Philippine Treasures Vol. 3

Angel Matias Peña (1921 - 2014)

Harana (Serenade)
During my employment at the Honolulu Symphony, there was a Jewish violinist who was a survivor of the Holocaust. His name is Ignace Speiser. He acted a little bit strange and most of the members of the symphony did not want talk to him. However, I was able to befriend him. I then decided to compose a piece for him. That piece was the Philippine Serenade for Violin and Piano, which he edited and subsequently premiered.

Langit Ka Sa Lupa (You Are Heaven on the Earth)
This piece is an example of a kumintang which is originally a war song from Batangas that later softened into a love song. It is one of several pieces dedicated to my wife, Josefina.

Dungawin Mo Sinta (Look out the Window, My Love) This piece is one of my earliest compositions having written it in 1942 when we were serenading young ladies. For the purpose of Angelito Agcaoili’s recording project, I arranged it for solo guitar. It begins with a typical “pasakalye” or introduction. This is the exact intro commonly used when we were serenading in the 1940’s. I remember it very well since I was the one playing the guitar. Therefore, I would like to dedicate this composition to the “Haranistas” or Serenaders.

Filipino guitarist Ramoncito “Monching” Carpio is recognized as one of the leading classical guitarists and pedagogue in the Philippines today. He is actively promoting the art of the classical guitar not only by performing and teaching but also through organizing guitar concerts, festivals, and competitions.

Monching earned his Bachelor of Music, major in guitar at the UP College of Music under the tutelage of Prof. Lester Demetillo. He completed his Master of Music degree at the Philippine Women’s University (PWU) School of Music under the guidance of Prof. Benchito Cariño and thereafter continued to pursue doctoral studies in music with Dr. Angelito Agcaoili.

He has taken master classes with world-renowned guitarists such as Jorge Luis Zamora (Cuba), Aniello Desiderio (Italy), Berta Rojas (Paraguay), Judicael Perroy (France), Roman Viazovsky (Ukraine) and Shin-Ichi Fukuda (Japan). In addition, he has also taken special lessons with then Philippine–based German guitarist Carsten Linck.

In 2012, he won the 1st prize at the Asia International Guitar Competition in Thailand and 2nd Prize at the Taiwan International Guitar Competition. His other awards include 1st Prize at the Philippine International Guitar Competition (2011), 3rd Prize at the Singapore International Guitar Competition (2011), 3rd Prize Bangkok International Guitar Competition (2010) and 2nd Prize at the NAMCYA Guitar Category C held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (2009).

Monching has performed in numerous concerts around the Philippines and in several guitar festivals abroad and had been invited as part of the jury in international competitions. He was a featured soloist with the Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO), performing Rodrigo’s Concerto de Aranjuez, under the baton of Arturo Molina.

In 2013, he released his first solo album entitled “Pahinungod". Alongside other guitar faculty members of the country’s most respected music schools and conservatories, Monching formed the Manila Guitar Quartet. The group aims to encourage unity and camaraderie among guitar schools, institutions, and local guitar societies.

Aside from performing and teaching, Monching also writes and arranges music for solo guitar, guitar ensembles, and stage plays. Monching currently teaches at St.Scholastica’s College and Santa Isabel College in Manila. He is also the director of the Manila GuitarFest, PWU Classical Guitar Competition, and St.Scholastica's College Classical Guitar Competition.