good, patriotic singing. I think the presence of the artists is enough so people will take notice.

"And you're right. It's more important that people can sing it, rather than be official and have a hard time reaching for the high notes. By the way, the official key of the United States anthem has also a high note of F (...of the freeeeee...), although I don't know how much they follow their official version.

"If it were up to me, I'd make it official at F major. After all, the present key of G major is also not original, since it was formerly in C major, then they changed it to G major I think in the 1950s. Now we have a key that is too high. I wonder what they were thinking about, putting it in G major. Well, if they can change it to G major, we can always change it to F major. 'Sabihin na lang natin na overall, bumaba na ang boses ni Juan de la Cruz sa sobrang sigarilyo.' [Let's just say that overall the voice of Juan de la Cruz has deepened because of too much smoking.]"

On that high note we leave the issue temporarily.

Comments are welcome at aocampo@ateneo.edu.