CONTEMPORARY PHILIPPINE MUSIC

20 THCENTURY
TRADITIONAL
COMPOSERS
“Contemporary music in the
Philippines refers to compositions
that have adopted ideas and
elements from 20th century art music
in the west, as well as the latest
trends and musical styles in the
entertainment industry.”
– Ramon Santos, PhD
Francisco Buencamino Sr.
(1883-1952)
Born: November 5, 1883 –
Bulacan
Father: Fortunato Buencamino, a
church organist and band master
Mother: Luisa Beltran, a noted
singer
He studied music composition
and harmony at Liceo de Manila.
Unfortunately, he was not able
to finish.
He taught at the Ateneo de
Manila, and at Centro Escolar de
Señoritas whose conservatory of
Music he founded. He also
created the Buencamino Music
Academy in 1930 where Nicanor
Abelardo was one of his students.
Expanding his career, he ventured
into musical directing and
scoring, and composing film
music for sampaguita Pictures,
LVN, and Excelsior.
COMPOSITIONS:
-Harana
-Pandanggo ni Neneng
-Collar de Sampaguita
-Dulces las Horas
-Mayon (Fantasia de Concierto)
-My Soul’s Lament
-Larawan
-Mazurka
COMPOSITIONS:
-Boholana
-Mi Bandera
-Princesa ng Kumintang
-Maligayang Bati
-Ang Bukang Liwayway
-Pandanggo Ni Neneng
-Ang Bagong Galitaw
-Himig ng Nayon
-Damdamin (Romance)
-Pizzicato Caprice
He passed away on October
16, 1952 after which a
posthumous award honored
him with the title
“Outstanding Composer”.
Francisco Santiago
(1889 – 1947)
- “Father of Kundiman”
- First Filipino Director of UP
Conservatory of Music
- He finished his music specialization at
the American Conservatory of Music in
Chicago, where he obtained his
Doctorate Degree in 1924.
His music: Romantic in style,
incorporating Western forms and
technique with folk materials.
COMPOSITIONS:
-Pakiusap
-Madaling Araw
-Sakali Man
-Hibik ng Pilipinas
-Ano Kaya and Kapalaran
-Kundiman (Anak Dalita)
Anak Dalita – was sung
before the Royal court of
Spain upon the request of
King Alfonso II.
He was also a musical director for films.
-Kundiman
-Leron, Leron sinta
-Madaling Araw
-Manileña
-Pakiusap
Hilarion Rubio Y Francisco
(1902 – 1985)
Born: October 21, 1902 – Bacoor,
Cavite
Musical influence: his uncle who was
then playing with the Bacoor Band.
-composer, teacher, conductor,
clarinetist
-Created substantial works for orchestra
-Conductor for opera, ballet, dance
recitals, and movie music
When he was 8 years old, he was
accepted as a member of the Bacoor
Band as clarinetist. At that time he made
his firs composition Unang Katas for his
concert with the band.
High School:
-Member of several orchestras
-Performed with different movie houses
After High School:
-He co-founded the Anak Zapote Band
-Band leader and conductor of the
ROTC Band of the Conservatory of
Music, UP
-Played the violin and timpani with the
UP Junior Symphony Orchestra
-Conductor at the Manila Music School
-Choirmaster and choral conductor of
the Choir Islanders
During the Second World War, he
composed and arranged many works
and conducted many military and
civilian brass bands.
COMPOSITIONS:
-Bulaklaken
-Theme & Variations for Band
-Dance of the Nymphs Rondo
-Florante at Laura (overture)
-Halik
-Danza
-Unang Katas
-Filipinas Kong Mahal
-To the Filipino Youth
-National Heroes Day Hymn
He passed away on December 28, 1985.
Col. Antonio Buenaventura
(1904 - 1996)
National Artist for Music
-composer, conductor, teacher
Father: Lucio – chief musician of the
Spanish artillery band in Intramuros and
founder of Banda Buenaventura
- Clarinet player
-He further developed his musical
abilities at the Consevatory of Music,
UP at the age of 19.
-Nicanor Abelardo and Francisco
Santiago were among of his mentors.
-He led the ROTC Band and established
UP Junior Orchestra.
-He pursued further studies at the
Institute of International Edication in
New York.
- He was a music instructor and band
conductor of the Philippine Military
Academy (PMA).
-Philippine Constabulary Band in 1945
One of the best military bands in the
world.
-Instructor in UST and UE.
-Buenaventura composed the music and
folk dance notations for the dance
researches of Aquino.
-He was declared National Artist for
Music in 1988 and passed away in 1996.
COMPOSITIONS:
-Minuet
-Mindanao Sketches
-Divertimento for Piano & Orchestra
-Variations and Fugue
-Pandanggo Sa Ilaw
Rodolfo S. Cornejo
(1909 - 1991)
Born: May 15, 1909 Singalong, Manila
Musical influence: Mother
-Started formal music lessons at the age
of six.
-Invited as organist at the Pasay Catolic
Church
-First Composition: Glissando Waltz at
the age of 10.
-At the age of 14, 26 of Cornejo’s
compositions were already listed by the
United Publishing Compnay Inc.
-He graduated with a Teacher’s Diploma
in Science and Composition at the
Conservatory of Music, UP in 1930.
-He received his Bachelor Degree major in piano
and theory from the Chicago Musical College of
Roosevelt University, USA in 1932.
-Master of Music Degree Major in composition
and Conductin in 1933.
-He was conferred as Doctor of Music degree
honoris causa in 1954.
