Unit 2 Music Handouts

Unit 3 Contemporary Music
MUSIC (20th Century Traditional Composers)
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 who used traditional styles 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.
FRANCISCO B. BUENCAMINO SR. (1883-1952) founded the Centro Escolar de

Senoritas, Conservatory of Music, as well as the Buencamino Music Academy in
1930. Many of his piano works have become staples in the Philippine repertoire of
today’s performers, especially Mayon, Larawan, and Maligayang Bati. He also
ventured into musical direction and socring for film, as well as composing several
zarzuelas and kundiman.
FRANCISCO S. SANTIAGO (1889-1947) is known as the “Father of the Kundiman”

and belongs to the “Triumvirate of the Filipino composers” along with Nicanor
Abelardo and Antonio Molina. Santiago’s music was Romantic in style, incorporating
Western forms and techniques with folk materials. Among his famous works are
Pakiusap, Madaling Araw, and Kundiman (Anak Dalita). He became the first Filipino
Director of the Conservatory of Music, University of the Philippines.
NICANOR S. ABELARDO (1893-1934) although a 20th century modern composer,

was also a composer in the Romantic style. His best known compositions include
Mutya ng pasig, Nasaan ka Irog, Cavatina for Viloloncello, and Magbalik ka Hirang.
The Tanghalan Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater) of the Cultural Center of the
Philippines and the Abelardo Hall of the UP College of Music are named after him.
ANTONIO J. MOLINA (1894-1980) National Artist for Music, was a product of

both the Romantic and Impressionist styles, and came to be known as the “Father
of Philippine Impressionist Music”. 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 composition Malikmata
(Transfiguration).
HILARION FRANCISCO RUBIO (1902-1985) was a composer, music teacher,

conductor, and clarinettist. His name was closely identified with his works for the
orchestra; as a conductor for opera, ballet, and dance recitals, and his music for
movies.
COLONEL ANTONIO R. BUENAVENTURA (1904-1996) promoted Philippine
music by extensively using folk materials in his works. He recorded folk and dance
music around the country with Ramon Tolentino and National Artist for Dance
Francisca Reyes Aquino. He restored the Philippine Constabulary Band in 1945,
which was considered “one of the best military bands in the world”. He is a National
Artist for Music.
RODOLFO S. CORNEJO (1909-1991) was the researcher and official composer of

the Philippine government in-exile, under President Manuel L. Quezon. He served
as pianist- director of a USO concert unit that entertained the Allied Forces during
World War II. He later became the soloist of several orchestras, and eventually the
musical director of the Sampaquita and Vera-Perez movie companies.
FELIPE P. DE LEON SR. (1912-1992) is known as a nationalist composer who

expressed the Philippines’ cultural identity through his compositions. He wrote
piano compositions, hymns, marches, art songs, chamber music, symphonic
poems, overtures, band music, school songs, orchestral works, operas, kundiman,
and zarzuela. His two operas, Noli me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, are considered
his masterpieces. He is a National Artist for Music.
LUCIO SAN PEDRO (1913-2002) is known as a “romantic nationalist”. He

incorporated Philippine folk elements in his compositions with Western forms and
harmony. His chords have rich expressive tonality, as represented in his well-
loved lullaby Sa Ugoy ng Duyan, his orchestral compositions Suite pastorale, a
musical description of his hometown Angono, and his nationalistic symphonic
poem Lahing Kayumanggi. His other compositions include songs; pieces for violin,
cello, and chorus; and works for the symphonic band. He is a National Artist for
Music.
ROSENDO E. SANTOS JR. (1922-1994) was a prolific composer whose works

include concerti, sonatas, symphonies, symphonic poems, five operas in a
Philippine dialect, numerous band overtures, and over 200 marches. He also wrote
50 Masses in Latin and 20 in English.
ALFREDO S. BUENAVENTURA (BORN 1929) holds the sole distinction among

Filipino composers of having composed five length operas. His compositions
combine contemporary and conventional styles, and contain melodies that are
simple and understandable, while using contemporary harmonies that enhance
their complexity.
RYAN CAYABYAB (BORN 1954) is a contemporary composer and conductor who

spans both popular and classical worlds with his pop music, operas, zarzuelas,
orchestral arrangements, masses, psalms, and choral compositions. Among these
are the award winning Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika, the modern zarzuela Alikabok,
and the opera Spolarium with libretto by Fides Cuyugan-Asensio. His compositions
are mostly of traditional Western influence.

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Unit 3 Contemporary Music

MUSIC (20th Century Traditional Composers)

FRANCISCO B. BUENCAMINO SR. (1883-1952) founded the Centro Escolar de

FRANCISCO S. SANTIAGO (1889-1947) is known as the “Father of the Kundiman”

NICANOR S. ABELARDO (1893-1934) although a 20th century modern composer,

ANTONIO J. MOLINA (1894-1980) National Artist for Music, was a product of

HILARION FRANCISCO RUBIO (1902-1985) was a composer, music teacher,

RODOLFO S. CORNEJO (1909-1991) was the researcher and official composer of

FELIPE P. DE LEON SR. (1912-1992) is known as a nationalist composer who

LUCIO SAN PEDRO (1913-2002) is known as a “romantic nationalist”. He

ROSENDO E. SANTOS JR. (1922-1994) was a prolific composer whose works

ALFREDO S. BUENAVENTURA (BORN 1929) holds the sole distinction among

RYAN CAYABYAB (BORN 1954) is a contemporary composer and conductor who

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