Encountering the Vibrant NOLA

Popular culture says Mardi Gras and New Orleans are synonymous. However, New Orleans is also synonymous with jazz music, a music genre that, in my opinion, was created by the “citizens” of New Orleans in the late 19th to the first few decades of the 20th century by experimenting with rhythms and harmonies from blues,…

A Simplified History of Traditional Theatres in the Philippines (Part 3)

At the height of the localization of the komedya, Dario Cepedes came to Manila in 1878 bringing with him the zarzuela, a Hispanic musical performance following domestic or ordinary people’s stories.  The origin of this performance form is vague. However, the recognized origin is Isagani Cruz’s narration that the zarzuela started in Spain as sainete or an intermission performance in a comedia. Like the komedya the…