“Sandosenang Sapatos” marks another 2nd time for me. It is my 2nd time to work on material by esteemed story-teller, Dr. Luis Gatmaitan. As with his first material which I worked on in 2007, these two productions were composed earlier in similar formats – the former an opera in 20th century fashion while this one as a play with songs. Lastly, this is my 2nd production where another composer is on-board and I am so honored to have collaborated with acclaimed singer-songwriter, Noel Cabangon. Aside from these 2nd times, this production is also a milestone for Tanghalang Pilipino because it is their first sung-through children’s musical. Layeta Bucoy, who I’m working with for the first time, wrote a libretto that was poetic enough so that even the parts that are supposed to be dialogues can be turned into songs; meanwhile director Tuxqs Rutaquio embraced the sing-through challenge with eagle’s wings. It also gave me another chance to perform my own accompaniment of my composition where I usually scribble somewhat difficult passages for pianists more advanced than me to tackle; the only production that I arranged and performed the accompaniment was in Vincent De Jesus and Ricky Lee’s “Himala (The Musical)”. My musical preferences have always been on the complex chords, unpredictable rhythms, and wide melodic range that tend to sound serious and, often times, dramatic. To compose a children’s musical has always been a challenging chaos of delight for me since I step out of my comfort zone. The main challenge was to tell a seemingly simple story in a powerful way through a wonderful blend of light-hearted and dramatic elements for children and adults to grasp, appreciate, and understand without oversimplifying them. Composed intermittently over a period of four weeks, this production marks my 10th year anniversary with Tanghalang Pilipino. Let me take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to the company that took a chance on an artist who first started as a pianist for “Ang Negosiyante ng Venecia,” who then became audition pianist-arranger for “Himala (The Musical),” and eventually became musical director and composer in subsequent productions. The journey has been incredible and to the wide array of artists that I have worked with, I thank you for allowing me to travel with you. I dedicate this musical to my dear friend, Harry Dizon Rodriguez, for never losing his child-like disposition amidst adversities which eventually became my source of inspiration. -- Jed Balsamo Jed Caballero Balsamo Jed’s musical lineage can be traced back to his great granduncle Tranquilino Caballero (composer of zarzuelas from Mangaldan, Pangasinan) and grandaunt Sister Maria Rosalina Abejo, SFCC (composer from Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental). His pianist-mother provided his first musical training, while his formal music education would be at St. Scholastica’s College where he trained under former University of the Philippines Dean of Music Mauricia Borromeo, Professors Alice Araneta-Lim, Najib Ismail, and Dr. Jonas Baes, as well as National Artists for Music Lucio San Pedro and Dr. Ramon Santos. After graduation, Jed hit the ground running by collaborating with some of the country’s respected artists and institutions from piano performances to music creation, in productions such as the Miss Saigon Manila and Asian Tours (2001) and Resorts World Manila’s maiden offering Kaos (2010). He has done musical compositions and arrangements across various genres, from choral to orchestral to chamber music, TV/film music to musicals and jingles. His works have been performed by the Philippine Madrigal Singers, the Las Piñas Boys Choir, the Ryan Cayabyab Singers, the Manila Symphony Orchestra, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, the nso, and the London Piano Trio, among others. Ballet Philippines, Cultural Center of the Philippines, and Tanghalang Pilipino have also staged them; the latter just recently mounted its first rap-musical Kleptomaniacs where Jed was musical director and co-arranger. This year, he has already premiered six of his works: Tago-Tago for the 39th International Bamboo Organ Festival, Suite from Crisostomo Ibarra for BMW’s Fasterpiece, Sa Muling Pagsibol for the 30th MADZ Et Al with text written by National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera, Eeewww! Nakakadiri ang mga germs!! for WHO & Tanghalang Pilipino, MICECON Theme Song, and Salamucho for the 50th Anniversary Closing Concert of Philippine Madrigal Singers and the launch of Sing Philippines Youth Choir. In August 2014, his commissioned arrangement of “One Thousand Million Smiles” premiered at the Special Music Festival of the Pyeongchang Special Olympics in South Korea. His recent awards and citations include The Most Outstanding Gingoognon Award 2011 for his achievements in the field of music and performing arts, and the 2013 PHILSTAGE Gawad Buhay! Award for Oustanding Music Direction with Ryan Cayabyab for Ballet Philippines’s Rama Hari. He is full time faculty and Academic Adviser of Centro Escolar University Conservatory of Music, an active member of Asian Composers’ League Philippines, a Red Card member of the Philippine Choral Directors Association, and ExeCon Music Committee Member of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts for a second term. He is on his third year as Resident Music Director for Ballet Philippines. His co-composition with Noel Cabangon, the musical Sandosenang Sapatos (adapted by Layeta Bucoy from a book by Dr. Luis Gatmaitan) earned a nomination for Outstanding Music Composition at the 2014 PHILSTAGE Gawad Buhay! and is also the official Philippine entry to the 6th Beijing Theater Olympics this November 2014. “Sandosenang Sapatos” Libretto by Layeta Bucoy Music by *#Noel Cabangon and **#Jed Balsamo Performed by RJ Alfafara (percussion), TJ Ramos (guitar), and Jed Balsamo (piano) Track Listings 01 Overture/Sa panaginip lang ako minamahal# (Sung by Trixie Esteban with Regina De Vera, May Bayot-De Castro, Jonathan Tadioan, and Tanghalang Pilipino Actors Company) 02 Gumising ka na** (Sung by Trixie Esteban and Tanghalang Pilipino Actors Company) 03 Tunay na regalo* (Sung by Trixie Esteban) 04 Nasaan ang Diwata ng Sapatos?** (Sung by Trixie Esteban) 05 Mga Regalo** (Sung by Regina De Vera, May Bayot-De Castro, and Trixie Esteban) 06 Regalo ni Tatay# (Sung by Jonathan Tadioan and May Bayot-De Castro) 07 Ano’ng silbi ng pagsulat?** (Sung by Trixie Esteban) 08 Galit na walang imik** (Sung by Raquel Pareño, Hazel Maranan, Trixie Esteban, and Tanghalang Pilipino Actors Company) 09 Patay na ang tatay** (Sung by Trixie Esteban) 10 Sa panaginip lang ako minamahal (Reprise)# (Sung by The Cast) 11 Tinatawid ng pagmamahal# (Sung by The Cast) 12 Curtain Call# -Performed by RJ Alfafara (percussion), TJ Ramos (guitar), and Jed Balsamo (piano) 13 Bonus Track – Ba’t di mo magawang mahalin ang sarili? (from Melanie) (Music by Jed Balsamo) (Words by Layeta Bucoy) (Sung by Bunny Cadag and Aldo Vencilao) (Music arranged and instrument tracks performed by Jed Balsamo & Ken Aoki) (Mixed by Ken Aoki)