Composer and Catholic prelate Gregorio Canlas. Canlas said he is happy to see music from the instrument, which he plays every now and then, enliven churchgoers. (Photo by TONETTE OREJAS / Inquirer Central Luzon)
GUAGUA, Pampanga, Philippines — The second of only two bamboo organs in the country, built in this town, now has a vast repertoire of liturgical compositions in Kapampangan as provided by its organist — who wrote a total of 901 pieces in a span of about 57 years, by his reckoning.
That means Msgr. Gregorio Canlas, the 79-year-old composer behind that considerable body of work, began writing at 22 and wrote an average of 16 songs each year.
Most of these pieces are songs, whose music and lyrics he wrote. But among these works are also responsorial psalms and other simple parts to be sung by the priest presiding over a Mass.
Canlas said the songs, or hymns, that he wrote are for the saints, the Virgin Mary and the departed, as well as songs in service to the poor, sick, and wounded.
Exposed to music
With his trove of compositions, the Monsignor believes that he has “more than filled the big gap” in Kapampangan hymns which may now substitute the songs in English and Filipino that have dominated local Masses.
As it happens in the case of many composers, Canlas has no formal training in music.
But he was exposed to it early by his father, a violinist, and his mother, a “cantora,” as singers were called in his home province when he was young.
He entered the Mater Boni Seminary in Apalit town in 1956 and later moved to Manila to join the senior seminary at the University of Santo Tomas.
While he did not pursue music studies at the conservatory there, Canlas said he learned reading notes and piano methods through musical scores and books left on stools.
He later transferred to the San Carlos Seminary of the Archdiocese of Manila. There he learned to play the organ and soon enough became the organist for its religious services.
His priestly vocation led to studies abroad, before he was finally ordained in 1967.
He said he wrote his first song—“Balen a Pari” (Homeland of Priests)—in Paris, while contemplating on an insight that he learned from the Second Vatican Council about “music in liturgy [being] a form of ministry.”
St. James the Apostle Parish Church. —PHOTO BY TONETTE OREJAS
Songbooks
“I thought music with simple words, simple melodies and simple structure is a valuable tool to encourage people to actively participate, especially in Masses,” he said in an interview with the Inquirer.
His prolific output since then includes 44 Advent songs, 89 Lent-Easter songs and 168 songs for Ordinary Time, the liturgical period outside Christmas and Easter.
In 2001, Canlas compiled these and other songs in his first songbook, which was later followed by a second collection titled “Canticum Novena,” consisting of more than 400 compositions.
He plans to come out with a third songbook featuring his remaining unpublished work.
Canlas said he wrote many of his compositions in Betis, an old district in this town which is the home of the bamboo organ—in particular, St. James the Apostle Parish Church, with its interior resembling the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel.
The National Museum declared the church a national cultural treasure in 2001. It was only logical that Canlas would become the assigned organist in this church every now and then because, besides his musical background, he was also its parish priest from 1991 to 1999.
Bamboo organ of St. James the Apostle Parish Church in Guagua, Pampanga. —PHOTO BY TONETTE OREJAS
Inauguration of organ
He said he is happy to see music from the bamboo organ enliven churchgoers.
The organ was built in 2019 through P3 million in funds that a nonprofit group, the Mirabilia Dei Foundation Inc. based in Betis, collected in four years.
The instrument is maintained by Diego Cera Organbuilders Inc., which takes care of all pipe organs in the country, including the centuries-old Las Piñas Bamboo Organ. The group is named after the Augustinian friar who built that instrument in 1824.
The bamboo organ in Betis was supposed to be launched in 2020, but the pandemic struck that year.
During that time, Canlas wrote two songs about how Catholics struggled with their faith and the daily realities of coping with that crisis.
On March 2, the 4.6-meter-tall organ will finally have its inauguration and blessing, following a 5:30 p.m. Mass.
Belgian organist Luc Ponet is the featured performer, accompanying the Mirabilia Dei Choir and Betis Music Ministry as they interpret Canlas’ hymns.
“I feel happy that I am able to help,” Canlas said of his efforts as musical director of the foundation and in his various unofficial duties in the parish church.
His work has not gone unrecognized. Last year he was cited as “the Father of Kapampangan Liturgical Music” at the “My City, My Music” cultural program held at SM Pampanga.
He said liturgical music in Pampanga will thrive as it finds its way to “other parish choirs” beyond the province.