Uploaded November 2018 | Updated September 2026, 5 days ago
Composer: Jonathan Shaw (b.1995)
Orchestra: TOFARM Festival Orchestra
Violin Soloist: Chona Noble
Conductor: Josefino Chino Toledo
Date: 25th July 2018
Video filmed by Jonathan Shaw
“The Hills of Banaue” (2018) is a musical embodiment of life amongst the famous rice terraces in Banaue, Philippines. As a symphonic work, it is structured to portray a single day in Banaue – from sunrise to sunset – with numerous events in between.
The first section, “Sunrise”, gradually emerges through string harmonics, quickly leading to the first of many statements of the “Banaue” theme – a melody heavily inspired by the local “Hudhud” chant of the Ifugao. As the dawn breaks, more instruments emerge culminating in a grand statement of the “Banaue” theme. Thus, the day begins.
“Morning” is a playful section, following children as they frolic around the terraces with great energy and joy. Various musical themes are rapidly juggled between the different instruments, spiralling from key to key – from location to location – never appearing to tire or rest. An English horn marks the appearance of a wise elder, guiding the children and sharing knowledge with them which the children quickly learn.
The day quickly turns to “Afternoon” as the distant rhythm of gongs and chimes signal an important event occurring elsewhere; a ceremonial dance celebrating a recent marriage. This section is heavily laden with percussive rhythms inspired by Ifugao gong music and ceremonial dances and appropriately provides the option for local instruments to be used in addition to the symphonic orchestra.
The dance concludes with a returning statement of the “Banaue” theme in the piccolo as the “Evening” begins with the arrival of a fragile solo violin. This section is far different from those that came prior, owing to its more introspective and serene atmosphere. The immense space produced by the 9-part string orchestra embodies the vast landscape of Banaue itself, offset by intermittent statements from a string quartet and brass ensemble. Over time, the string quartet mysteriously begins to diminish with each statement, creating further strain on those that are left remaining as they attempt to take on the missing parts – a metaphorical statement of an issue facing numerous cultures across the world.
As the last member of the string quartet vanishes, so begins the “Sunset”; a stark reflection of the opening “Sunrise”, concluding as the piece began.
“The Hills of Banaue” (2018) was written for the "2018 Banaue International Music Composition Competition" and in support of the "Banaue Rice Terraces Restoration Project".
Read more about this event here:
banauemusic.org
Do please support the restoration efforts:
banauerestoration.org
And feel free to read my colloquial blog series on the event:
jshaw.co.uk/blog/category/BIMCC
------------------------------
What is this channel?
As a composer in the 21st century, I thought it might be interesting to catalogue and share on all of the projects I have undertaken, both for your own curiosity, but also for my own personal reflection on my development as a composer, and to some extent, a practitioner.
In short, this "C List" is the "Chronological List" for all of my major projects, including my own works, but also transcriptions and arrangements of other composer's works, educational tasks, and unfinished works that merit cataloguing.
For each of the works, I provide a reflection (a "reminiscence") about its context, how, and why I wrote it, as well as some analyses.
On some of these projects, I have recorded the entire compositional process itself, which again may offer some insight into compositional methods of 21st century music.
------------------------------
★Website:
jshaw.co.uk
★Facebook:
facebook.com/Jonathan-Shaw-Composer-375140209976755
★Software Used:
Adobe Premiere Elements 15
© Jonathan Shaw 2018
Composer: Jonathan Shaw (b.1995)
Orchestra: TOFARM Festival Orchestra
Violin Soloist: Chona Noble
Conductor: Josefino Chino Toledo
Date: 25th July 2018
Video filmed by Jonathan Shaw
“The Hills of Banaue” (2018) is a musical embodiment of life amongst the famous rice terraces in Banaue, Philippines. As a symphonic work, it is structured to portray a single day in Banaue – from sunrise to sunset – with numerous events in between.
The first section, “Sunrise”, gradually emerges through string harmonics, quickly leading to the first of many statements of the “Banaue” theme – a melody heavily inspired by the local “Hudhud” chant of the Ifugao. As the dawn breaks, more instruments emerge culminating in a grand statement of the “Banaue” theme. Thus, the day begins.
“Morning” is a playful section, following children as they frolic around the terraces with great energy and joy. Various musical themes are rapidly juggled between the different instruments, spiralling from key to key – from location to location – never appearing to tire or rest. An English horn marks the appearance of a wise elder, guiding the children and sharing knowledge with them which the children quickly learn.
The day quickly turns to “Afternoon” as the distant rhythm of gongs and chimes signal an important event occurring elsewhere; a ceremonial dance celebrating a recent marriage. This section is heavily laden with percussive rhythms inspired by Ifugao gong music and ceremonial dances and appropriately provides the option for local instruments to be used in addition to the symphonic orchestra.
The dance concludes with a returning statement of the “Banaue” theme in the piccolo as the “Evening” begins with the arrival of a fragile solo violin. This section is far different from those that came prior, owing to its more introspective and serene atmosphere. The immense space produced by the 9-part string orchestra embodies the vast landscape of Banaue itself, offset by intermittent statements from a string quartet and brass ensemble. Over time, the string quartet mysteriously begins to diminish with each statement, creating further strain on those that are left remaining as they attempt to take on the missing parts – a metaphorical statement of an issue facing numerous cultures across the world.
As the last member of the string quartet vanishes, so begins the “Sunset”; a stark reflection of the opening “Sunrise”, concluding as the piece began.
“The Hills of Banaue” (2018) was written for the "2018 Banaue International Music Composition Competition" and in support of the "Banaue Rice Terraces Restoration Project".
Read more about this event here:
banauemusic.org
Do please support the restoration efforts:
banauerestoration.org
And feel free to read my colloquial blog series on the event:
jshaw.co.uk/blog/category/BIMCC
------------------------------
What is this channel?
As a composer in the 21st century, I thought it might be interesting to catalogue and share on all of the projects I have undertaken, both for your own curiosity, but also for my own personal reflection on my development as a composer, and to some extent, a practitioner.
In short, this "C List" is the "Chronological List" for all of my major projects, including my own works, but also transcriptions and arrangements of other composer's works, educational tasks, and unfinished works that merit cataloguing.
For each of the works, I provide a reflection (a "reminiscence") about its context, how, and why I wrote it, as well as some analyses.
On some of these projects, I have recorded the entire compositional process itself, which again may offer some insight into compositional methods of 21st century music.
------------------------------
★Website:
jshaw.co.uk
★Facebook:
facebook.com/Jonathan-Shaw-Composer-375140209976755
★Software Used:
Adobe Premiere Elements 15
© Jonathan Shaw 2018
