NEW MUSIC COMPOSERS
Composers of experimental New Music in the Philippines
include Jose Maceda, Lucrecia Kasilag, Ramon Santos,
Manuel Maramba, Jerry Dadap, Francisco Feliciano,
Josefino “Chino” Toledo, and Jonas Baes.
- They retained the Filipino spirit by incorporating
traditional music forms as well as indigenous rhythms
and instruments in their compositions.
Jose Maceda’s musical style shifted when he
encountered the music of the indigenous tribes of
Mindoro in 1953. He then embarked on his life’s work,
dedicated to the understanding and preservation of
Filipino traditional music. His extensive research and
fieldwork resulted in an immense collection of recorded
music taken from the remote mountain villages and far-
flung inland communities in the Philippines.
Lucrecia Kasilag’s compositional style demonstrated a
fusion of Eastern and Western styles in using
instruments, melody, harmony, and rhythm. She is
particularly known for incorporating indigenous Filipino
instruments into orchestral productions.
Ramon Santos’ compositional style features
chromaticism, music seria, and electronic components,
combined with indigenous Philippine music elements.
Fr. Manuel Maramba OSB, one of the most accomplished
musicians in the Philippines, is best known as a liturgical
composer whose body of works lean towards religious
figures and events. His versatility as a pianist, composer,
arranger, theorist, and teacher is widely recognized in
the local musical scene.
Jerry Dadap, the first Filipino composer to conduct his
own works at the Carnegie Recital Hall in New York City,
Francisco Feliciano is one of Asia’s leading figures in
liturgical music, having composed hundreds of liturgical
pieces, mass settings, hymns, and songs for worship. At
the Asian Institute for Liturgy and Music, a school for
church musicians which he founded, he supervised the
publication of a new Asian hymnal containing mostly
works of Asian composers.
Josefino Toledo is the founding music director of the
Metro Manila Community Orchestra, the UP Festival
Orchestra, and the Crosswave Symphony Orchestra. He
is noted for conducting the premiere performances of the
works of Filipino composers as well as other Asian
composers. His own music has been performed by well-
known international artists and ensembles.
Jonas Baes, Associate Professor in Composition and
Theory, ethnomusicologist, cultural activist, and writer,
has explored innovative territories and unusual musical
treatments in his works.
SONG COMPOSERS
The 20th century Filipino song composers/lyricists include
Levi Celerio, Constancio de Guzman, Mike Velarde Jr.,
Ernani Cuenco, Restie Umali, George Canseco, Angel
Peña , Leopoldo Silos Sr., Santiago Suarez.
- Together, they had produced a memorable output of
traditional Filipino love songs, music for the movies, and
materials for contemporary arrangements and concert
repertoire.
Levi Celerio made it to the Guinness Book of World
Records for being the only person to make music with a
leaf. He received numerous awards for his musical
achievements in film.
Constancio de Guzman was acknowledged as the “Dean
of Filipino movie composers and musical directors.” He
is the composer of the nationalistic song Bayan Ko.
Mike Velarde Jr. was a composer, conductor, and
musical director. He composed the popular song Dahil
Sa Iyo in 1938. In 1975 the Philippine Government
Cultural Association awarded him the Cultural
Achievement Award in Popular Music. He received the
Gawad CCP Para Sa Sining in 1986.
Ernani Cuenco was a composer, film scorer, musical
director, and music teacher. He was hailed as a National
Artist in Music in 1999. His works embody the Filipino
sense of musicality. The classical sound of the kundiman
is evident in some of his ballads. Up to this day, his
compositions are popular and well-loved.
Restie Umali was a composer, teacher, and musical
arranger. He arranged the Philippine national anthem
and the local classic Kataka-taka for the Boston Pops
Orchestra when it performed for the Philippine
Independence Night in Boston in 1972. He wrote a total
of more or less 120 movie theme songs. He composed
more than 250 scores for movies which was capped by a
Universal Pictures production of No Man Is An Island
starred by Jeffrey Hunter and Barbara Perez.
George Canseco was considered “a nationally acclaimed
composer of numerous popular Filipino classics.” He
composed songs for Filipino singers and movie stars.
Angel Peña is a classical and jazz composer, musical
arranger, and bass player. He is widely considered by
modern Filipino jazz musicians as “one of the founders
of traditional jazz in the Philippines.”
Leopoldo Silos Sr. was a composer, singer, and musical
arranger. He composed and recorded romantically
soulful songs. He was the award winning musical
director of the television musical Aawitan Kita.
Santiago Suarez was an accomplished composer of
traditional Filipino love songs. His popular works include
Dungawin Mo Hirang, Bakya Mo Neneng, Caprichosa,
Sa Libis ng Nayon, and Kataka-taka.