CONTEMPORARY MUSIC

1. Francisco Beltran Buencamino Sr
Francisco Beltran Buencamino was born on the 5th of November, 1883 in San Miguel de Mayumo, Bulacan. He is
the sixth of ten children of Fortunato Buencamino and Luisa Beltran. His father was a church organist and band master,
and his mother, a singer. Francisco was married to Pilar Luceno and they had two children, both of whom also took
up music.
Francisco first learnt music from his father. At age 12, he could play the organ.At 14, he was sent to study at the Liceo
de Manila. There, he took up courses in composition and harmony underMarcelo Adonay.He also took up pianoforte
courses under a Spanish music teacher. He did not finish his education as he became interested in the sarswela.
In the early 1900s, Francisco Buencamino taught music at the Ateneo de Manila and at the Centro Escolar de Senoritas.
At the latter, he founded the Conservatory of Music and was its head until 1938. At the same time, he also handled
music lessons at the Liceo de Manila. He founded the Buencamino Music Academy in 1930. It was authorized by the
Department of Public Instruction to grant music degrees. Some of his pupils were Nicanor Abelardo, Ernestina
Crisologo, Estela Velasco, Beatrice Alba, and Amelia Hidalgo. In the 1940s, he started working as a musical director.
He also composed music for films produced by Sampaguita Pictures, LVN and Excelsior. For a time, Francisco
Buencamino frequently acted on stage.He also collaborated on the plays written and produced by Aurelio Tolentino.
The Philippine Music Publishers, which Buencamino established, undertook the printing of his more important
compositions, but it was not a successful venture.
Some of the sarswelas he wrote are: "Marcela" (1904), "Si Tio Celo" (1904) and "Yayang " (1905). In 1908, the
popularity of the sarswela started to wane because of American repression and the entry of silent movies. Francisco
Buencamino then turned to composing kundimans.
One of his earliest compositions is "En el bello Oriente" (1909), which uses Jose Rizal's lyrics. "Ang Una Kong Pag-
ibig", a popular kundiman,was inspired by his wife. In 1938, he composed an epic poem which won a prize from the
Far Eastern University during one of the annual carnivals. His "Mayon Concerto" is considered his magnum opus.
Begun in 1943 and finished in 1948, "Mayon Concerto" had its full rendition in February 1950 at the graduation recital
of Rosario Buencamino at the Holy Ghost College. "Ang Larawan" (1943), also one of his most acclaimed works, is
a composition based on a Balitaw tune. The orchestral piece, "Pizzicato Caprice" (1948) is a version of this
composition. Many of his other compositions were lost during the Japanese Occupation, when he had to evacuate his
family to Novaliches, Rizal.
As a musical director, he was involved in anumber of movies such as "Mabangong Bulaklak", "Ang Ibong Adarna",
"Mutya ng Pasig", and "Alitaptap".
Francisco Buencamino died on the 16th of October, 1952. in the same year, he was given a posthumous Outstanding
Composer Award by the Manila Music Lovers Society.
Additional Information: Pianist Cecile Licad, is his grand niece. Composers Willy Cruz, Lorrie Ilustre and Nonong
Buencamino, and actor Noni Buencamino are his grandnephews.
Biography of Filipino composer, Dr. Francisco Santiago
Dr. Francisco Santiago was born on the 29th of January, 1889 in Santa Maria, Bulacan, Philippines.
He was a composer, pianist, teacher and film director. His parents were Felipe and Maria Santiago.
He married Concepcion de Leon in 1923 and they had four children.

2. The young Francisco had his elementary education at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran. He
finished high school at the Liceo de Manila. When he was seven years old, he took piano lessons
from a private tutor. After three years, he studied pianoforte under Blas Echegoyen, and then
Faustino Villacorta and Primo Calzada. Because his family was poor, he had to support himself
throughout school.
When the University of the Philippines Conservatory of Music was founded in 1916, he was taken
in as a piano instructor. He studied advanced harmony and counterpoint under Robert Schofield.
