“Agbiagka, Vintar” was composed in 2009, with lyrics written by my parents, Nick Sr. and Pureza Pacis, and vocals recorded by Vic Omila. This is a nostalgic song about Vintar, the town where I was born in Northern Philippines (Ilocos Norte).
“Ako ay Pilipino/Sa Kabukiran Medley” for violin, flute and piano arranged and performed by Nhick Ramiro Pacis on the piano with flutist Joshua Abrahan and violinist, Brent Lorenzo Taghap. This arrangement was played during the Philippine Cultural Foundation, Inc.’s Classical Concert Series at the Bayanihan Arts and Events Center in Tampa, Florida on July 8, 2012.
Vic Omila and Aga Villagomeza sing “Mga Manok Ay Himasin” from “Ana Maria”, a Filipino zarzuela written by Severino Reyes and composed by Antonio Molina. Piano accompaniment by Nhick Ramiro Pacis. Performed on March 31, 2012 in Tampa, FLorida, “Ana Maria” is a musical play about the saga of a Filipina woman and her husband who is addicted to gambling and cockfighting.
NAIS KO as composed by Ryan Cyabyab and arranged by Nhick Ramiro Pacis, this piece was made awesome by 4 SPC sisters: Sr. Remedios A. Sandalo, spc and Sr. Maria Theresa L. Asencio, spc as piano 1 with Sr. Maria Corazon R. Querubin, spc and Sr. Veneranda A. del Rosario as piano 2.
I wrote “We Shout Laoag” so many years ago for a festival in Laoag City and I guess it has become like a city song. I recorded this with Lana Jalosjos, Delia Guerrero and Ting Esguerra from UPCC just before Delia left for Australia or something.
Today is the world premiere of my composition “Venisti” at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts’ Fergusson Hall in downtown Tampa. It will be performed by the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, conducted by Brett Karlin. The performance of “Venisti” is part of the Florida Orchestra’s three-day “Christmas at the Pops” with guest conductor Victor Vanacore. Performances over the weekend include Straz Center (Tampa), Mahaffey Theater (St. Pete) and Ruth Eckerd Hall (Clearwater).
“Venisti” will be rehearsed for the first time at the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay retreat tomorrow and I am really excited! This piece won this year’s Master Chorale Christmas Carol Competition. Here’s the cover art I made – painting is mine too!
Just got some good news from my friend, Joseph, letting me know that his new CD, “Songs from Home” is now available for purchase from iTunes, amazon.com and cdbaby.com. Good news indeed! I have arranged three tracks for this album: “Manang Biday”, “Si Nanay, Si Tatay, di co Pabayaan” and “Sitsiritsit”. I went ahead and purchased the cd from iTunes and will listen to it in a short while and write about it later. Exciting!
XIV is the fourteenth of a music journal like series of compositions for solo piano that I have composed to record significant events in my life. This emotional, melancholic piece with a lyrical and dramatic mid-section was performed at the Bayanihan Arts and Events Center in Tampa, Florida as part of the Philippine Cultural Foundation’s Classical Concert Series featuring the St. Petersburg College Madrigalians, David Martinez III, pianist and Brent Taghap, violinist.