Ryan Cayabyab’s sacred music to soar in concert for Yolanda-hit churches

Sacred music composed by Maestro Ryan Cayabyab will be the showcase of "Rise," a benefit concert for the reconstruction of churches and chapels damaged by Typhoon Yolanda, to be held next Wednesday at the Manila Cathedral.

The concert will also feature Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, the Philippine Philharmonic Orhestra under the baton of Maestro Oliver Ochanine, and eight choral groups.

At the press conference launching the benefit concert last week, Cayabyab smiled as if he were sharing a long-held canonical secret. He told a group of journalists he had composed eight masses: two concert masses and six congregational masses.

A sacred musical composition, a “mass” is loosely defined as any vocal composition, with or without instrumental accompaniment, for a large or chamber vocal group. The most famous example is Mozart’s Great Mass in c, K.427, which he created for rendition at the Salzburg Cathedral, as a musical composer in the service of the Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg.

Cayabyab said that among the masses which composed and will be performed at the concert are “Sanctus,” “Aba Po Santa Maria,” “Prayer of St. Francis,” “Gloria,” “Anima Christi,” and “Te Deum.”

“You’ve heard and sung some of these songs in your churches. Maybe you do not know that I’ve written these musical compositions,” said Cayabyab, who turned 60 years old on May 4.

“I am able to give back the fruits of talents given to me through these sacred musical compositions,” he added.

From student to master

A little-known fact about the gifted Cayabyab is that he first studied accounting at the University of the Philippines Diliman, but had to leave his studies to work as an accompanist for the Development Bank of the Philippines Chorale.

To complete the requirements for his 1983 graduation from the UP College of Music, he premiered his first sacred musical composition, “Misa,” performed by the UP Concert Chorus at Abelardo Hall.

Another of his “unrecognized” but path-breaking sacred musical compositions was the “Te Deum” in choir, kulintang, piano, and balimbing.

Many choirs have also asked Cayabyab to write them masses for their travels abroad.

For example, the Madrigal Singers asked him to compose “Aba Po Santa Maria” while a unnamed priest requested him to write “Anima Christi.”

Papal award

On Dec. 21, 2013, Cayabyab was given a papal award at the chapel of Villa San Miguel for his contribution to sacred music and religious themes.

The Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice is the highest honor bestowed on the laity by the Pope for “distinguished service to the church.”

Among the sacred musical scores Cayabyab has written are choral pieces, two Latin masses, sacred songs, psalms, and three musicals with religious themes: “Magnificat,” “Ang Birhen ng Caysasay,” and “Lorenzo.”

Dream choir

The centerpieces of the concert are the PPO and a 150-voice choir—the latter of which fulfills one of Cayabyab's dreams.

“It was a dream of mine that one day I would have a 100-voice choir and a full orchestra to sing my sacred music. Now, the concert will be a completion of my dream. We will have a 150-voice choir,” he said.

Cayabyab was referring to the seven Philippine-based choirs—the Aleron, Coro Tomasino, Mass Appeal, PNU Chorale, University of the East Chorale, UP Dawani Women’s Choir, UPSA Alumni Group, and the Hawaii-based Voices of Aloha from the University of Hawaii in Manoa, who will be performing his compositions.

Other vocalists tapped for the concert include Basil Valdez, Dulce, Jed Madela, Clarissa Ocampo, Ervin Lumauag, and the Ryan Cayabyab Singers.

Yolanda benefit

The concert will benefit Caritas Manila’s Damayan sa Haiyan. It aims to raise P20 million for building 20 new chapels and churches in communities in Samar and Leyte, said Caritas Manila executive director Fr. Anton Pascual.

At the same press conference, Cardinal Tagle said that the efforts “to rebuild the churches made of stones and steel and iron sheets are not only a tribute to God and to our faith, but also a tribute to the living communities and living faith.”

“Our contribution in helping rebuild these churches is our contribution in the unshakeable faith of our brothers and sisters [in Samar and Leyte]. No typhoon and earthquake can destroy the faith of our people,” he added.

“The reconstruction of the world and the salvation of the world on the human level depend so much on artists. Artist can lead us to deep truths which serve as the foundations of civilization and of the community that knows what justice, true love, and communion mean,” said the cardinal, drawing loud applause from the crowd of journalists and Rise sponsors.

Chris Millado, vice president and artistic director of the Cultural Center of the Philppines, said at the same press conference that the CCP cooperated with the Catholic hierarchy in the past to stage concerts in heritage churches such as the Manila Cathedral, San Agustin Church, the Imus Cathedral in Cavite.

“Our heritage churches are wonderful places for the performance of great Filipino music,” Millado said.

“There is no better way to exemplify the power of worship and the power of music in terms of helping our people begin to rebuild, move on, and to reconstruct than 'Rise',” he added.

Esther Santos, representing one of the private sector companies sponsoring the concert, said it was originally proposed for Cayabyab to hold a musical concert to express gratitude for the papal award and to mark his 60th birthday.

But with the new reason for the concert, said Jeffrey Tarayao, also from the private sector, “we have to be proud of Mr. Cayabyab and his music and talents and his ways of bringing us together in helping others to rise from the ruins.” — BM/VC, GMA News


"Rise! A Rebuilding from the Ruins," a benefit concert to raise funds for the reconstruction of chapels and churches devastated by Typhoon Yolanda, features Maestro Ryan Cayabyab and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, with the special participation of Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle.

It will be held on June 11, 7 p.m. at the Manila Cathedral. For ticket inquiries, contact 563-9311, 564-0205, 0999-794-3455, 0905-428-5001 or donorcare@caritasmanila.org.ph.