2. This group of composers departed from the standard form of
classical music and explored alternatively direction and
concepts in music composition. These compositions derive their
essence, theories, and structures from non-Western sources
especially Asian music indigenous Philippine cultural traditions.
At the same time, they were influenced by the ideas of the
avant-garde composers of the 20th century like Varese, Xenakis
and Cage.
Some examples of Filipino compositors of new music are Jose
Maceda, Chino Toleto, Ramon Santos, and Lucresia Kasilag.
3. Dr. Jose Montserrat Maceda was an ethnomusicologist, educator,
composer, conductor, and pianist. As an ethnomusicologist he specialized
in Indonesia and Filipino music.
Maceda was a Professor of Piano and Musicology at the University of the
Philippines College of Music. His major compositions include Ugma-ugma,
Pagsamba, and Udlot-udlot.
Jose Maceda
Born: January 31, 1917
Died: May 5, 2004
4. Maceda studied the following academy:
Vitorina Lobregat of the Academy of Music in Manila - piano
Alfred Cortot at the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris – piano
Columbia University – musicology
Northwestern University – anthropology
University of California - ethnomusicology
He explored Filipino musicality and dedicated his life to popularized
traditional music. He also studied at intensively and wrote papers about
the nature of ethnic Philippine tribes covering even the highest
mountain villages and the farthest remote communities. His profession
and research took him to many places in the Philippines, Malaysia,
Thailand, Indonesia, Africa, Brazil, and the United States.
5. Chino Toledo
Born: March 6, 1959
Josefino “Chino” Toledo is a composer, conductor, and a recognized
figure in Asian contemporary art music and a leading voice among the
new generation of contemporary artists.
Toledo is noted for premiering works of Filipino composers as well as
other Asian composers. His music is characterized by great energy and
often bears a relationship to the traditional music of Southeast Asia.
6. He has conducted concerts in Japan, Indonesia, Australia and
China. His work, Mga Sulyap sa Simbahan ng Quiapo Mula sa
Kalye Echague (Glimpes of Quiapo Church from Echague Street)
was written for 18 instrumentalists, and included a Philippine
ritual chant as a way to mingle the old with new materials.
Toledo’s works also include music for theater, films, scoring
libraries, orchestrations, and arrangements for different
performing forces, and revisions and editing of Philippine
Zarzuelas. Today, he is considered as the one of the finest and
best conductors ever.
7. Ramon Santos is a composer, conductor, and musicologist.
Ramon was exposed to music at a young age. He studied formal
music lessons with her grandmother, Josefa Andrada Pagayon
and a few violin lessons with another teacher. He was so
amazed with the avant-garde music of Varese and was also
exposed to Jose Maceda’s composition Ugma-ugma.
Ramon Santos
Born: February 25, 1941
8. He received his Bachelor of Music Composition and
Conducting degree from University of the Philippines
Conservatory of Music, and his Master of Music degree with
distinction from Indiana University, and his Doctor of
Philosophy degree from State University of New York at
Buffalo.
He is currently the country’s foremost exponent of
contemporary Filipino music. His works include Ding Ding Nga
Diwaya, Nabasag ang Banga, Ang Hardin ni Ligaya, and Ang
Puting Waling-waling.
9. Lucresia Kasilag was a composer, educator, cultural and arts
administrator, and performing artist. She is considered the “First Lady of
Philippine Music”.
Music was introduced to her by her mother, Asuncion Roces, who was a
music teacher. She learned to play the banduria and guitar at an early age.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English degree at Philippine Women’s
University and a Diploma in Music Teaching at St. Scholastica’s College.
Lucresia Kasilag
Born: August 31, 1917
Died: August 16, 2008
10. She completed her graduate studies at the Eastman School of
Music in Rochester, New York at a Fulbright Travel Grant.
She held the position as dean of the Philippine Women’s
University College of Music and Fine Arts and established the
Bayanihan Folk Arts Center for Philippine music research.
She fused Filipino ethnic music with Western music, using
indigenous instruments in orchestral productions. She has written
250 compositions for orchestra and is famous for writing Love
Songs, Legend of the Sarimanok, and Ang Pamana.
