2. According to National Artist Ramon Santos, PhD, “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.
The modern Filipino repertoire consists of musical pieces that have been written in 20th
century idioms that have evolved out of such stylistic movements as impressionism,
expressionism, neo-classicism, as well as avant-garde and new music.
New music are compositions which are improvisational works such as the early
compositions of Dr. Ramon Santos, Radyasyon and Quadrasyon; Josefino “Chino”
Toledo’s Samut-Sari, Pintigan and Terminal Lamentations, and Jonathan Baes’ Wala and
Banwa.
With the European and American influences brought by our country’s colonizers, it was
inevitable that the musical style of 20th century Western composers found their way into
Philippine compositions. The works many notable Filipino composers are evidence of this.
An entire group of 20th Filipino song composers became popular for their musical
compositions used as background music or theme songs in movies and films.
Philippine Traditional
3. Filipino composers of the 20th century contributed their share in introducing
innovative sounds. With Spain and then America having colonized the Philippines
from the early 1500s to the late 1800s, it was unavoidable that Western
compositional techniques found their way into the works of Filipino composers. Yet
even 20th century Filipino composers have managed to retain some traditional
elements in their assimilation of Western techniques. In fact, they have become
the strongest foundations of what we now know as Philippine music.
Among the major Philippine contemporary composers are Francisco Buencamino
Sr., Francisco Santiago, Nicanor Abelardo, Antonio Molina, Hilarion Rubio, Col.
Antonino Buenaventura, Rodolfo Cornejo, Lucio San Pedro, Rosendo Santos Jr.,
Alfredo Buenaventura, and Ryan Cayabyab.
TRADITIONAL COMPOSER
5. NICANOR ABELARDO (1893-1934)
Nicanor Abelardo is one of the
“Triumvirate of Filipino Composers” which
includes Antonio Molina and Francisco
Santiago. He studied music at the
Chicago Music College and was influenced
by the musical styles of Schoenberg,
Hindemith, and Stravinsky. Abelardo
developed a stylethat combined European
romanticism. With chromaticism. His
compositions contain hazy tones, dissonance,
and unusual chords combinations found in
such works as Cinderella Overture, Panoramas,
and aviolinsonata.
6. His best-known compositions include Mutya ng Pasig, Nasaan
Ka Irog, Cavatina for Violoncello, at Magbalik Ka Hirang.
Nasaan Ka irog
7. CIPRIANO RYAN CAYABYAB (1954-present)
Ryan Cayabyab is a
popular contemporary
composer also has
classical compositions to
his credit, such as Misa,
Four Poems for Soprano
and Piano, and Te Deum.
Cayabyab was born on May
4, 1954 in Santa Cruz,
Manila, he was among the
four children of Alberto
Austria Cayabyab and
Celerina Venson Pujante.
Ryan Cayabyab's mother
was an opera singer and a
professor at the University
of the Philippines's (UP)
College of Music.
He also served as
the Executive and
Artistic Director
of the San Miguel
Foundation for
the Performing
Arts, At present,
he continues to
be a muchsought-
after
professor,musical
director,composer
, arranger,and
conductor in the
Philippine
concert and
recording scene.
8. Among his numerous compositions are the award-winning Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika (1978),
as well as the modern zarzuela Alikabok (2003), the opera Spoliarium with libretto by
Fides Cuyugan-Asensio, and a variety of choral pieces and song cycles. Many of his piano
works have become a staple part of the Philippine repertoire of today`s young students
especially Mayon, Larawan and Maligayang Bati. He also wrote several zarzuelas and
kundiman.
9. FRANCISCO SANTIAGO (1889-1947)
Francisco Santiago is known as the “Father
of the Kundiman” and belongs to the
“Triumvirate of Filipino Composers.” He
finished his music specialization at the
American Conservatory of Music in
Chicago, where he obtained his
Doctorate Degree in 1924.
Santiago’s music was Romantic in
style, incorporating Western forms and
techniques with folk materials. He composed
several works such as kundiman,
symphonies, piano concertos, and other
music pieces for the piano, violin, and voice.
