(b. 1970, Manila).
Filipino composer, now resident in the USA, of mostly chamber, choral, vocal, and piano works that have been performed in Asia, Europe and North America.
Mr. Boquiren studied composition with Michael Schelle at Butler University in Indianapolis, where he graduated summa cum laude with his BMus in 1992, on a scholarship. He then studied composition with Stephen Jaffe and Scott Lindroth at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina and there earned his MA in 1994 and PhD in 1999, on the Mary Duke Biddle Fellowship.
Among his honours are the William Klenz Prize in Composition from Duke University (1994, for Pater Noster), First Prize in the competition for music for harpsichord Aliénor in Atlanta (1994, for Sala'am) and a high commendation in the competition of the New London Chamber Choir (2000, for Iyeyan [original version]). He has also received an honourable mention in the competition of the Internationale Gaudeamus Muziekweek in Amsterdam (2000, for Pag-aalay at Panalanging Eukaristiko: Ikatlong Meditasyon from Misa) and the Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship (2003–04), which enabled a stay at the Penn Humanities Forum of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. He later served a residency at the MacDowell Colony in Peterborough, New Hampshire (2007–08). His music has been performed in Belgium, France, Greece, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, the Philippines, and the USA, including once at the Asian Music Festival in Manila (1997) and twice at the Internationale Gaudeamus Muziekweek (2000–01).
Mr. Boquiren is also active in other positions. He sang as a bass-baritone in the Duke University Chorale and Chamber Choir from 1992–2001 and with the Vocal Arts Ensemble from 1996–2003. He served as conductor of the chorus Summa, originally known as the Boquiren Chamber Singers, from 1997–2003. He served as composer-in-residence at the Durham School of the Arts in 1998. He has performed in various capacities with the ensemble for contemporary music Pulsoptional since 1999.
He taught musicianship and music theory at Duke University from 1995–99. He taught Christian worship and music, composition and experimental music at the Penn Humanities Forum of the University of Pennsylvania in 2003–04. He has taught analysis, composition, ear training, form, harmony, and music theory as Assistant Professor at Adelphi University in Garden City, New York since 2004.
He has lived in the USA since 1990.
COMPLETE LIST OF WORKS
STAGE:
The Civilized Captivity of a Primitive Existence, voice (+ piano), dancer, 2008 (incorporates O-we yówa [original version]; Winter)
Requiem, a man alone (in a room), amplified voice, flutes, trombone, violin, double bass, live electronics, 2008–
ORCHESTRAL:
...in memoriam...et benedictus..., string orchestra, 2002
CHAMBER MUSIC:
S. L. M., viola, 1992
5 Sketches, cello, 1992
AD TE, string quartet, 1993
Isa't-Isang Magkakasama – One by One, All Together, flute, oboe, bass clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano, percussion, 1995
Magkasama – All Together, string quartet, 1999
Pagsamba – Worship, string quartet, 2001 (its five sections may be performed separately: Tawag – Call; Unang Meditasyon – First Meditation; Papuri at Pasasalamat – Praise and Thanksgiving; Ikalawang Meditasyon – Second Meditation; Pagbabasbas – Benediction)
Panalanging – Prayer, violin, 2002 (may be performed simultaneously with Pananampalataya – Faith; also version with live electronics, 2004)
on the ineffable nature of the divine being, flute (+ alto flute), oboe (+ English horn), clarinet (+ bass clarinet), percussion, 2003
Tres Marias, viola, cello, piano, 2003
on sundered souls, 5 double basses, 2004
Jubilus I, amplified flute (+ amplified bass flute), amplified oboe, live electronics, 2005
Missa cum Jubilo, flute, guitar, cello, piano, percussion, 2005
The Walls of Jericho, flutes, piano, 2006
Requiem in Memoriam, flute, trumpet, violin, piano, percussion, 2006
4 Laments and a Dirge, flute, oboe, viola, piano, percussion, 2007
angel music, khene (mouth organ from Laos), 2007
Doves, oboe, bassoon, electric guitars, violin, piano, marimba, singing bowls, 2008
The Decent Existence, cello, harpsichord, 2009
Requiem: Alone, flutes, live electronics, 2009
CHORAL:
Pater Noster, mixed chorus, 1994
Salamat – Thanks, 4 baritones, 1995
Iyeyan, mixed chorus, 1996 (also version for countertenor, tenor, 3 basses, 2002)
Misa, mixed chorus, 2 guitars, piano, 2 percussion, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, 1999
An Irish Benediction, mixed chorus, 2000
Three Philippine Folksongs, female chorus, 2000
Gloria, countertenor, tenor, 3 basses, 2001
Sanctus, countertenor, 2 tenors, bass, 2001
Dolor, Lamentatio et Spes, mixed chorus, 2001
Seven Folksongs, 2 tenors, baritone, 2 basses, 2004
first love story, 8 mixed voices, 2005
Speak to Me, 8 mixed voices, speaking chorus, 2006
Three Laments, 2006–09 (its three sections may be performed separately: I Shall Not, 9 mixed voices, 2006; Out of the Ashes, 8 mixed voices, 2008; O-we yówa, 8 mixed voices, 2009 [version of vocal work])
VOCAL:
Three Poems by Tristan Tzara, dramatic soprano, piano, 1992
Canticle: AMDG (texts from various psalms), tenor, bass, flute (+ alto flute), bassoon, guitar, viola, 1993
Gloria, tenor, baritone, bass, flute (+ alto flute), viola, cello, 1994
Maawa Ka/Miserere Mei, boy soprano, baritone, piano, 1997
Pagdaramay – Mourning (texts from a prayer for the dead from the Philippines, various psalms), amplified female voice, harpsichord, fixed media, live electronics, 2002
Stabat Mater, amplified female voice, fixed media, 2003
...at pinagpala and mga mapagpayapa... – ...and blessed are the peacemakers... (texts from greetings of peace, St. Francis of Assisi), voice, bassoon, piano, percussion, 2004
O-we yówa, voice, piano, 2008 (also incorporated into The Civilized Captivity of a Primitive Existence; also version for 8 mixed voices as section of Three Laments)
Last Seen, tenor, guitar, 2009
PIANO:
Prelude and Cha-cha, 1993
Three Preludes, 1995
Birthday Piece, 2 pianos, 1995
Tunugan – Soundings, prepared piano (4 players), 2000
Pananampalataya, 2002 (may be performed simultaneously with Panalanging)
Misang Walang Salita – Mass without Words, amplified prepared piano (2 players), live electronics, 2004
Matins, 1 or more pianos, 2006
The Book of Hours, prepared piano (6 or more players), 2007
Winter, 2008 (also incorporated into The Civilized Captivity of a Primitive Existence)
HARPSICHORD:
Sala'am, 1993