Jewels of the Islands: Filipino Music

A generation ago, the Philippine Islands were one of the wealthiest nations in Asia—the jewel of the Orient. After the political upheavals of the 80s, however, they became one of the poorest. Still, they remained rich in a culture which reflects numerous influences: Islamic, Hindu, Christian, Chinese, Spanish, American; and these influences are embodied in the musical expression of the people. In this program, scholars and composers provide commentary on the development of the Filipino culture, tracing it through the native, Spanish and American periods and concluding with a profile of today's Filipinos and their music. Although the program includes interesting material, particularly with the demonstration of indigenous musical instruments, the production values lend a sour note to the presentation: performance sequences are poorly photographed and often blurry, many of the interviews are shot from awkward angles and background noise intrudes. All in all an interesting topic explored in a substandard production. Not recommended. (J. Reed)