-He received his Doctor of Philosophy degree
major in composition from the Neotarian College
of Philosophy in Kansas City, USA in 1947.
Teacher: UP Conservatory of Music
Commissioned by Pres. Manuel L. Quezon to
write Symphony and an opera and compose the
music for the documentary film on Pres. Quezon’s
funeral.
He is listed in “The International Who’s Who in
Music”.
He passed away on August 11, 1991.
COMPOSITION:
-A la Juventud Filipina
-Bailes de Ayer
-Caprice on a Folksong
-Cello Sonata
-Ibong Adarna
-Kandingan
-Malakas at Maganda
-Overture
-Okaka
-Oriental Fantasy
-Ibong Adarna
-Piano Concerto Nos. 1, 2, 3
-Ruby
-Song of the Miners
Felipe Padilla de Leon Sr.
(1912 – 1992)
National Artist for Music
Born: May 1, 1912 Barrio Ppaya (now General Tinio) in
Penaranda, Nueva Ecija
Father: Juan de Leon
Mother: Natalia Padilla (pianist)
- Painting and drawing was his talent (he was paid for his
drawings and sketches)
-He took up Fine Arts at the UP in 1927
(Stopped)
-He played the trombone in dance
orchestras
-He worked as an assistant conductor of
Nueva Ecija High School Orchestra where he
started doing musical arrangements.
-He wrote music for the zarzuela.
- He enrolled at the Conservatory of Music,
UP.
-He graduated with a music teacher’s
diploma, major in conducting in 1939.
-He took advanced studies in composition at
Julliard School of Muwic in New York, USA.
-He died on December 5, 1992.
AWARDS:
Copser of the Year 1949
Manila Music Lovers Society
Musician of the Year, UP 1958
Conferred honorary degree, doctor of
philosophy in humanities by the UP in 1991.
National Artist for Music in 1997..
COMPOSITIONS:
-Opera: Noli Me Tangere, El Filibusterismo
-March: Tindig, Aking Inang Bayan, Bagong
Lipunan (during the martial law)
-Christmas carols: Payapang Daigdig (1946),
Noche Buena, Pasko Na Naman
 Lucio San Pedro
(1913 – 2002)
National Artist for
Music
Born: February 11, 1913 in Angono, Rizal
Elementary: started composing
He studied the banjo which inspired him to
become a serious musician.
He is known as a “Romantic nationalist”.
-Pursued music degree at the University of
the Philippines and the Julliard School in
New York, USA.
-Professor of theory and composition at the
UP College of Music.
-He incorporate Philippine folk elements in
his composition with Western forms and
harmony.
COMPOSITIONS:
-Sa Ugoy ng Duyan
-Suite Pastorale
-Lahing Kayumanggi
Rosendo E. Santos Jr.
(1922 – 1994)
Born: September 3, 1992, Cavite City
Age 11: he started composing band marches,
instrumental and vocal scores as well as
music for Catholic masses.
- Studied at UP Conservatory of Music
where he eventually became a faculty
member.
-Pursued Master of Music degree in theory
and composition from the Catholic
University of America in Washington D.C.
-He also served on its faculty as well as in
West Virginia University and Howard
University.
-UNESCO scholar
-Awarded as “Philippine Composer of the
Century”
-“Composer of the Year” 1956 and 1957
-Composed several piano concerti, sonatas,
symphonies, symphonic poems, five operas
in Filipino, band overtures and more than
200 marches.
- Last musical work and only ballet
composition, “Melinda’s Masquerade”.
Alfredo Buenaventura
(1929 - )
-Born: October 14, 1929, Sta. Maria, Bulacan
-Composer, conductor and teacher.
-He grew up in a musical environment and
became a band member in his hometown at
a young age.
-Trombones and trumpets.
-One of the twenty boy sopranos of Tiples
at Sto. Domingo Church.
-Danza: his first composition
-Has composed over 50 major works
including five full-length operas, operettas,
dance dramas, cantatas, symphonies,
concertos, ballets, overtures, prelude, fugues
and chamber music.
-Many of his compositions are based on
Filipino heroes, legends and epics.
COMPOSITIONS:
-Maria Makiling
-Diego Silang
-Prinsesa Urduha
-Ang Ating Watawat
-Pask ng Barangay
-Three Piano Concertos: Celebration,
Determination and Exultation
-Symphonies: Dakilang Lahi, Gomburza, Rizal, the
Great Malayan Antagonist
AWARDS:
Republic Cultural Heritage Award (twice)
The Outstanding Filipino Award (TOFIL) for
Music in 1995
Ryan Cayabyab
(1954 - )
Born: May 4, 1954 in Manila
-He obtained his Bachelor Degree at the UP
College of Music.
-Faculty member for composition
-Executive and Artistic Director of the Sa Miguel
Foundation for Performing Arts (San Miguel
Philharmonic Orchestra and San Miguel Master
Chorale)
COMPOSITIONS:
-Misa,
-Four Poems for Soprano and Piano
-Te Deum
-Spolarium (opera)
COMPOSITIONS:
-Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika
-Paraiso
-One (album) he personally sang the
unaccompanied songs on different tracks to
produce 16 voices.
-Tuwing Umuulan, Limang Dipang Tao, Da
Coconutnut, Paraisong Parisukat,
Kumukutikutitap, etc.
TRIUMVIRATE OF FILIPINO COMPOSERS
1. Francisco Santiago
2. Nicanor Abelardo
3. Antonio Molina