This document provides biographies and information about several prominent Filipino composers who helped develop a new style of contemporary Philippine music that departed from classical forms and incorporated non-Western and indigenous Philippine influences. It discusses composers such as Jose Maceda, Lucrecia Kasilag, Ramon Santos, Manuel Maramba, Jerry Dadap, and Francisco Feliciano, and provides details about their educational backgrounds, major compositions, and contributions to developing a uniquely Filipino musical style and tradition.

1. Contemporary
Philippine Music

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. Jose Maceda
Born: January 31, 1917
Died: May 5, 2004

6. Dr. Jose Montserrat Maceda
was an ethnomusicologist,
educator, composer,
conductor, and pianist. As
an ethnomusicologist he
specialized in Indonesia
and Filipino music.
Jose Maceda

7. 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

8. 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
Jose Maceda

9. 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.
Jose
Maceda

10. His profession and
research took him to many
places in the Philippines,
Malaysia, Thailand,
Indonesia, Africa, Brazil,
and the United States.

11. JOSE MACEDA
(EXCERPT)

12. LUCRECIA R. KASILAG
(1918 – 2008)
National Artist for Music

13. LUCRECIAR. KASILAG
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.

14. LUCRECIAR. KASILAG
Her compositions were influenced by
her professors Irving McHose and
Wayne Barlow. Kasilag’s
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.

15. Among Kasilag’s many
compositions are Toccata
for Percussion and Winds
(1959), composed for
indigenous Muslim
instruments and Western
instruments;

16. 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. Her
other works include compositions for piano,
instrumental ensemble, and chorus.

17. She is credited for having written more
than 200 musical works, ranging from
folksongs to opera to orchestral works,
which she continued to compose for the
rest of her life. For all these
outstanding achievements, she was
conferred the title of National Artist for
Music in 1989. She passed away in
Manila in August 2008.

18. DIVERTISSEMENT (Excerpt)
Lucrecia R. Kasilag

19. RAMON P. SANTOS
(1941 – )
National Artist for Music

20. 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.

21. 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 Illinois, USA

22. Santos’compositional style
features chromaticism,
music seria, and electronic
components, combined with
indigenous Philippine music
elements.

23. 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

24. Santos held the position of Dean of
the UP College of Music from 1978
to 1988. At present, he is the head of
the UP Center of Ethnomusicology
and was appointed Professor Emeritus
of the same institution. He was
conferred the title of National Artist
for Music in 2014.

25. L’BAD
Ramon P. Santos

26. FR. MANUEL
MARAMBA, OSB
(1936 – )

27. Fr. Manuel Perez Maramba,
OSB is one of the most
accomplished musicians and
liturgists in the Philippines
emerging during the second half
of the 20th century. He was born
on July 4, 1936 in Pangasinan

28. When he was 11 years old, he gave his
first public performance at the Bamboo
Organ in Las Piñas. He became the
official accompanist of the Las Piñas Boys
Choir at 14 years old. He was the
youngest finalist to participate in the
National Music Competitions for Young
Artists (NAMCYA) piano competition
in 1978.

29. Immediately after high school, he was sent on
full scholarship to the University for Music
and Performing Arts in Graz, Austria. There,
he earned with distinction the degree of
Master of Arts in Church Music. He also
received a Teacher’s Certificate in Organ. His
musical career led him to the United States,
where he performed at Carnegie Hall at the
age of 19.

30. He has composed operas like Aba!,
Sto. Nino, La Naval, and Lord
Takayama Ukon. His other major
compositions are the music for
Awakening which was
commissioned by Ballet Philippines
and music for Philippine Ballet
Theater’s production of:

31. Seven Mansions; three masses – Papal Mass for
World Youth Day, 1995; Mass in Honor of St.
Lorenzo Ruiz, and the Mass in Honor of the Sto.
Nino; three cantatas – St. Lorenzo Ruiz, St. Benedict,
and St. Scholastica; Three Psalms; A hymn in honor
of St. Lorenzo Ruiz, and the official hymn of the 1996
National Eucharistic Congress; a zarzuela entitled
Ang Sarswela sa San Salvador, and three orchestral
works – Pugad Lawin, The Virgin of Naval, and
Transfiguration.

32. JERRY DADAP
(1935 – )

33. Jerry Dadap, the first Filipino composer to
conduct his own works at the Carnegie
Recital Hall in New York City, was born on
November 5, 1935 in Hinunangan,
Southern Leyte. He earned his Bachelor’s
Degree in Music, major in Composition at
the Conservatory of Music, University of
the Philippines (UP) in 1964.

34. In 1968, he went to the USA on a
study-observation grant from the
Music Promotion Foundation of
the Philippines. While there, he
received a full scholarship grant
from the United Presbyterian
Church of USA from 1969 to 1971.

