Conférence de Sherla Najera : "Passion and Patriotism: Exploring the Kundiman and Philippine Vocal Music"

Maria Sherla Najera, a PhD Candidate at Queensland Conservatorium of Music at Griffith University, will be presenting the historical and cultural background of the Kundiman, a Filipino art song typically in a form of a love song. Kundiman in Filipino means “if it were not so.” It started in the early 19th century from the Tagalog speaking regions in the southern part of Luzon island (Philippines), and was strongly associated with pursuit for freedom and independence. It became a cultural and national identity in the early 20th century. Kundiman art songs is an exquisite result of Philippine folk heritage and the influences of Western music genres and compositional techniques.