An Asian music concert entitled “Bulan at Karawitan” was held under the light of the full moon last 22nd of April 2016 at the University Amphitheater.
The concert was part of the “Diliman Earth Fair,” an outdoor festival in celebration of Earth Day 2016, organized by the UP College of Music (CMu) Department of Musicology headed by Dr. Verne de la Peña, in association with the Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts.
Inspired by the moon-viewing ceremonies practiced in Japan and other parts of Asia, Bulan at Karawitan featured performances by UP Tugtugang Musika Asyatika (UP Tugma), Auit Vocal Ensemble, and works by UP Composers of New Music (CoNeMus).
Led by Prof. Mary Katherine Trangco, the Auit Vocal Ensemble and the UP CONEMUS are student organizations with a thrust towards 21st-century contemporary art music. The Auit Vocal Ensemble is the only choral group the exclusively sings music from this genre. They have premiered many works including the choral concert of the Likha-Likas: Asian Composers League International Festival in November 2015. The UP CONEMUS, on the other hand, is a group set to advance “New Music” within and beyond the confines of the Academe through audio CD productions, workshops, symposia, outreach concerts, and lectures of a primarily academic nature.
As the performing arm of the Musicology Department, UP Tugma aims to develop a more conscious audience base with a deeper understanding and interest in Asian musical traditions and to raise the banner of Philippine music in the international community. Founded in 2007 and led by Dr. de la Peña, UP Tugma dutifully performed in the program with an interesting repertoire of instruments such as the Maguindanao kulintang, Korean samulnori, Japanese koto, Chinese sizhu and Javanese gamelan.
The Diliman Earth Fair also featured various booths with food, arts and crafts, and other recreational activities. Entrance to the fair and concert was free of charge.
