We talk to the world-renowned pianist, Raul M Sunico, on his love for music, tips for beginners, and much more:
World-renowned award-winning pianist Raul Sunico was the president of the Cultural Center of the Philippines from 2010 to 2017 and a former dean of the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music. Today, he sits on the board of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and is the president of the Klassikal Music Foundation.
Any tips for appreciating classical music?
To appreciate (classical) music early on, I would recommend that the listener or classical neophyte begin with some works on programme music (music that depicts visual imagery like water, animals, or objects). In this way, he can relate faster because of the strong association of the notes with what they represent. Later, as his taste grows more in sophistication, he can branch into musical works that convey emotions such as love, anger, tranquillity or sadness.
Who are the composers you’d recommend for beginners?
Beginners in classical music must start with easy listening pieces, including Antonio Vivaldi’s Four Seasons; Joseph Haydn’s London Symphonies that include his highly literal treatment of the amusing “The Clock”, “Surprise Symphony”, and “Farewell”; some ballet music of Peter I Tchaikovsky (Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty) and Sergei Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet which have fairy-tale like musical segments that play to one’s imagination.
Name three essential records in a classical music collection.
It’s good to listen to a variety of compositional styles, which include Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Contemporary. The top three in my recommended list are: Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, for its vivid depiction of the four seasons through the use of musical devices and instrumental sounds; Wolfgang A Mozart’s “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik”, for its relaxing melodic flow with a strong tonal harmony characteristic of the period while following a traditional structure that clearly defines the Classical Period style; and Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, ballet music at its finest, for its expressive melodies, exciting rhythmic pulses and a variety of moods that should elicit a “feel good” effect on the listener. There are many more pieces worth listening to like Ludwig van Beethoven’s 5th Symphony, Claude Debussy’s Preludes and Igor Stravinsky’s Petrushka for their structural integrity and innovative treatments.
Can the discipline of classical music be applied in life? How?
The discipline of classical music emphasises the pursuit of artistic excellence and entails many hours of practice in order to polish the so-called “loose ends” and immerse oneself in the music’s emotional and intellectual message in order to render it according to the composer’s intentions. In life, this translates into the discipline of hard work, the pursuit of excellence in one’s chosen field and the moral strength and courage to overcome the many frustrations that lie in the path of this goal.