Aaron Aguila in concert. A full recital after his last one in Japan a year ago. Photo by Floyd Evangelista Flores.
“Lean your
body forward slightly to support the guitar against your chest, for
the poetry of the music should resound in your heart.” — Andres
Segovia
A look at how
closely Aaron Aguila connects with classical guitar may be seen in a
video of him playing a version of L’hymne a l’amour, an Edith
Piaf favorite arranged by Roland Dyens.
It is one
beautiful piece that easily brings one down memory lane as it is
popular in its Brenda Lee version as If You Love Me (Really Love Me).
But this special
arrangement for classical guitar takes the cake. The sentiment
remains but purified in its distinct form by the arranger. Listen how
it ends with some slow but haunting plucking of the strings. It
leaves you taking a long breath and taking stock of your past.
Iloilo-based artist Rock Drilon was close to doing a standing ovation
on his own upon hearing it on FB.
The Edith Piaf
favorite is one of the attractions in the October 29 recital of
Aguila at the Alliance Francoise de Manille.
In more ways than
one, the recital is a form of artistic self-appraisal for the artist
who is a former first prize winner of the Jakarta ASEAN Classical
Guitar Festival and the National Music Competition for Young Artists.
He has taken his
music to the provinces in a Bicol island called Catanduanes with
colleague Sting Asistores and always, the jury’s verdict is
confirmed by islanders whose diet of classical guitar music is
limited to merrymaking and serenading maidens in the countryside.
Aaron Aguila by
the sea after a concert. Photo by Floyd Evangelista Flores.
To be sure, his
last recital was a year ago in Japan during a concert tour. Between
winning competitions, teaching and lately studying for his master’s
degree, he thought a recital would reflect his choice of music at
this phase of his life as a performing artist.
He points out: “A
recital signifies growth of a musician, not just technically but more
on your state of maturity as a person. Planning a repertoire allows
you to reflect on how you relate to the music. And so you choose
pieces not just to impress people but to be able to convey something
to your audience in the best way you can. Part of the growth is your
purpose every time you perform. For me now, a recital is a very
personal and intimate experience. I see it now beyond and more than
just a show. I do it for the glory of God and to touch something pure
and deep in my audiences.”
The October 29
program is really a mixture of old and new pieces. But piecing them
together to find a unifying frame is a challenge and for him, the
process is nothing but enjoyable. “Somehow I found a way to blend
new pieces with my standard pieces close to my heart. It takes a good
process to present them together in one concert setting. It is a good
blend of the old and the new in your creative process,” he said.
He is sure a
piece like Piazzolla’s tango called Invierno Porteno will easily
appeal to followers of classical guitar.
Aaron Aguila’s
October 29 concert poster.
Aguila remains
optimistic about the future of classical guitar especially in the
onset of the social media. “In the past, you have to buy recordings
to get in touch with the masters of classical guitar. With social
media, they are just YouTube away. You can actually befriend some of
them. But watching videos of masterclasses is another bonus. I just
saw Sting (Asistores) playing something in the masterclass of
Judicael Perroy. I am happy to say that colleagues in this calling
are actually doing very well. Yes, technology has hastened
appreciation for classical guitar. We just need to use it to our
advantage.”
Yes, he sees a
good future for classical guitar in this country. “One distinct
development is the growing number of participants in the category B
of the National Music Competition for Young Artists. They bode well
for the future of this instrument.”
For his October
29 recital, Aguila is using an Andrea Tacchi guitar lent by Guitar
Galleria. “It projects very well and it has balanced tones. I am
dreaming of having one in the future.”
(Aaron Aguila’s
October 29 program includes Bach’s Prelude, Fugue, Allegro BWV 998,
Ponce’s Sonatina Meridional, Piazzolla’s Invierno Porteno, De
Falla’s Danza Del Molinero and L’hymne a l’amour Edith Piaf as
arranged by Roland Dyens. Alliance Francaise de Manille is located at
209 Nicanor Garcia Street, Bel-Air II, Makati City. For tickets, call
(02) 895 7585.)
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