About the music

Music is an integral part of the documentary "Rise and Dream," which tells the story of 13 teenagers in the Philippines who volunteer to be the headlining act at a five-hour concert on the edge of a jungle.

The film's composer, Barclay Martin, traveled throughout the Philippines with CFCA to learn traditional rhythms and instruments from indigenous communities and folk musicians. Following that exploration, he teamed up with Filipino musicians to help teach teenagers from the Zamboanga area of the southern Philippines how to play traditional instruments such as the agong, the kubing and the kulintangan.

Barclay used some of the instruments and traditional rhythms to create the score for the film. He also composed an album of songs, some of which were used in the film score.

The lyrics of the songs were inspired by the people Barclay met throughout his travels. His words paint a haunting picture of the beauty, strength, resilience and enormous challenges faced by many people he came to know during the journey.

CFCA hopes that the music and lyrics in the film and on the companion CD, "Zamboanga: Poverty, War, Music," serve as an inspiration for all those working for positive change and unity in our world today.