Mr. C and RCS’ Christmas concert tomorrow
Ryan Cayabyab and the Ryan Cayabyab Singers (RCS) usher in this year’s Christmas celebrations with their first live Christmas concert since the pandemic on Dec. 7 at Music Museum.
Titled “C is for Christmas,” the show will be headlined by the National Artist, together with his seven-member vocal ensemble composed of Celine Fabie, Nica Tupas, Kaye Tiuseco, Poppert Bernadas, Anthony Castillo, VJ Caber and Erwin Lacsa.
Mr. C indulges us on what makes our Christmas music unique. “The Filipino Christmas song has a very strong pull on the heartstrings. We are very sentimental people—that is why even our upbeat traditional carols start with aa minor key instead of a major key, which is supposed to sound ‘happier,’” he said.
As an example, he gives two traditional Christmas carols, which are also among his personal favorites: “Ang Pasko ay Sumapit” and“ Pasko Na Naman.” “Even Jose Mari Chan’s ‘Christmas In Our Hearts’ starts off on a minor key,” he said.
Cayabyab traces this inclination back to the classic Kundiman, saying that “historically and perhaps socially, Filipinos are happy people. But there is an underlying melancholy, which is omnipresent in the way many songs are expressed. Despite this, the majority of us are unabashedly hopeful.”
After the pandemic, it is such a relief that Mr. C and RCS can now finally perform their music in front of a live audience, where everyone can sing along. “After all,” as Mr. C explains, “a Christmas song is really good only when the entire community uses it.” Catch the Maestro and the Ryan Cayabyab Singers in their very first Christmas concert, “C is for Christmas,” at 8 p.m. tomorrow at Music Museum. Produced by Whitelight Entertainment, the concert is directed by Rico M. Mortel. Call Whitelight Entertainment at 8234-9587 or 0917 806-1240. You may also purchase e-tickets by going to their Helixpay site (whitelightentertainment.helixpay.ph).