TRIVIA: Santiago was the first composer to
include the kundiman in a concert and the first
to write Philippine Christmas carols.
10. Among the films whose music he supervised are Kundiman, Leron
Leron Sinta, Madaling Araw, Manileña, and the movie inspired by his
own composition Pakiusap.
11. LUCRECIA R. KASILAG (1918-2008)
National Artist for Music
Lucrecia R. Kasilag was born in San
Fernando, La Union on August 31, 1918.
She went to Manila to pursue a degree in
Music at the Philippine Women’s University.
She then obtained her master’s degree from
the Eastman School of Music in New York,
USA. Her compositions were influenced by
her professors Irving McHose and Wayne
Barlow. Kasilag compositions demonstrated
a fusion of Eastern and Western styles in
using instruments, melody, harmony, and
rhythm. She is particularly known for
incorporating indigenous Filipino instruments
into orchestral productions.
12. Among Kasilag many compositions are Toccata for Percussion and Winds
(1959), composed for indigenous Muslim instruments and Western
instruments, The Legend of the Sarimanok(1963), composed for chamber
orchestra and Philippine ethnic instruments; Divertissement and
Concertante (1960), compositions for piano and orchestra combining
Western and Eastern forms, harmonies, and intervals; and Dularawan (1969), a
musical drama combining a dance solo with a chorus and an ethnic
orchestra.
13. RAMON P. SANTOS (1941-present)
National Art for Music
Ramon P. Santos was born in Pasig on
February 25, 1941. He completed his
Bachelor of Music degree at the College
of Music, University of the
Philippines. He finished his Master
of Music degree at Indiana University,
USA. He received his Doctor of Philosophy
degree in composition at the State University
of New York, USA. He had also pursued
graduate studies in Ethnomusicology at
the University of Illinoise, USA. Santos
compositional style features
chromaticism, music series and
electronic components, combined with
indigenous Philippine music.
14. Santos held the position of Dean of the UP College of Music from 1978 to
1988. At Emeritus of the same institution. He was conferred the title of
National Artist for Music in 2014.
His works include Ding Ding Nga Diyawa,,Nabasag na Banga at Iba’t iba pang Pinag
ugpong-ugpong na Pananalita sa Wikang Pilipino para sa Labing Anim na Tinig, and L’BAD. He
had done extensive research on the gamelan music of Java as well as the traditional music of
the Ibaloi, Maranao, Mansaka, Bontoc, Yakan, and Boholano tribes in the Philippines. present,
he is the head of the UP Center of Ethnomusicology and was appointed Professor.
Abot Tanaw
15. FRANCISCO F. FELICIANO (1942-2014)
National Artist for Music
Francisco F. Feliciano, avant garde composer and
conductor for band and chorus, was born on
February 19, 1942, in Morong, Rizal.
His first exposure to music was with the Morriz
Band, a brass ensemble established and
owned by his father, Maximiano Feliciano.
He started his music career in the high school
band where he had played the cymbals and the
clarinet. Feliciano obtained his Teacher’s
Diploma in Composition and Conducting at the
Conservatory of Music, University of the
Philippines (UP) in 1964, and a Bachelor of
Music degree major in Composition in 1967.
16. Feliciano composed more than 30 major works, including the musical dramas
Sikhay sa Kabila ng Paalam, Ashen Wings, and the monumental three-act opera La
Loba Negra (1984). He also wrote music for the orchestra such as Prelude and
Toccata (1973), Fragments (1976), Life of Wartime Filipino Hero Jose Abad
Santos, and the ballet Yerma (1982).
17. ANTONIO J. MOLINA [music] /
LEVI CELERIO (LYRICS)
Molina, known as the “dean of Filipino composers,” was born in Quiapo, Manila,
on Dec. 26, 1894. He wrote over 500 musical compositions, including “Hatinggabi”
and “Awit ni Maria Clara,” and taught some of the country's musical icons like
Lucresia Kasilag and Felipe de Leon.Molina, known as the “dean of Filipino
composers,” was born in Quiapo, Manila, on Dec. 26, 1894. He wrote over 500
musical compositions, including “Hatinggabi” and “Awit ni Maria Clara,” and
taught some of the country's musical icons like Lucresia Kasilag and Felipe de
Leon.