Dr. Santiago obtained his teacher's certificate in science and composition from the University of
the Philippines in 1922. He obtained his masters in music at the Conservatory of Chicago, USA in
1924 and his doctorate at the Chicago Music School in the same year. It was there that he presented
his Concerto in B flat minor for pianoforte and orchestra, which is considered his masterpiece. He
returned to the Philippines in 1925 and resumed teaching at the University of the Philippines.1 He
became the director at the UP Conservatory of Music from 1930 to 1946. He was appointed
Professor Emeritus at the University of the Philippines.
Among Dr. Santiago's popular kundimans are "Sakali Man" and "Hibik ng Pilipinas" (1917);
"Pakiusap" (1921); "Ang Pag-ibig" (1922); "Ano Kaya Ang Kapalaran?" (1938). Among his
undated kundimans are "Hatol Hari Kaya?"; "Aking Bituin" and "Pagsikat ng Araw". The
kundiman entitled "Kundiman, Anak Dalita", which he wrote in 1917, was sung before the Royal
court of Spain under the request of King Alfonso II.2
Among his works in the classical genre are the "Philippine Overture" and the "Sonata Filipina in
D flat Major" written in 1922. The latter is the "first sonata written in the Philippines introducing
Philippine musical themes" according to the films, among which are "Kundiman", "Leron-leron
Sinta", "Madaling Araw", "Manilena", and "Pakiusap" (the movie which was inspired by his own
composition). Dr. santiago also composed a version of "Ave Maria" for high voice with violin
obligato in 1919. He did musical transcriptions of "Ay, Kalisud!" (1928); "Ang Kumintang",
"Kura-kura" (a Jolo folk song) and "Hawi-hawi" (an Aeta folk song). These last three pieces are
undated. He also composed "Sumilang na Ang Manunubos" in 1932, a Philippine Christmas carol,
which according to composer, Antonio Molina, is the "first Philippine Christmas carol ever written
for mixed chorus and symphony orchestra."3 Dr. Francisco Santiago wrote the music of the
sarswela, "Si Margaritang Mananahi" in 1913, with libretto by Severino Reyes.
Dr. Francisco Santiago died on the 28th of September, 1947. He was posthumously given the
Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan Award by the City of Manila in 1968.
Rodolfo Soldevilla Cornejo
Rodolfo S. Cornejo, a composer, pianist and conductor, was born on the 15th of May, 1909, in
Manila. His parents are Miguel Cornejo, Sr. and Crisanta Soldevilla. In 1949, he married Nieves
Guerrero, a lyric soprano. The couple had five children.

3. Rodolfo Cornejo started piano lessons with Gelacio Reyes at age six. At age eight, he had his first
recital, and he became the organist of the Pasay Catholic Church. He wrote his first composition,
Glissando Waltz, at age 10. He also wrote and published a military march, Salute, at age 13. At
16, twenty-six of his works had been listed by the United Publishing Co.. While he was finishing
his high school, he was already enrolled at the University of the Philippines (UP) Conservatory of
Music.
At the UP Conservatory, he studied under Dr. Francisco Santiago, Nicanor Abelardo and
Alexander Lippay. Barely three years after completing his high school, he obtained his teacher's
diplomas in piano, science and composition. He taught for a year at UP, then left for the United
States. He acquired a bachelor's degree in piano and theory at the Chicago Musical College of
Roosevelt University in 1932. He won the Wesley Le Violette scholarship in composition, went
on to complete his master's degree in 1933. He studied with Rudolf Ganz and Glenn Dillard Gunn.
In 1934, he returned to the Philippines, founded and directed the Manila Conservatory of Music.
He again left for the US in 1939 to pursue doctorate studies in composition. He earned his doctorate
degree in 1947 at the Neotarian College in Kansas City, USA. In his US sojourns, Cornejo was a
soloist with various orchestras, such as the New York City Symphony Orchestra, National
Orchestra Association, and many others. During World War II, he played at concerts for the Allied
Armed Forces. In 1941, he became researcher and official composer of the Philippine government-
in-exile. In 1945, the Chicago Musical College awarded him an honorary doctorate in music.
