This document provides an overview of contemporary Philippine music, discussing genres such as kundiman (a type of love song), chromaticism (the use of notes outside the diatonic scale), sarzuela (a play with songs and dances), and opera. It also profiles Francisco Buencamino Sr., an influential 20th century composer, teacher, and founder of the Buencamino Music Academy. His compositions incorporated Philippine folk music and expanded to film scoring. Contemporary Philippine music draws from both Western classical traditions and local folk styles.

1. QUARTER III:
CONTEMPORAR
Y PHILIPPINE
MUSIC
PREPARED BY: GLADYS C. MORALES

2. “People are always challenged by
the fact that “no one understands
them” or know how they ‘really
feel”, so they turn to music . . .
Music also has the capacity to
imitate emotions.”

3. According to National Artist Ramon Santos,
PhD, “ contemporary music in the
Philippines usually refers to composition
that have adopted ideas and elements from
20th Century art music in the West, as well as
as the latest trends and musical styles in
entertainment industry. “. This brief
introduction covers only the works written
by the art music composers.

4. KUNDIMAN
A type of love song existed since the early 19th
century. But in the early 20th Century it had
developed into an art song.
Comes from the tagalog phrase “kung hindi
man” or “if it were not so”.
 these folksong were subtly patriotic but
typically disguised as classical love songs.

5. CHROMATICISM
From Greek word chroma means “colour”
The use of notes foreign into the mode or diatonic
scale upon which composition is based.
A diatonic scale –one which moves through pitch
letter names in sequence, without skipping any
letters, applying accidentals to certain pitches so
as to create a pattern of whole steps and half steps.

6. SARZUELA
Is a play with songs and dances usually
written in prose, containing from one to five
acts, depicting the vagaries of romantic love
among idealized Filipino characters and often
incorporating contemporary social, political,
economic or cultural issues to relevance and
interest.

7. OPERA
Art and music in which singers and musicians
perform dramatic work combining text (Libretto) and
musical score, usually in an elaborate theatrical setting
(opera house).
Dialogue is entirely sung and not spoken
Started in the 19th century featuring such themes such
as romance, deceit, murder and a lot more.
Demands in vocal skill are far higher and opera
singers have to be able to project.

8. In Philippine Contemporary Music,
three (3) groups of composers are
apparent: (1) The 20th Century
Traditional Composers (2) The New
New Music Composer; and (3) the
Song Composers

10. FRANCISCO B. BUENCAMINO SR. ( 1883-
1952)
Born on November 5, 1883 in
Bulacan
His father was Fortunato
Buencamino – a chuch organist
and band master.
His mother was Luisa Beltran
– a noted singer

11. he studied music composition and harmony at Liceo
de Manila. Unfortunately, he was not able to finish
his studies.
He taught at the Ateneo de Manila and at Centro
Escolar de Seῆoritas whose Conservatory of Music he
founded.
He also created the Buencamino Music Academy in
1930 where Nicanor Abelardo was one of his student.
Expanding his career, he ventured into musical
directing and scoring, and composing film music for
Sampaguita Pictures, LVN and Excelsior.

12. BUENAMINO’S COMPOSITIONS
INCLUDE:
 Harana
Pandanggo ni Neneng
Collar de Sampaguita
Dulces las Horas
 Mayon (Fantacia de Concierto)
My Soul’s Lament
Larawan
Mazurka
Boholana

13. BUENAMINO’S COMPOSITIONS
INCLUDE:
 Mi Bandera
 Prinsesa ng Kumintang
 Maligayang Bati
 Ang Bukang Liwayway
 Ang bagong Balitaw
 Himig ng Nayon
 Damdamin (Romance)
 Pizzicato Caprice