With curated playlists, a baby grand piano, and furniture and tapestries inspired by his iconic music, “Kay Ganda Ng Ating Musika,” an exhibit on the life and works of 2018 National Artist for Music Maestro Ryan Cayabyab, was opened at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde’s (DLS-CSB) 12/F School of Arts and Design (SDA) Gallery on January 16, 2020.
Celebrating the life and works of one of the Philippines’ finest musicians and composers, Raymundo Cipriano Pujante Cayabyab, a.k.a. Ryan Cayabyab or simply “Mr. C,” has been an inspiration of countless generations of Filipinos through his musical compositions.
Beginning with a tribute concert filled with renditions of Cayabyab’s OPM hits performed by Music Production students, faculty, alumni, and the Benilde Faculty Male Ensemble, the SDA hallways were filled with a myriad of beautiful melodies. The concert concluded with a flash mob performance of Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika performed by Music Production freshmen.
Upon entering the exhibit, audiences are greeted by a wall-to-wall timeline of Cayabyab’s life. His famous songs, such as How Can I and Mamang Kutsero were presented using printed lyrics mounted on the walls. QR Codes also lead straight to his curated playlist, a karaoke booth, and a dedicated listening booth. Among the selection was the 1978 Metro Pop Music Festival winning composition, Kay Ganda Ng Ating Musika sung by Hajji Alejandro; which the exhibit was named after.
In his opening message, Maestro Cayabyab himself was bursting with curiosity and excitement.
“So, tonight is the first exhibit. In my post, I said ‘What will they exhibit?’ When you say music, it’s [perceived] to [be] always a concert—singing, performance, etcetera—but, an [actual musical] exhibit? I’m very excited,” the 65-year-old Maestro said.
The musical exhibit takes something of an experimental format, bringing a number of new means of interactive exhibition to the table.
“We were very ambitious with this project! It’s my first time to curate music which is of course, very challenging because music is intangible,” Curator and CCA head Ar. Gerry Torres said in an interview with The Benildean.
Moreover, a 10-piece furniture collection from the College’s Interior Design MusiKasangkapan 2019 launched last November 24, 2019 was featured—consisting of pieces inspired by individual Cayabyab songs. A seat cushion entitled Akala for “Limang Dipang Tao;” Haraya, a lounge chair inspired by “Nais Ko,” and a tete-a-tete chair titled Paroo’t Parito for the lovely “Mamang Kutsero.”
With a repertoire that covers a spectrum of music ranging from quirky hits such as “The Coconut Nut,” to breathtaking arrangements for Religious songs such as “Salve Regina,” and the music of plays such as “Ang Larawan,” the multi-awarded Ryan Cayabyab’s contributions to the Philippine music industry is unprecedented, having shaped countless generations with his musical compositions.
To add, Cayabyab is also one of the country’s pioneers of music education, opening the Music School of Ryan Cayabyab in October 1986.
Kay Ganda Ng Ating Musika runs until April 18, 2020 at the 12/F SDA Gallery, DLS-CSB.
