Some Borromeo Lou compositions

17 Feb 2013

            Along with the numerous recordings I’ve been able to access from National Jukebox (as I wrote about here), I’ve found hundreds of pieces of sheet music from 1920’s Manila. Many are by Filipino composers but there are also numerous U.S.-published pieces that were for sale in one of Manila’s many music stores.

            I’ve recorded a few of these just for my own interest. Pianos are hard to come by here, and I’ve only been able to access a piano for one hour per week at most. During that hour, though, I’ve done a quick run-through of some pieces and then tried to piece together very sloppy recordings. These pieces are played a bit too slowly and include a number of wrong notes. Also, I’m leaving out the singing, which would be a very important part of the performance. I’ll post a few of the recordings I’ve made below, starting with some compositions by Borromeo Lou.  

Borromeo Lou was an entertainer from a very prominent family from Cebu. He worked the vaudeville circuit in the U.S. during the late 1910s and returned to the Philippines in late 1921. Since he was knowledgeable of many of the latest U.S. trends and fashions, he was in high demand in Manila (there were several other Filipino entertainers who have similar stories of bringing back the latest hits from the U.S.). Borromeo Lou led his own vaudeville troupe that eventually became based at the Olympic Stadium, across the street from Bilibid prison and better known as a venue for boxing matches. He also went on yearly tours through the Philippines, sometimes scandalizing provincial towns with his performers’ short dresses and new dance moves. He composed a number of pieces that were published in the U.S. and the Philippines. There are apparently commercial recordings of some of his pieces but I haven’t been able to locate them.

“My Beautiful Philippines”

This was one of Borromeo Lou’s first published pieces, composed in the U.S. The lyrics are by an American and, like many Manila-themed popular songs of the time, tell the story of an American sailor pining for his Filipina love in the Philippines. 

“Jazzy Jazz Sound in all Chinatown”

Another piece composed in the U.S. This was typical of the Oriental-themed popular songs that were quite numerous and popular. 

“Manila Mia”

I found a copy of this in the UP Music Library that lacks a cover so I have less information about this piece. It switches from a waltz to a fox-trot. 

“My Vamping Sweet Guitar”

(partial recording)

This is a piece from his 1922 show, but was published through an American company. I only was able to record the first part of the song here.