BATIKUSAN
(Skirmish)

The sprightly melodic and rhythmic motif of the Bagbagto, a game song that also doubles as a ritual song for harvest of the Philippine Northern Ilaboi and Bontoc tribes, supplied the creative impetus for this original guitar piece.

The first section, Allegro marcato con spirito, opens with the motivic 5/4 rhythmic figure in the key of E minor, then after further rhythmic definitions, launches the song's main melody (also in 5/4 beat). This is followed by several measures of rhythmic and melodic permutations of the main motif peaking at a fermata with an altered subdominant of the A minor key in the ensuing slow, tender section, Andante intimissimo. A steady, soothing stream of arpeggiated passages characterizes this second section.

It eventually gravitates into a couple of bridging measures before returning to the main rhythmic motif and original tempo, and recapturing much of the first section. From there, it surges into the coda and propels with increasing intensity and rhythmic power toward a big chordal climax.