In the Philippines, he became director of the Cosmpolitan Colleges Conservatory of Music from
1948 to 1949. He also concertized. He wrote scores for twenty-seven films during his 10 years as
musical director of Sampaguita Pictures. He is founding member of the League of Filipino
Composers.
He wrote over 300 compositions. These ranged from classical to pop. His major works include
The Season - Song Cycle (1932), A La Juventud Filipina (1935), Philippine Symphony No. 1
(1939), No.2 (1942), and No. 3 (1947) all for piano solo; Oriental Fantasy (1944) and Philippine
Fantasy with Marimba Solo (1962). He wrote music for the ballets Ibong Adarna (1970) and Baile
de Ayer (1974). His cantata Christ the Redeemer for soloists, narrator, mixed chorus and orchestra,
premiered at the Philamlife Auditorium in 1977. He also wrote a musical A Glimpse of Philippine
Life and Culture, which premiered at the Seattle Opera House in 1978. He is listed in the
International Who's Who in Music.
Rodolfo Cornejo died in Manila on the 11th of August, 1991.

4. Short Biography of Filipino composer, Nicanor Abelardo
Nicanor Santa Ana Abelardo was born on the 7th of February, 1893 in San Miguel de Mayumo,
Bulacan. He was a composer, pianist and teacher. He was the eldest of eight children born to
Valentin Abelardo, a photographer, and Placida Santa Ana, a church singer. His father taught him
solfeggio and bandurria when he was five. At six, he could already play the William Tell Overture
on the guitar. He composed and dedicated a waltz, "Ang Unang Buko" (First Bud) to his
grandmother, at age eight. In 1902, his uncle, Juan Abelardo, a painter, brought him to Manila
where he studied in several primary schools. While working for his uncle, he learned to play the
piano, and later studied voice under the Italian maestro Enrico Capozzi who refused to be paid for
teaching such a talented boy.1 Upon the recommendation of composer, Francisco Buencamino, he
was hired to play at saloons and cabarets at age 13. At barely 15, Abelardo took on a teaching job
in barrio schools in San Ildefonso and San Miguel, Bulacan.
In 1916, he studied at the University of the Philippines Conservatory of Music. While there, he
composed the "U.P. Beloved", a school hymn which won first prize in an open musical contest in
1917. In 1918, he was appointed as an assistant instructor in solfeggio and harmony. He became a
full-pledged instructor in 1919. He received his teacher's certificate in science and composition in
1923. He then became the head of the composition department the following year.
Abelardo was a prolific composer of kundiman (art song). He redefined this genre and elevated it
to artistic heights through his compositions like "Nasaan Ka Irog?" (1923); "Kundiman ng Luha"
(1924), and "Paghanga" (1939). Abelardo also composed music for the sarswela - such as
"Kawanggawa" (1918); "Dakilang Punglo" (1926); "Tayo'y Pakasal Na" (1930); "Kapabayaan o
Bunga ng Masamang Hilig" (1918); "Sumilang", "Ang Tala ng Unibersidad", "Lucila" (1911); the
operetta "Akibat" (1913); "Ang Likha ni Pierrot o Batik ng Kabihasnan" (1931); "Ang Mestiza"
(1922); "Makabagong Dalaga" and "Batang Tulisan" (1934). He also wrote in different musical
forms such as the "Kung Hindi Man" (transcribed from a love song originally for voice, violin,
cello and piano), "Ang Aking Bayan" (patriotic song), "Bonifacio Song", and "Naku...Kenkoy!"
He also has works in the classical genre which include "Sonata for violin and piano", "Salve Regina
Mater" (1932), and many others.
After more than 140 works, Abelardo began to ail. He died in 1934 leaving behind several
unfinished works.
