Seattle-based Filipino Carmelite composer honored in Spain

Composer Louie Anthony Labayen. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

SEATTLE, Washington — Among the new compositions chosen the Order of Carmelites Discalced in Avila, Spain to celebrate the 5^th Centenary of St. Teresa of Jesus (1515-1582) was music written by Washington state-based Louie Anthony Labayen, OCDS, MM, who wrote under the pen name Anthony Zebedee Abbot.

Labayen’s song, “Song on Nada te Turbe” (Let Nothing Disturb You), was among the 16 compositions chosen by the order’s St. Teresa of Jesus 500 Commission, which launched the antiphon composition competition on Teresian Prayer last year to produce new music inspired by St. Teresa of Jesus, founder of the Order of Carmelites Discalced.

A jury presided by D. Rogelio Cabado chose the 16 songs from 82 entries by 34 composers. The antiphons were chosen based on their suitability for prayer, beauty of the music and message and accessibility for singing and memorization. Many of the winning songs were written by composers with master of music degrees.

Labayen’s “Nada te Turbe” was a prayer of St. Teresa of Jesus that was found as a bookmark in her Divine Office Breviary after her death. The music was set to the original Spanish text and will be part of a larger work for voice, seven guitars and double bass. The composition was dedicated to Pope Francis in gratitude for his 2015 Papal Visit to the Philippines.

Louie Anthony Labayen, from St. Nicholas of Tolentino Parish in Gig Harbor in the Archdiocese of Seattle, Washington, is a member of the Blessed Trinity Community of the Order of Carmelites Discalced Secular under the California-Arizona OCD Province of St. Joseph.

He is the nephew of Carmelite Bishop Emeritus Julio Xavier Labayen, OCD, DD, originally of the Washington, DC OCD Province and appointed Prelate of Infanta, Quezon, Philippines.

Labayen studied composition under Fr. Manuel Benildo Maria Perez Maramba, OSB at the University of Santo Tomas. He was conferred the master of music degree in orchestral conducting and literature by the University of Northern Colorado and the bachelor of Aarts degree by De La Salle University.

The STJ500 Commission’s website with the award is paravosnaci.com/musica.

The music can be downloaded and heard through the composer’s website at ilLouminate.us.
E-mail is [email protected].