A Conservatory of Music alumnus paid homage to the masters in a solo concert on Aug. 27 at the Philippine Madrigal Singers Music Studio in Quezon City.
Rafael Ronquillo, who graduated from the University in 2014, honored eight classical guitarists and composers in his “Homenaje” concert.
The concert featured the works of Silvius Leopold Weiss, Mauro Giuliani, Francisco Tárrega, Manuel Ponce, Marek Pasieczny, Ric Ickard, Antonio Molino, and Nicanor Abelardo.
“I don’t want [their compositions] to fade … their works are still as beautiful even after 300 to 400 years,” Ronquillo told the Varsitarian.
He opened the concert with Suite No. 2 in D Major composed by German lutenist Weiss and transcribed for guitar by the late Conservatory of Music professor Ruben Reyes.
Ronquillo also performed “Gran Sonata Eroica” by Italian composer Giuliani, and “Recuerdos de la Alhambra” and “Adelita” by Tárrega, who is widely considered the “father of classical guitar.”
The concert also featured Filipino classics like “Malikmata” by Molino and arranged by Ronquillo for guitar, and “Mutya ng Pasig” by Abelardo and arranged by Bayani Mendoza de Leon for guitar.
“These [composers] have different ways of expression, just like language…and they are the ones who bring these expressions into guitar and into music,” Ronquillo said.
During his time at UST, Ronquillo was under the tutelage of Reyes, one of the pioneers of the guitar quartet and guitar ensemble in the Philippines.
Ronquillo also taught in the Conservatory of Music under the guitar department, and Spanish courses.
