What do you guys think of this music

[mpd210]

I'm just curious to hear the opinion of classical musicians.


https://www.420megs.com/users/mpd210/Non%20classical%20music/

The first is a piece by Raoul Sunico. He's a filipino pianist who won some competitions in europe I think many years back. He come out with a cd of songs starting out with themes from classical pieces and then working it into a traditional filipino folk song. This particular song is called "Kastilyong Buhangin" and starts off with a section of Liszt's Consolation No3. I liked it so much I actually took the time to learn it by ear.
https://www.420megs.com/users/mpd210/01%20Kastilyong%20Buhangin.m4a

The second is a piece from Rurouni Kenshin. Its called Her Most Beautiful Smile. Very very simple, but pleasant I think.
https://www.420megs.com/users/mpd210/10%20Her%20Most%20Beautiful%20Smile.mp3

The 3rd song is from a movie. My cousin Emil's version of it I believe. You might not recognize it until a minute into the piece. My brother listens to this on repeat sometimes. My cousins pretty good. He has a recording of the solo part of mvmnt1 of the rach3 if anyone's interested.
https://www.420megs.com/users/mpd210/It%20might%20be%20you.mp3

The 4th piece is also from Rurouni Kenshin. Its called Quiet Life.
One link oints to an orchestrated version:
https://www.420megs.com/users/mpd210/07%20Quiet%20Life%20-pf%20solo%20version-.mp3
And another link points to a piano version:
https://www.420megs.com/users/mpd210/16%20Quiet%20Life.mp3

I have another song called The Will for those not bored. I don't like it as much as the ones above.
https://www.420megs.com/users/mpd210/08%20The%20Will%20-pf%20solo%20version-.mp3

Anyway, I know this is a classical pianist's forum, so these pieces may not interest many here, but I was just curious to see if they'd be well received by musicians with a classical ear.

[ted]

I couldn't access these links.

[mpd210]

sorry i realized all my links don't work.
all the songs can be found here:
https://www.420megs.com/users/mpd210/Non%20classical%20music/

[ted]

They are all very nicely played and recorded. "The Will" is an attractive miniature; I liked it most of the set. It reminded me of another piece but I can't put my finger on what it is - something by MacDowell, I think. The Filipino "Sand-castle" one is good but my wife assures me it isn't a Filipino love song. I suppose she knows what she's talking about. The "Quiet Life" and the "Beautiful Smile" are pleasant enough, but reminiscent of a certain sort of piano music which seems to be on a multitude of sites festooned with pictures of the outdoors. There's nothing unattractive about that ubiquitous type of playing but nothing which makes me sit up and take notice either. "It Must Be You" I liked least of the set. It reminds me of something I might hear in a cabaret, or the sections of Jarrett's solo concerts I sometimes fast-forward through, except that it lacks Jarrett's variety and pungency of chord type.

Having said that, I would far sooner listen to these pieces than a whole heap of other music I could name.  Thank you for the link.

[mpd210]

Hey Ted, thanks. I can completely see your point of view on those pieces. I sort of felt that way myself. There's nothing deep about them like classical music, yet I still tend to enjoy them.
Was your wife familiar with the Filipino song?   
I had a question about the "It Might Be You" piece...I'm not sure what you mean by cabaret music. Well actually the first 40 seconds i could see that, but from 40secs on, it's a fairly mellow piece no?

[infectedmushroom]

Rurouni Kenshin has nice music.


I love Rurouni Kernshin - Starless (Piano version) too!

[ted]

My wife is a Filipina but I don't imagine she knows all Filipino folk music. My comparison with a cabaret was probably a poor choice. It's ages since I was in one and they probably differ from country to country.

[jepoy]

I guess the links don't work now, 1 year after the original post but just a little information on the pianist Raul Sunico. He's currently the dean of the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music here in the Philippines. I think he finished his MM and PhD in Piano Performance at Julliard. He's a respected classical musician (my teacher told me that a few years ago, he performed four piano concerti in one night). He's also known for writing and performing concert transcriptions of popular Filipino songs, sort of elevating ordinary music to contemporary classical gems.

Kastilyong Buhangin ("Sand Castle") is actually a popular Filipino ballade with a sad ending. In that song, the sand castle is a metaphor for a relationship that doesn't last, sort of a love between two people who aren't meant for each other.  In it's most tawdry form, this song is an absolute fave in karaoke bars in Manila. 

FYI