Concert Review

The concert I went to for this review was one of the collections of
scheduled concert (Faculty Concert Series) held by faculty members of UP
College of Music. The title of the program was Christmas Jazz on the Grass
which was performed by the UP Jazz Ensemble with vocal performances by
Phoebe Bitoon and Lara Maigue, narration by Prof. Edru Abraham and
conducted by Rayben Maigue.
This was one of the concerts I have chosen because it was free (which we
Filipinos like the most), but we have the option to give a certain amount as a
donation to the UP Tacloban cross registrants here in UP Diliman, so they
could be able to have study here without worrying about their miscellaneous
expenses. I find this very noble for the faculty of members of the College of
Music, and this was a way for me to not only enjoy music that I dont listen
to often but also help my fellow Iskos and Iskas from another UP
constituent.
I really loved the setting of the whole Christmas performance, since it
was all done, as the title suggests, on the front lawn of Abelardo Hall. I loved
how the soundscape of the surrounding area, especially the sounds of the
motorized vehicles passing by and the trees shaking a little because of the
wind, makes the moment feel fresh to the ears. The lighting was perfect with
the colors, like green and violet, made me feel that the Christmas day was
nearing its peak, especially with the chilly breeze hitting me right in the face.
During the performance, I loved how they played their instruments a lot.
I dont listen to jazz that much since I dont know many people who listen to
jazz nor have any influences on the said genre, but I enjoyed how all those
classical instruments made me feel swinging, floating, and Christmas-y.
Since I had a friend there with me who also wanted to enjoy music, the day
was never a dull moment. We both tapped our foot to the beat and rhythm
of each holiday jingle. Even though each song was played on the radio

especially during the Christmas holidays, it was a breath of fresh air to hear
it being played in a new and uncommon way, especially to the mainstream
masses. There were also some children dancing to the songs which made it
more enjoyable to watch. One of the female vocalists even entertained the
kids while doing her stuff. It was pretty amazing.
I wasnt able to finish it because I had to get home early. But I still tried
to prolong my stay just so I could make every moment last since I think I
wont be able to hear such performances for a long time. It was a
memorable experience that I wouldnt forget. Even though I dont have any
single photograph to mark that day, I still have the sounds in my head to
make an imaginary playlist to revisit each song performed in the program.