Sa Baníg na Áming Pinápanaginípan [On the Woven Mat where We Dream] is a piece scored for Southeast Asian musical instruments that celebrate unity amidst differences. The instruments used in the piece, tuned in different tonal systems such as Pentatonic, Pelog and the Western Scales, struggle and work together to seek harmony within the Ensemble. Much like the Baníg, a handwoven mat from the Philippines made of tíkog [Fimbristylis utilis] or burí [Corypha elata] leaves, the piece uses interwoven threads of sound. These “threads”, with their own unique qualities and cultural backgrounds, work together in contrast and in congruence with every other instrument in the ensemble to make harmony. The musical instruments used, namely the Saron Barung of Indonesia, the Bandurria and Kulintang of the Philippines, Đàn Tranh of Vietnam, Saung Gauk (also known as the Burmese Harp) and Pat Waiting of Myanmar and the Khim, Ching and Thon & Rammana of Thailand, each instrument representing not only countries of their origin but also their people and cultures, deviate from the traditional ways of music performance and cooperate in this unusual potpourri of Southeast Asian musical instruments. 

The piece Sa Baníg na Áming Pinápanaginípan is a contemplation of the composer on the dreams we have made as we sleep on the baníg: visions of our future, of our hopes and of our aspirations –and the struggles we go through to realize the dreams we once dreamt. [The composer humbly dedicates this work for the 2019 ASEAN Youth Ensemble.]

 

Musicians:

Daniel Roi Calingasan, Banduria

Htet Arkar, Pat Wiang

Kathleen Nicole Cahis, Kulintang

My Nguyen, Dan Trahn

Dini Pratiwi, Saron Barung

War War San, Suang-Gauk

Natcha Techaaphonchai, Khim

Jirut Burapornchaikul, Ching

Nakriss Jirarattapat, Thon & Rammana

 

Peter Veale, Conductor