Molina was a product of both the Romantic and Impressionist schools of
thought. He was fascinated by the dynamics and harmonies of Debussy but
retained much of the Romantic style in his melody. A characteristically
impressionist work is his piano work Malikmata (Transfiguration). The
mysteriously exotic chords of this piece gradually lead to a lyrical melody,
with the traditional harmonies abruptly returning to the initial mood. Molina wrote
several compositions for piano, violin, and voice as well as a Spanish-
style opera form known as the zarzuela.
18.
19. LUCIO SAN PEDRO (1913-2002)
National Artist of Music
His numerous works, influences and contributions to Philippine music led to the proclamation
of Lucio San Pedro as a National Artist of the Philippines for Music on May 9, 1991 by
President Corazon Aquino.
Lucio San Pedro is known as a “romantic nationalist.” He incorporated Philippine folk elements in his
compositions with Western forms and harmony. His chords have a rich expressive tonality, as
represented inhis well-loved Sa Ugoy ng Duyan, a lullaby melody sung by his mother.
20. COL ANTONIO BUENAVENTURA(1904-1996)
National Artist for Music
He was formerly organist at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Manila
and, among many other honours, received the Republican
Cultural Heritage Awards in 1964 and 1972 and the Bonifacio
Centennial Awards. The compositions of Alfredo Buenaventura
include a number of operas, symphonic poems, vocal works and
chamber music.
He was formerly organist at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Manila
and, among many other honours, received the Republican
Cultural Heritage Awards in 1964 and 1972 and the Bonifacio
Centennial Awards. The compositions of Alfredo Buenaventura
include a number of operas, symphonic poems, vocal works and
chamber music.
22. SONG COMPOSERS
The 20th century Filipino song composers/lyricists include
Levi Celerio,Constancio de Guzman, Mike Velarde Jr.,
Ernani Cuenco, Restie Umali, George Canseco, Angel Peña,
Leopoldo Silos Sr., Santiago Suarez. Together, they had
produced a memorable output of traditional Filipino love
songs, music for the movies, and materials for
contemporary arrangements and concert repertoire
Filipino composers of the 20th century contributed their
share in introducing innovative sounds different from the
traditional folk song and kundiman melodies that we have
been accustomed to.
23. LEVI CELERIO (1910-2002)
National Artist for Literature and Music
Celerio was born inTondo on April 30, 1910. He
studied at the Academy of Music in Manila under a
scholarship. Later, he went on to join the Manila
Symphony Orchestra. Aside from writing his own
lyrics, he also translated and re-wrote the lyrics
of folksongs to traditional melodies like Maliwanag
Na Buwan from Ilocos, Ako ay May Singsing from
Pampanga, and Alibangbang from the Visayas.
24. LEVI CELERIO
Prolific lyricist and composer Levi Celerio was named National Artist for
Music and Literature in 1997. Also, a violinist, he had written the lyrics
for over 4,000 songs in his lifetime, includingmany for film. A great
number of kundiman and Filipino love songs have lyrics written by
notable of which are Dahil sa Iyo, Buhat, and Ang Pasko ay Sumapit.
Celerio, for a time, was recognized by the GuinnessBook of World
Records as the only man who could play music with a leaf. Because of
his talent, Celerio was invited to The Merv Griffin Show, where he played
"Allthe Things YouAre" with 39 musicians.
25. GEORGE CANSECO (1934-2004)
George Masangkay Canseco was born on April
23, 1934, in Naic, Cavite.
He graduated with a Liberal Arts degree at the
University of the East. After graduation, he
worked for the Philippines Herald and the
Associated Press as a journalist. He also
worked as a “freelance scriptwriter for hire” in
Manila.
His legacy as a composers Includes approximately
120 song titles including Ikaw, Kailangan Kita, Dito
Ba, Hiram, Tubig at Langis, Hanggang sa Dulo ng
Walang Hanggan, Sinasamba Kita, Kastilyong
Buhangin,Sana Bukas Pa ang Kahapon, and etc.
Canseco's best-known composition, however, was
