Tabaco National High School March

I was in Third Year High School when I first encountered the Tabaco National High School March at the start of School Year 2011-2012. There was no fixed recording that time; only a raw piano recording of Jan Steve Lacsina and there were no singers in the recording. I was lucky then to see a copy of the notation of the TNHS March and when I read it, I found the melody so pleasing that it needed an official recording. While passing by a room during my vacant time, I heard another minus one recording with almost a complete ensemble where the students on that class are singing along. But young as I was then and after reading the lyrics, I realized that this march needed an arrangement that is so valiant and brave. An arrangement that I aimed that anyone from TNHS who can listen and sing along with it, will feel the utmost pride that the school is one of the premier secondary schools in Bicolandia. The next year, bearing my basic knowledge in music notation, I wrote handwritten the vocal arrangement and submitted it to then specialization teacher of the Special Program in the Arts Vocals, Mam Catherine Tino who made slight revisions. I also thought then of creating the orchestration as my mind already had ideas but to no avail, I had minimal knowledge then of orchestration. After graduating, I am still elated then that the SPA Vocals are still singing my arrangement. In fact, they are the ones who sing this live with Edmund Dante Buenaflor accompanying then in the piano. (Fun Fact: Edmund happens to be the grandson of Pol Puche who is one of the composers of this march.) Years still passed until 2019 came and I already had enough knowledge of orchestration, I decided to sit in and transcribe the entire orchestration that haunts my mind for years. It is now the recent orchestration you are going to hear. Greatly inspired by the poignant lyrics, I wrote the whole orchestration as a tribute to the 75th Founding Anniversary in 2020. After notating, I decided to record it secretly in 2020 on a recording studio. I also made some changes in the vocal arrangement. On August, 2021, I transferred to TNHS from San Lorenzo National High School. I became the Choir Master of the TNHS Chorale to date, and since then, we have been singing this on important functions. This was recorded for the Virtual Pre-opening Program of the 78th Founding Anniversary of Tabaco National High School last March 27, 2023. Lyric video by yours truly. Performed by the TNHS Chorale. I dedicate this to our entire school, to the composers of this march, and to the countless men and women who because of this school has made a difference to the society in their different fields of undertaking. They are indeed “the brave, the proud and the free” as the lyrics goes. TABACO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL MARCH Lyrics: Pol Puche Music: Fred Berces Transcribed by: Oscar R. Reburiano Choral Arrangement: Victor R. Buenconsejo and Catherine C. Tino Orchestration: Victor R. Buenconsejo I. Harken the voice of Tabaco National High Beckoning us to reach up to the sky As through sons and daughters of, we shall heed the solemn call Carry the flag, meet the challenge, dare and defy. II. Follow the lead, join the brave, the proud, and the free Searching for truth o’er the land and the sea We shall triumph, we shall gain, fight to overcome and win Showing the way to a life with no misery. Chorus: March on to victory Walk with honor and dignity March on to destiny Sharing love and harmony. III. Harken the call of Tabaco National High Free as the birds, we shall soar, we shall fly From her portals green and white, through the distance stars alike Caring the world on her progress, now we shall fly. (Repeat Chorus and Third stanza) Carry the world on her progress, now we shall fly! LIKE, SHARE, AND SUBSCRIBE to my Youtube Channel (Vic Buenconsejo) for more Bicol Liturgical Music, Bicol Patronal Hymns, Bicol Paraliturgical Music, everything about Bicol, and of my musical works