ANTONIO J.

MOLINA (1894 - 1890)

● He was the first National Artist for Music; “Triumvirate of Filipino
Composers,” which includes Nicanor Abelardo and Francisco Santiago.

● He began his music career as an orchestral soloist at the Manila

Grand Opera House.

● He served as Dean of the Centro Escolar University Conservatory of

Music from 1948 to 1970; a faculty member of the UP Conservatory
(now College) of Music.

● He is best known for his poignantly romantic serenade for violin and
piano Hatinggabi - this was also transcribed for cello, flute, piano and
guitar.

● Other works: Misa Antoniana Grand Festival Mass, Ang Batingaw,

Kundiman-Kundangan (orchestral music); String Quartet, Kung sa Iyong
Gunita, Pandangguhan (string quartet); and Amihan, Awit ni Maria
Clara, and Larawan Nitong Pilipinas (vocal music).

● He received the National Artist for Music award in 1973. He passed

away on January 29, 1980.
 Musical Styles
● Molina was a product of both the Romantic
and Impressionist schools of thought.

● He was fascinated by the dynamics and

harmonies of Debussy, but retained much of
the Romantic style in his melody.

● A characteristically impressionist work is his

piano work Malikmata (Transfiguration).

The mysteriously exotic chords of this piece

gradually lead to a lyrical melody, with the
traditional harmonies abruptly returning to the
initial mood.

● Molina wrote several compositions for piano,

violin, and voice as well as Spanish-style opera
form known as the zarzuela.
COL. ANTONINO RAMIREZ BUENAVENTURA (1904 - 1996)
● He was a renowned composer, conductor, and teacher.

● His father Lucio was the chief musician of the Spanish artillery
band in Intramuros and founder of Banda Buenaventura.

● Col Buenaventura further developed his musical abilities at the

Conservatory of Music UP at the age 19. There, he received a
Teacher’s Diploma in Science and Composition at UP.

● Among his mentors were Nicanor Abelardo and Francisco

Santiago.

● At the university, Buenaventura led the UP ROTC Band and

established the UP Junior Orchestra which was the first
collegiate orchestra in the country.

● He was also a delegate to the general assembly of the

International Society for Music Education held in Montreux,
Switzerland in 1976.
 Musical Journey
● Buenaventura was actively involved with various military bands which ultimate earned him his military rank of Colonel.

● He was a music instructor and band conductor of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA); later, he restored the
Philippine Constabulary Band in 1945, which was reputedly likened to a symphony orchestra.

● He promoted Philippine music through his extensive use of folk materials which he had recorded around the country
with Ramon Tolentino and National Artist for Dance Francisca Reyes Aquino.

● He composed the music and folk dance notations for the dance researches of Aquino.

● As a multi-awarded musician, he composed Minuet, Mindanao Sketches, Divertimento for Piano and Orchestra,
Variations and Fugue, and Greetings based on Philippine folk music.

● Pandanggo sa Ilaw, one of his most popular compositions, remains a favorite performance repertoire of many
folk dance companies.

● He was declared National Artist for Music in 1988 and passed away in 1996.
ROSENDO E. SANTOS JR. (1922 - 1994)
● He was born on September 3, 1922 in Cavite City.

● At age 11, he started composing band marches, instrumental, and

vocal scores, as well as music for Catholic masses.

● He also studied from the UP Conservatory of Music and pursued

a Master of Music degree in theory and composition from the
Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

● As the UNESCO scholar, Santos was awarded the “Philippine

Composer of the Century” after receiving the “Composer of the
Year Award” in Manila in 1956 and 1957.

● Among Santos’ teachers were famous composers such as Aaron

Copland, Irving Fine, Humphrey Searle, and conductor Norman
Del Mar.
 Musical Contributions
● He was a prolific composer.

● He had composed several piano concerti, sonatas, symphonies, symphonic poems,

five operas in Filipino, numerous band overtures, and more than 200 marches.

● He had also written 50 masses in Latin and 20 in English.

● He has more than 1,000 musical compositions in the library of the University of the
Philippines.

● Santos’ last musical work and only ballet composition, Melinda’s Masquerade, was
performed in 1995, a year after his death.

● Santos passed away on November 4, 1994 in Swoyersville, Pennsylvania, USA.