35. During that time, he obtained his
Postgraduate Diploma in Composition at
the Mannes College of Music in New York,
USA. Upon his return to the Philippines in
1971, he taught composition, ear training,
and orchestration at the Sta. Isabel College
of Music in Manila.

36. Dadap started composing
when he was still studying at
Silliman University in the
southern city of Dumaguete.
Among his numerous
compositions are:

37. The Passionate and the Wild (1960), Mangamuyo I (1976)
and Mangamuyo II (1977), The Redemption (1974), Five
Little Fingers (1975), Tubig ng Buhay (1986), Dakilang
Pagpapatawad (1986), Andres Bonifacio, Ang Dakilang
Anak Pawis, Ang Pag-ibig ng Diyos, Balitaw Nos. 1-7,
Lam- ang Epic, Lorenzo Ruiz, Chorale Symphonic Ode
Nos. 1 and 2, Aniway at Tomaneg, Song Cycle, Nos. 1-4,
Choral Cycle Nos. 1-3, and Diyos Ama ay Purihin. His
major works as composer-conductor were performed at the
concert “LAHI” that featured works by local major
composers

38. FRANCISCO F. FELICIANO
(1942 – 2014)
National Artist for Music

39. 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.

40. Feliciano became the choir
conductor and instructor in music
fundamentals at St. Andrews
Seminary in Quezon City. He
became an instructor at the UP
Conservatory of Music and
conducted the UP Symphony
Orchestra.

41. He was the musical director of the movie Ang Bukas
ay Atin and provided orchestration for a number of
musical productions including My Fair Lady and
various Philippine productions. 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).

42. Among his other large works are
Transfiguration and Missa Mysterium for
orchestra and large chorus. He has
composed several prize winning works
such as Pokpok Alimpako, (a favorite
piece of choirs in international choral
competitions), Salimbayan, Umiinog, and
Walang Tinag (Perpetuum I mobile)
which was premiered at the ISCM
Festival in New York City, USA.

43. His latest choral works, Pamugún
and Restless, have been performed
by Filipino choirs in various choral
festivals in Europe. In 1977, he
was given a John D. Rockefeller III
Award in Music Composition.

44. Feliciano composed hundreds of liturgical
pieces, mass settings, hymns, and songs for
worship. He founded the Asian Institute for
Liturgy and Music (AILM) in Quezon City, a
school for church musicians, and supervised
the publication of a new Asian hymnal
containing mostly works of Asian
composers. He was conferred the title of
National Artist for Music in 2014. He died on
September 19, 2014.

45. Chino Toledo
Born: March 6, 1959

46. Josefino “Chino” Toledo is a
recognized figure in the
Asian contemporary art
music scene. He received his
Master of Music degree from
the Cleveland Institute of
Music, USA.

47. Among his awards are the following:
“Ten Outstanding Young Men” (TOYM);
“International Award for the Arts”;
“Civitella Ranieri Fellowship in Italy”;
and the “Chancellor Awards for
Outstanding Musical Works,” University
of the Philippines.

48. 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.
Chino Toledo

49. 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.
Chino Toledo

50. 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.

51. AUIT
(Excerpt)
Josefino Toledo

52. JONAS BAES
(1961 –)

53. Jonas Baes was born in Los Baños, Laguna in
1961. He enrolled at the College of Music,
University of the Philippines (UP) in 1977 as a
student of Ramon P. Santos.While at UP, he
encountered the works of Jose Maceda and
attended several seminar-workshops of visiting
lecturers. He researched on the music of the
Iraya-Mangyan people of Mindoro, which later
became the inspiration for his compositions.
From 1992- 1994, he studied with Mathias
Spahlinger in Freiburg, Germany.

54. Jonas Baes, Associate Professor
in Composition and Theory,
ethnomusicologist, cultural
activist, and writer, has explored
innovative territories and unusual
musical treatments in his works.

55. ACTIVITY

56. “FILL THE BOX”
The students will
complete the table.
New Music Composer Title of Musical Work
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

57. QUIZ

58. IDENTIFICATIONS.
1. He Considered as the first
Filipino Avant Garde composer, He
also worked at Recording studio in
Paris in 1958 which specialized in
musique concrete.

59. 2. When he was 11years old,
He gave his first public
performance at the Bamboo
Organ in Las piῆas. What is
the name of this composer?

60. 3.He became the choir conductor
and instructor in music
fundamentals at St. Andrews
Seminary in Quezon City. What is
the name of this composer?

61. 4. He was born on March
6,1959. He received his
Master of Music degree
From the Cleveland Institute
of Music, USA. What is the
name of this composer?

62. 5. He was born in Los Baῆos, Laguna
in 1961. He enrolled at the College
of Music, University of the
Philippines (UP) in 1977 as a student
of Ramon P. Santos. What is the
name of this composer?

63. 1.JOSE MACEDA
2.MANUEL MARAMBA
3.FRANSISCO FELICIANO
4.JOSEFINO TOLEDO
5.JONAS BAES