REVIEW OF SELEKSIYON BY AUGUSTO ESPINO

This is a review of Seleksiyon: a collection of Filipino pieces for piano solo and duet.

This writer has performed two of Augusto Espino’s musical outputs: Seleksiyon, the main subject of this review,
and Guhit-tugtugin: a collection of Filipino folksongs arranged for young pianists. The latter was presented in
the 2011 conference of the Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association (PMTA) by this writer.

Duet pieces from Seleksiyon have been performed in Taichung National Theater, in Taichung City, Taiwan, with
Malaysian concert pianist Chuan Li Ko. The concert, entitled, “Around the World in 6 Hands and 88 Keys” was
held on May 17, 2019, and it was as successful as being “full house.” From Espino’s Seleksiyon, the following
duet pieces were included in the concert program: “Katakataka,” “Ahay Tuburan,” “Kenkoy,” and
“Pandangguhan.”

During rehearsals, the first observation Mr. Ko and this writer had was the inventiveness of Espino’s piano
writing. The textures of each piece fill the “space” in the concert hall effectively. Espino’s sense of rhythm is
quite ‘catchy’; it is considered one of the several innovative features of his piano style. This slightly modern
approach to rhythm is combined with a mostly traditional sense of harmony. This duality creates a fresh new
sound when applied to traditional folk songs.

To speak specifically, “Pandangguhan” combines tradition (folk material) with progressive rhythmic and textural
elements in the writing. The hemiolas in this piece, as combined with folk material, creates a new style that is
very much appealing to the new generation of piano students. These pieces are, in fact, very much popular in
recital programs all over the Philippines. This writer has taught some of these pieces to his young Filipino piano
students.

The aforementioned performance of Seleksiyon in Taichung National Theater was enthusiastically received with
a standing ovation and a generous applause from the audience of Taichung City, Taiwan. This writer introduced
the works of Espino by speaking about the pieces and about Filipino culture, immediately before performing.
Besides being a wonderful additional to Filipino piano literature, Seleksiyon is more importantly a perfect vehicle
for spreading Filipino culture around the world.

CLEMENT B. ACEVEDO, Doctor of Musical Arts

Pianist
Artistic Director, Jovita Fuentes & Jose Contreras Music Institute
Associate Professor I, Conservatory of Music
Director, Center for Heritage and Indigenous Cultures
Office of Research and Global Relations
University of San Agustin
Iloilo City, Philippines
Cell: (0917) 798-0315
Email: chic@usa.edu.ph

NOTED BY:

CHUAN LI KO, Candidate – Doctor of Musical Arts

Pianist
Cell: +60 14-9060914
Email: bachko_87@hotmail.com

Email: research@usa.edu.ph | Tel. No.: (033) 337-4844 loc 176| Fax No.: (033) 337-4403