Contemporary

Philippine Music
Prepared by: Wilhem A. Ortiz Jr.
What is Contemporary Philippine
music?
• Contemporary music in the Philippines
usually refers to compositions that have
adopted ideas and elements from
twentieth century art music in the West,
as well as the latest trends and musical
styles in the entertainment industry. This
brief introduction covers only the works
written by the art music composers.
What is Contemporary Philippine
music?
• Jazz, Blues
• Pop, Rock
• Folk
• Hip-hop
• Metal
• Dance music
• Country music
What is traditional Filipino music?
• Every country in the world has their own
traditional music, Filipino
traditional music portrays the beliefs,
customs, and traditions of the rural folks.
Traditional music may be classified such
as to glorify the beauty of nature,
courtship music, or welcome songs
What are the characteristics of traditional
Philippine music?
• Three main characteristics are exemplified by traditional
ethnic music. The first is the cantata form. A cantata is a
vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment
and often contains more than one movement. Another
characteristic that is exemplified is the use of acapella.
An acapella song is a vocal composition without
instrumental accompaniment. Lastly, the sonata form is
used – a composition for one or more solo instruments,
one of which is usually a keyboard instrument, and usually
consisting of three or four independent movements
varying in key, mood, and tempo (Anupol, 2007).
20th Century Traditional Filipino Composers
and their works
• Francisco B. Buencamino Sr. (1883 – 1952)
• Nicanor S. Abelardo (1893 – 1934)
• Francisco S. Santiago (1889 – 1947)
• Antonio J. Molina (1894 – 1980)
• Hilarion F. Rubio (1902 – 1985)
• Col. Antonino R. Buenaventura (1904 – 1996)
20th Century Traditional Filipino Composers
and their works
• Rodolfo S. Cornejo (1909 -1991)
• Felipe P. De Leon Sr. (1912 – 1992)
• Lucio D. San Pedro (1913 – 2002)
• Rosendo E. Santos Jr. (1922 – 1994)
• Alfredo S. Buenaventura (born 1929)
• Raymundo Cipriano “Ryan” P. Cayabyab
(born 1954)
Francisco B. Buencamino Sr.
• Born: November 5, 1883
• Died: October 16, 1952
• Compositions: Harana, Pandanggo ni
Neneng, Collar de Sampaguita, Dulces las
Horas, Mayon (Fantasia de
Concierto), Princesa ng Kumintang,
Maligayang Bati and Himig ng Nayon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZkCOlNZLc8
Francisco B. Buencamino Sr.
• Founded the Centro Escolar de Senoritas,
Conservatory of Music, and Buencamino
Music Academy in 1930. His piano works
have become staples in the Philippine
repertoire of today’s performers. He
ventured into musical direction and
scoring for films, composing zarzuelas and
kundiman.
Nicanor S. Abelardo
• Born: February 7, 1893
• Died: March 21, 1934
• Compositions: Mutya ng Pasig, Nasaan
ka Irog, Cavatina for Violoncello, U.P
Naming Mahal, Cinderella Overture,
Panorama
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CKKQOMNc50
Nicanor S. Abelardo
• A 20th century modern composer,also a
composer in the Romantic style. The
Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main
Theater) of the Cultural Center of the
Philippines and Abelardo Hall of the UP
College of Music are named after him.
Francisco S. Santiago
• Born: January 29, 1889
• Died: September 28, 1947
• Father: Felipe Santiago
• Mother: Maria Santiago (Anak Dalita and Himutok
• Compositions: Pakiusap, Madaling Araw, Sakali
Man, Hibik ng Pilipinas, Ano Kaya ang Kapalaran,
Kundiman, Anak Dalita and Himutok
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ol9hYaWglQ
Francisco S. Santiago
• “Father of the Kundiman” and belongs to
the “Triumvirate of the Filipino Composers”.
His music was Romantic in style,
incorporating Western forms and
Techniques with folk materials.
Antonio J. Molina
• Born: December 26, 1894
• Died: January 29, 1980
• Compositions: Ang Batingaw,
Hatinggabi, Kundiman-Kundangan, Awit
ni Maria Clara, Magbalik ka Hirang, Kung
sa iyong Gunita and Larawan Nitong
Pilipinas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUBFFPGvL4g&list=RDiU
BFFPGvL4g&start_radio=1
Antonio J. Molina
• A product of both Romantic and
Impressionist style, and known as the
“Father of Philippine Impressionist Music”.
