So last week we listened to the Brits. This week we'll look at a choir a little closer to home. When i was younger i was really inspired by a Filipino choir who's conductor was a member of this group. They are quite simply one of the best choirs in the world and are two time winners of the European Grand Prix, whichi i believe to be so prestigious its not in Musica Mundi (haha). Not that what you win defines how good you are la. And of course, Circle of Life, Pasigin, Pamugun, Pok Pok Alimpako and so many others are arrangements or compositions by their members or composed for them.

So the unique thing about them is that they sing seated down, and that they don't have a conventional conductor. Instead the conductor, in this case the great Mark Carpio, sits at the left edge and conducts with body language. I will publicly admit that sometimes i listen to them and i cry shamelessly in front of my computer. Haha but i'm just gonna give you, as agreed, 1 pop arrangement, 1 classical and 1 bonus one for all the Queen fans among you. (Or lack thereof perhaps.) The first is Riverer le Stelle, We Beheld The Stars. The video is from the Grand Prix and was the winning performance. Its a bit long but its rewarding to listen to. They only have about 20+ people i think, didn't count, and this piece is written for two SATB choirs so there you are. The second is MJ's Man in the Mirror and the bonus track is Queen's Love of My Life. In case you're wondering, the soloist for the third video is Mark Carpio himself. That means yes its a guy.

Here we go, the Philippine Madrigal Singers, fondly known as Madz.