Music, Capitalism, and Nation: On the Roots of Transcultural Philippine Music

The University of the Philippines College of Music cordially invites the public to an interdisciplinary one-day symposium on the theme "Music, Capitalism, and Nation: On the Roots of Transcultural Philippine Music," on Thursday, 18 August 2016, Abelardo Hall Auditorium,  9AM to 5PM.

A gathering of local music scholars, the symposium will explore the history of music modernity in the country, particularly on the effects of the larger force of late 19th century capitalism in the development of syncretic (transcultural) Philippine music that combined old and new music-cultural elements. Some of the effects of this late 19th century capitalism in the country were the production of the first and only music theory book in Tagalog (paper by  Arwin Q. Tan), "Print Music Commodification and Costumbrismo" (paper by José S Buenconsejo), "Selling Zarzuela" (Isidora Miranda, University of Wisconsin-Madison), "Music Journalism" (Ma. Patricia B. Silvestre), "Localizing Imported Danza" (Ma. Alexandra I. Chua, University of Santo Tomas), "Concept of Individual Property in Music" that led to the first music plagiarism case in the Philippines (Jonas U. Baes). To illustrate the larger ramifications in the incorporation of European cultural presence in modernizing Asia, Dr. David Francis Urrows, special guest speaker from Hong Kong Baptist University, will discuss "Music Education in China under the French Protectorate as Cultural Interchange." Philippine Studies expert Dr. Ramon "Bomen" G. Guillermo will be the keynote speaker.

The symposium is open to the public, especially to college teachers in the humanities and social science, with conference fee of 500 pesos (cost for conference kit and admission ticket to Enzo Medel piano concert). The symposium itself is free to students with valid IDs.

The symposium is part of celebrating UP College of Music's 100th year of foundation and it disseminates individual researches of a book project titled "The Making of Philippine National Culture," provided to the College by the Office of the UP Vice President for Academic Affairs, headed by Dr. Gisela Concepcion.

A recital of 19th century piano music by famed young Filipino virtuoso Enzo Medel will cap the symposium. Enzo Medel will play works by Franz Liszt whose music precisely grew out of market relations in Europe. For inquiries, please call Lolit at +632-981-8500 local 2629, 2639 or +632-926-0026.

Venue: UP College Of Music (Abelardo Hall Auditorium)