Conductor Herminigildo Ranera on Philbanda’s 10th anniversary
PHILBANDA will celebrate its 10th year on July 25,2021. I interviewed its conductor and Music Director Herminigildo Ranera about this milestone and more.
Culture Carousel: Could you tell us how the Philbanda started?
Hermi: Let me start with my involvement with the Asia-Pacific Director’s Band Association (APDBA) in 1984 when the Philippines hosted the APDBA Conference, the first APDBA we ever hosted. At 23, I had the privilege as a young conductor to interpret the composition of Col. Geronimo Torres with the Philippine Constabulary Band at the CCP.
But you know in the 1980s, because of leadership vacuum the band became inactive and so there was a long draught of the Philippine participation. Nevertheless, the local band scene continued to flourish despite the absence of a central body to coordinate joint activities in the national scale.
My international involvement started again in 2002, when my group the UST Wind Orchestra, participated in the 4th Asean Band Festival in Bangkok, Thailand. There, I met professor He Shu Han of Taiwan who in turn referred me to Tosho Akiyama from Japan, the founding president of APDBA. This was a turning point, for a renewed Philippine linkage with our Asian neighbors. I was invited again, and I attended the APDBA conference in Jeju South Korea in 2003, and a year later, I and the UST Wind Orchestra participated in Chiayi City International Band Festival in Taiwan. In 2005, the UST Conservatory of Music organized the 1st UST Band Festival participated by leading bands in Manila and neighboring cities. A subsequent band festival was organized in 2006 and 2009. The encouraging support and interest in the UST Band Festival prompted me to organize a new group known as the Philipine Band Confederation. Due to numerous reasons, it took five years before we fulfilled the requirements towards the formal accreditation with the local Securities and Exchange Commission as a legal entity. And through the effort of PPO clarinet principal, Ariel Sta. Ana and PPO bassoon player Jerry Samonte and some PPO members, the Philippine Band Confederation with a new name, Philippine Band Association or Philbanda was finally registered on July 25, 2011.
What is the difference between a symphonic band like Philbanda and the regular provincial bands?
Basically there is no difference — both groups consist of woodwinds, brass and percussion instruments. However, the Philbanda Wind orchestra members are mostly professionals , majority are members of the PPO. While provincial or city band members are mostly from the localities and considered amateur players. Both groups play similar literature although when we say concert band or symphonic band, it is a much larger group with special instruments like oboe, English horn and bassoon.
While Philbanda, a wind orchestra or wind ensemble type is small in numbers, but perfect for small concert halls and complex pieces. Although the symphonic band has woodwind, brass and percussion instruments, it has no strings, like violins and violas. There are things that strings can do and produce that cannot be initiated by the winds, the sensitivity of strings sonority is very difficult to reproduce. But other than this, the symphonic band, like a symphony orchestra with excellent orchestration and arrangement, can be harmonious, symphonous and can produce symphonic sound.
What is the future of symphonic bands in the Philippines?
The symphonic band movement in the Philippines, has a very bright future. Since 2011, Philbanda has been giving nationwide seminars and workshops to students aiming to inspire existing bands, specially among the youth. Philbanda will continue its nationwide workshops and seminars and will also spearhead and promote local band festivals as well as help member bands and individuals participation in festivals abroad. Recently, during this pandemic, many young Filipinos, wind and percussion players have joined the CGN International Virtual Competition hosted by the Netherlands. And I am very proud to say, that they have won many major prizes. This is proof that our young musicians are getting better. What they need is our continuing support, proper training and guidance.
Is Philbanda planning to perform online due to the pandemic?
H:We are celebrating our 10th year this coming July 25. We are planning to give an online concert featuring young talents from Metro Manila. We will post the dates and pertinent information regarding this concert.