Contemporary Philippine Music

SUMMARY

With the European and American influences brought by our country's colonizers, it was inevitable that
the musical styles of 20th century Western composers found their way into Philippine compositions. The
works of many notable Filipino composers are evidence of this.

Francisco Buencamino founded the Centro Escolar de Señoritas, Conservatory of Music, as well as the
Buencamino Music Academy in 1930. Many of his piano works have become staples in the Philippine
repertoire of today's performers, especially Mayon, Larawan, and Maligayang Bati. He also ventured into
musical direction and scoring for films, as well as composing several zarzuelas and kundiman.

Francisco Santiago is known as the "Father of the Kundiman" and belongs to the "Triumvirate of Filipino
Composers" along with Nicanor Abelardo and Antonio Molina. Santiago's music was Romantic in style,
incorporating Western forms and techniques with folk materials. Among his famous works are Pakiusap,
Madaling Araw, and Kundiman (Anak Dalita). He became the first Filipino Director of the Conservatory of
Music, University of the Philippines.

Nicanor Abelardo, although a 20th century modern composer, was also a composer in the Romantic
style. His best-known compositions include Mutya ng Pasig, Nasaan Ka Irog, Cavatina for Violoncello,
and Magbalik Ka Hirang. The Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater) of the Cultural Center of the
Philippines and the Abelardo Hall of the UP College of Music are named after him.

Antonio Molina was a product of both the Romantic and Impressionist styles, and came to be known as
the "Father of Philippine Impressionist Music." 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 composition Malikmata (Transfiguration).

Hilarion Rubio was a composer, music teacher, conductor, and clarinetist. His name was closely
identified with his works for the orchestra; as a conductor for opera, ballet, and dance recitals; and his
music for movies.

Col. Antonino Buenaventura promoted Philippine music by extensively using folk materials in his works.
He recorded folk and dance music around the country with Ramon Tolentino and National Artist for
Dance Francisca Reyes Aquino. He restored the Philippine Constabulary Band in 1945, which was
considered "one of the best military bands in the world." He is a National Artist for Music.

Rodolfo Cornejo was the researcher and official composer of the Philippine government-in- exile, under
President Manuel L. Quezon. 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.

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MUSIC Quarter III

Felipe P. de Leon Sr. is 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, overtures, band muic, school songs, orchestral works, operas, kundiman, and
zarzuelas. His two operas, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, are considered his masterpieces. He is
a National Artist for Music.

Lucio San Pedro is 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, as
represented in his well-loved lullaby Sa Ugoy ng Duyan, his orchestral compositions Suite Pastorale, a
musical description of his hometown Angono, and his nationalistic symphonic poem Lahing Kayumanggi.
His other compositions include songs, pieces for violin, cello, and chorus; and works for the symphonic
band. He is a National Artist for Music.

Rosendo Santos Jr. was 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 50 Masses in Latin and 20 in English.

Alfredo Buenaventura holds the sole distinction among Filipino composers of having composed five full-
length operas. His compositions combine contemporary and conventional styles, and contain melodies
that are simple and understandable, while using contemporary harmonies that enhance their
complexity.

Ryan Cayabyab is 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. Among these are the award-winning Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika, the modern zarzuela
Alikabok, and the opera Spoliarium with libretto by Fides Cuyugan-Asensio. His compositions are mostly
of traditional Westem influence.
When we are talking about traditional music, it is the music of the Philippines from the
twentieth century specifically up to the present music, in particular in which composers have
their own style in composing music, as well as that they not get influenced by the other
styles and/or techniques in music, such as the Western Classical music

Philippine contemporary music is categorized into three parts in accordance with the curriculum
guide given by the Department of Education: (1) traditional music, (2) new music, and (3) song
composers. In this lesson, we will discuss just the first music: traditional music composer. When we
are talking about traditional music, it is the music of the Philippines from the twentieth century
specifically up to the present music, in particular in which composers have their own style in
composing music, as well as that they not get influenced by the other styles and/or techniques in
music, such as the Western Classical music. One of the examples in traditional music is the creation
of Kundiman.

With the European and American influences brought by our colonizers, it was inevitable that the musical
styles of 20th century Western composers found their way into Philippine compositions.

Having been colonized by Spain and the United States for almost three centuries, it was inevitable that
Western compositional techniques found their way into the works of Filipino composers. However,
many 20th century Filipino composers have managed to retain traditional elements and integrated them
with Western techniques. In fact, these composers were known to have laid the foundations of what we
now know as Philippine music.

We know that our country have been colonized by Spain and America for almost 3 centuries. And of
course, they have influenced the Filipino culture including the field of music sang mga western
compositional or musical techniques. And However, despite the musical influences of the western style,
some 20th century Filipino composers were able to keep certain traditional aspects while understanding
Western ideas and that way they have formed the basis of what we now call Philippine music.