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Born: October 14, 1904
Baliuag, Bulacan, Philippine Islands
Died: January 25, 1996 (aged 91)
Nationality: Filipino
Occupation(s): Composer, conductor, music
director, teacher
Spouse: Rezaliana Exconde
Awards: National Artist of the Philippines/
Order of National Artists
Antonino Buenaventura was born on May 4, 1904 in Baliuag, Bulacan. He
was born in a family of musicians; his father Lucino Buenaventura was a
musician at the Spanish Artillery Band in Intramuros. He studied under
Nicanor Abelardo at the University of the Philippines Diliman Conservatory
of Music and graduated in 1932 with a Teacher's Diploma in Music, major in
Science and Composition and became an assistant instructor at the
Conservatory. He also studied composition for a post-graduate degree
under Jenő Takács.[2][3]

After the war he became conductor of the devastated Philippine

Constabulary Band for 16 years and he brought it back to its former glory.

He became the music director of the UST Conservatory of Music in 1961

and the UE School of Music and Arts in 1964.
• Buenaventura's music was influenced by different
ethnic Philippine folksongs. In 1935, he joined
Francisca Reyes-Aquino in researching Philippine
folksongs and dances.[5] In 1936 he composed the
accompaniment to the folk dance "Pandanggo sa
Ilaw" and incorporated ethnic melodies and
instruments to some of his compositions.
 Musical Style

• When Western classical music and forms was

the center of the Philippines' musical
tradition, Buenaventura introduced the idea
of using Philippine folk music material into a
form which was basically Western.
Music education of Col Antonio
buenaventura
• He studied under Nicanor Abelardo at the
University of the Philippines Diliman
Conservatory of Music and graduated in
1932 with a Teacher's Diploma in Music,
major in Science and Composition and
became an assistant instructor at the
Conservatory. He also studied composition
for a post-graduate degree under Jenő
Takács.
 Famous work of
Antonino R. Buenaventura

• Some of the outstanding work

that he wrote after undertaking
field research are the following
Minuet (1937), which borrowed
largely from Igorot tunes for its
thematic thrust, the popular
Pandanggo sa Ilaw (1936),
“Echoes from the Philippines,”
Varations and Fugere, Greetings
and many others.
 Awards and
Honors
• Band Conductor of the Year (1951, from the Music Lovers
Society)
• Republic Cultural Heritage Award for Music (1966, for his
Symphony in C)
• Araw ng Maynila Cultural Award (1971)
• Award of Merit for Outstanding Contribution to Philippine
• Music (1976, from the Philippine Army)
• Director Emeritus of the University of the East (1981)
• National Artist of the Philippines (1988)
• Doctor of Humanities (1991, from the University of the
Philippines)
• Diwa ng Lahi Award (1995)
Thank
you!