HILARION RUBIO Y FRANCISCO
- born on October 21, 1902 in Bacoor, Cavite
- composer, music teacher, conductor, and clarinetist
- created substantial works for the orchestra
- served as conductor for opera, ballet, dance recitals, and movie music

5. - made his first composition Unang Katas for his concert with the band
- performed with various movie house bands and orchestras
- member of the Lyric Theater Orchestra, Trozo Band in Benavides Street, and the Band
Moderna in Tondo
- co-founded the Anak Zapote Band. He later became a bandleader and conductor of the ROTC
Band of the Conservatory of Music, University of the Philippines (UP)
- played the violin and timpani with the UP Junior Symphony Orchestra
- was appointed director of the Conservatory of Music, Centro Escolar University in 1944-1945
- appointed conductor of the Manila Municipal Symphony Orchestra
- held various positions, including as Vice President of the PASAMBAP (Pambansang Samahan
ng mga Banda sa Pilipinas)
- board and charter member of the League of Filipino composers,
and the first President of the Philippine Bandmaster’s Association
- conductor of the National Opera Company for 23 years from 1937 to 1960
- passed away on December 28, 1985
WORKS
Bulaklaken
Theme and Variations for Band
Dance of the Nymphs Rondo
Florente at Laura (overture)
Halik
Danza
Unang Katas
Ang Konsyerto (ballet)
Ang Magsasaka

6. Bukang Liwayway
Short Biography of Felipe Padilla de Leon
Felipe Padilla de Leon was born on the 1st of May, 1912 in the barrio of Papaya (now General
Tinio) in Penaranda, Nueva Ecija. He is the son of Juan de Leon and Natalia Padilla. He is the
third of four children by the second marriage of his mother. His elder, half-brother, Pedro P. San
Diego, helped his mother in taking care of them. Felipe de Leon married pianist Iluminada
Mendoza with whom he had six children. Bayani and Felipe Jr., are two of his children; the former
being a well-known composer, and the latter, a writer. Felipe Sr.'s father died when he was only
three years old and his mother supported the family by selling betel nut leaves. And when he was
old enough, he held a number of odd jobs ranging from that of a shoe-shine boy, a carabao herder,
a rig driver, a seller of vernacular weeklies, and an ice-cream and pan de sal vendor.
An uncle who realised that he had already gone past the regular school age was responsible for his
eventual enrolment in school. It was during this time that his talent in painting and drawing was
discovered. His uncle, peers and other students admired Felipe's sketches. People even paid him
for illustrations they asked him to make. When he was studying at the Nueva Ecija High School,
he went on trips with his hometown band and wrote short pieces for them. In 1927, he took up
Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines, but he had to stop schooling in order to make a
living. He played the trombone in dance orchestras which performed in cabarets, circuses and
bodabil (vaudeville). Then, he worked as an assistant conductor of the Nueva Ecija High School
Orchestra where he started doing musical arrangements. Later on, he wrote music for the sarswela.
He decided to study formally and enrolled at the University of the Philippines Conservatory of
Music, where he studied under Col. Antonio Buenaventura and Antonio Molina. He contributed
articles to the school paper and vernacular magazines. Later, he wrote music columns for the
Manila Times (then known as Manila Tribune) and Taliba. In 1939, he graduated with a music
teacher's diploma, major in conducting. Much later, he took advanced studies in composition under
Vittorio Giannini of the Julliard School of Music in New York. De Leon received many awards.
Among them are Composer of the Year (1949), Manila Music Lovers Society, Musician Of the
Year (1958), UP Conservatory of Music, and others. He was conferred an honorary degree, doctor
of philosophy in the humanities, by the University of the Philippines in 1991.
Felipe P. De Leon wrote piano compositions, hymns, marches, art songs, chamber music,
symphonic poems and overtures, band muic, school songs, orchestral works, operas, kundimans
and sarswelas. Known as a nationalist composer, he sought to express the Philippines' cultural
identity through his compositions.1 Two operas which are considered his masterpieces are the
"Noli Me Tangere" (1957) and "El Filibusterismo" (1970). These two operas have been staged in
the Philippines and abroad. He also wrote a march during the Japanese regime entitled "Tindig,
Aking Inang Bayan", and another march "Bagong Pagsilang" during the martial law. He wrote the
popular Christmas carols, "Payapang Daigdig" (1946), "Noche Buena" and "Pasko Na Naman",
both in 1965.
Felipe De Leon died on the 5th of December, 1992.