Fascinated by the dynamics
and harmonies of Debussy, but retained
much of the Romantic style in his melody.
Hilarion F. Rubio
• Born: October 21, 1902
• Died: December 28, 1985
• Compositions: Unang Katas, Bulaklaken,
Theme and Variation for Band, Ang
Magsasaka, Bukang Liwayway, Filipinas kong
Mahal, Hantulan Mo Ako, Ginintuang Araw,
Mutya ng Silangan, Light Narra
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgKxJ9OsY3o
Hilarion F. Rubio
• A composer, music teacher, conductor,
and clarinetist. His name was closely
identified with his works for the orchestra;
as a conductor of opera, ballet, and
dance recitals; and his music for movies.
Col. Antonino R. Buenaventura
• Born: May 4, 1904
• Died: January 25, 1996
• Compositions: Pandanggo sa ilaw,
Prinsesa ng Kumintang, Pandanggo ni
Neneng

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cl3oh3GUABg
Col. Antonino R. Buenaventura
• He recorded folk and dance music
around the country. He restored the
Philippine Constabulary Band in 1945,
which is considered “one of the best
military bands in the world”. Declared
National Artist for Music in 1988.
Rodolfo S. Cornejo
• Born: May 15, 1909
• Died: August 11, 1991
• Compositions: A la Juventud Filipina,
Ibong Adarna, Kandingan,
Kaluwalhatian, Malakas at Maganda
overture, Okaka
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2buvLg4Pbw
Rodolfo S. Cornejo
• He served as pianist-director of a USO
concert unit that entertained the
Allied Forces during World War II. He
later became the soloist of several
orchestras, and eventually the
musical director of the Sampaguita
and Vera Perez movie companies.
Felipe P. De Leon Sr.
• Born: May 1, 1912
• Died: December 5, 1992
• Compositions: Bulaklak Alitaptap,
Bagong Lipunan, Payapang Daigdig,
Pasko na Naman, Noche Buena, Kay
Tamis ng Buhay, Sapagkat Mahal Kita
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TygWJjxE700&list=RDTy
gWJjxE700&start_radio=1
Felipe P. De Leon Sr.
• Known as a nationalist composer who
expressed the Philippines’ cultural identity
through his compositions. He wrote piano
compositions, hymns, marches, art
songs, chamber music, symphonic
poems, overture, band music, school
songs, orchestral works, operas,
kundiman, and zarzuelas.
Lucio D. San Pedro
• Born: February 11, 1913
• Died: March 31, 2002
• Compositions: Ugoy ng Duyan, Suite
Pastorale, and Lahing Kayumanggi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4A7Ptil2j4&list
=RDF4A7Ptil2j4&start_radio=1
Lucio D. San Pedro
• Known as a “Romantic nationalist”. He
incorporated Philippine folk elements in
his compositions with Western forms and
harmony. His chords have a rich
expressive tonality. Was declared
National Artist for Music in 1991.
Rosendo E. Santos Jr.
• Born: September 3, 1922
• Died: November 4, 1994
• Compositions: Inday sa Balitaw,
Melinda’s Masquerade
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niRRzciuVB0
Rosendo E. Santos Jr.
• A prolific composer whose works include
concerti, sonatas, symphonies,
symphonic poems, five operas in a
Philippine dialect, numerous band
overtures, and over 200 marches. He
also wrote 50 masses in Latin and 20 in
English.
Alfredo S. Buenaventura
• Born: October 14, 1929
• Compositions: Prinsesa Urduha, Diego
Silang, Maria Makiling, Ang Ating
Watawat, Pasko ng Barangay, Dakilang
Lahi, Pilipinas, Gomburza
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_u3JtnTEn8
Alfredo S. Buenaventura
• His compositions combine contemporary
and conventional styles, and contain
melodies that are simple and
understandable, while using
contemporary harmonies that enhance
their complexity.
Raymundo Cipriano “Ryan” P.
Cayabyab
• Born: May 4, 1954
• Compositions: Misa, Four Poems for
Soprano and Piano, Te Deum, Kay
Ganda ng Ating Musika, Limang Dipang
Tao, Alikabok and Kumukuti-kutitap
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkKKi7goF-Q
Raymundo Cipriano “Ryan” P.
Cayabyab
• A contemporary composer and
conductor who spans both popular
and classical worlds with his pop
music, ballads, operas, zarzuelas,
orchestral arrangements, masses,
psalms, and choral compositions. His
compositions are mostly of traditional
Western influences.