Fil-Am Composer &
Music Teacher
Latest from AJ Francisco
"Manananggal (Mah-nah-nahn-GAHL) is a piece inspired by a monster of the same name originating from Filipino folklore. The Manananggal is a vampiric creature that can detach its upper body from its lower torso and legs, hunting in the night for unsuspecting victims and feeding on their blood using its proboscis-like tongue. The monster not only feasts on the living but also on their unborn, prompting those pregnant to be hyper-vigilant during the night. This piece follows the Manananggal during one of its hunts as it flies through the night in search of prey.”
—AJ Francisco
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“Moving to New York City to begin my graduate studies has been an exciting but also bittersweet experience. I have enjoyed taking in my new surroundings and absorbing the opportunities and experiences the city has to offer, but I have also unexpectedly found myself missing once mundane aspects of Virginia. One aspect that I was surprised to find myself missing dearly was the birdsongs I would hear right outside my window back home.
Songs of the Passerine (Songs of the Perching Birds) is an homage to the songbirds common in Virginia, with the themes of the piece taking inspiration from the calls of the Mourning Dove, the American Robin, the Blue Jay, and the Northern Cardinal.”
—AJ Francisco