Lesson

OVERVIEW: Traditional VS.

1 Contemporary Music
The Philippine Traditional Music Composers were inspired by classicism, romanticism, baroque
music, and that of the traditional western musical era. Learning about the various forms and genres of
music during the post-romantic to the 20th 20th Century makes one reflect how talented and creative
Filipino composers are.
Today, we will be talking about the origin of Traditional Music and to the New Music of the
Philippines that have an embraced ideas and elements from the twentieth century music from the west,
as well as the latest trends and musical styles in the entertainment industry.

Hello there, Music buddy! How are you? I hope you are fine!
Brace yourself and be amazed on at the wonders of Philippine
Contemporary Music. Are you ready now? Let’s go!

What I Need to Know

In this lesson, the learners are expected to:

a. perform rhythmic beats from indigenous instruments;
b. differentiate Traditional Music from Contemporary Music; and
[c.] develop an appreciation of the traditional and contemporary music influences of modern
individuals.

What I Know

Double Choice Test | Direction: Write TM if the phrase/statement relates to Traditional Music and CM if
it relates to Contemporary Music. Write your answers on the space before each number.
1

_____1. Optimum performance technique

_____2. Emphasize on reading music
_____3. Focus on ear training
_____4. Provides tools needed to perform difficult, written-out music sheet
_____5. Classicism, Romanticism, Baroque Period
 _____6. Plays their instrument with flawless method to create ideal sound
_____7. Jazz, Blues, Country and Rock
_____8. More popular and thus encourages more musicians
_____9. “No right way to play”
_____10. Prefers sight as primary guiding sense to create quality music
_____11. You are taught well on proper posture and methods of instrumental performance
_____12. Calvin uses varied improvisations to his musical piece
_____13. Possess deep understanding of Classical Music Theory
_____14. High focus to sound and be able recreate instantly
_____15. Erratic Performance opportunities

What’s In

After going through the music of other cultures and era, have you ever wondered how the Filipino
Music originated? How composers adapted music from the other world influences? In this lesson, we are
to dig deeper as to where our traditional composers root back their musical inspirations.

Notes to the Student

The 20th century brought significant changes to the arts and
musical styles such as rhythm, harmony, melody, and tone color. The
utilization of two or more tonal centers and the modern ways of
composing melodies became prevalent. As music thrived, composers
learned the modern ways of composing new music.

Post-romanticism refers to the period that emerged during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
2 of music were was evident.
In this period, the emphasis of on the different elements
As we recall previous lessons, we are tasked to actively participate in a short activity in which we
are to create rhythmic beats from objects around your area.
Direction: For individual (self-paced learning), upload a video of yourself playing percussions inspired
from by either African or Latin America making beats. For groups, (blended learning) within the vicinity,
group yourselves into five (5) and create a short percussion band performance. CRITERIA: Musicality
(50%), Coordination (20%), Recording/Total Performance (30%) = 100%
VISUAL RECALL | Direction: Fill in the box.Label the following instruments whether it Identify whether
the following instruments belongs to African Instrument or Latin American Instrument.

1.) 2.)

3.) 4.)

What’s New

LIST IT DOWN! | Direction: In a separate sheet of paper, write as many words possible as to describe
Traditional (Old ways) and in another sheet, also describe the Contemporary ways. Let us connect real
life scenarios in the community with that in the field of Music.
Are there any connections?
TRADITIONAL (OLD WAYS) - CONTEMPORARY (NEW WAYS)
Tuob, tandok, sagbot-sagbot CT-Scan, Advance medicine, etc.
______________________________ _______________________________
_______________________________ _______________________________
______________________________ ________________________________
 ______________________________ ________________________________
______________________________ ________________________________
______________________________ ________________________________

What is It

The 20th century music of the Philippines primarily revolves around cultural influences from the
West, especially due to the Spanish and American rule for over three centuries. When the Americans
came, they brought the blues, folk, R&B, and rock and roll. They also made music a part of the
educational curriculum. This developed the musical skills of the Filipinos who used this skill to imitate
Western music and to create local versions of Western music.
With this, songs became a hybrid of other forms of music that were then popular then such as the
kundiman. Nevertheless, the influence of the Americans in Filipino music proved to be evident during the
1960s (during the popularity of the Beatles) and 1970s (disco fever) (Anupol, 2007).
Before coming up with the Philippine Music, we need to understand the differences between the
traditional (Western Classicism, etc.) and the contemporary forms of music.

TRADITIONAL MUSIC
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Traditional Music composers of the Philippines were influenced mostly by western classicism; they
followed the traditional standard as to technique, Music theory, performances, and repertoire. As
mentioned by the John Gotsis of Vibe Music Academy, below are the characteristics of traditional music
composition.
 Emphasis on Reading Music
- As classicism gives high regard to reading music, traditional musicians are expected, when
perfected, to read whatever pieces they are given.
 Established Traditional Techniques
- The approach founded to by traditional composers is an optimum performance technique to be
used in an instrument. Meaning, there is a the right way to play a specific musical instrument.
Say, there is a right way to strum a guitar, a the right way to manipulate piano keys, a right way
to hold drumsticks in a traditional grip and there’s a wrong way. Quality sound is attained by
the best technique.
 Equipped Music Theory
- Known classically trained Philippine Musicians recognize this Music Theory better. They
analyze notes, standard rules and therefore can scrutinize sheet music accurately.
 Erratic Performance Opportunities
- The scope of classical performances nowadays is erratic (irregular) than that of contemporary
musicians. However, the skill set developed by traditional composers lends itself to
contemporary performances.
 Engaged into Standard repertoire
 - Traditional Composers focus heavily on classical performances. Professional composers are
expected to play difficult pieces memorized as what has been written into sheet music.
Filipino composers have managed to retain some traditional elements in their assimilation of
Western techniques. In fact, they have been the strongest foundations of what we now know as
Philippine Music.
Some traditional works include Nicanor Abelardo’s Cinderella Overture, Violin Sonata; Hilarion
Rubio’s Florante at Laura (Overture), Ang Konsyerto (Ballet) and other renowned pieces.

ALWAYS REMEMBER!
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The perfect traditional/classical musicians:
 have incredible reading skills;
 be able to play their instrument with a flawless method, giving them
the ideal Classical sound;
 possess a deep knowledge of Classical music theory and use it to
interpret the notes they read on the page; and
 understand and appreciate Classical music and repertoire,
and have the tools needed to perform difficult, written-out music.

CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
The influence of the traditional music didn’tdid not stop as contemporary music emerged. Instead,
this came as an avenue to dynamic creativity and progressivism in music. In contrast to the Traditional
Music, listed below are some of the characteristics of the new music: (c.f. Vibe Music Academy)
 Primary focus on Ear Training
- Compared to that sight-reading on the traditional, contemporary music prefers more on
auditory senses. Usually, professional contemporary musicians pride themselves on being able
to hear music for the first time and play along with it the second time. Hearing matters most.
 Progressive Techniques
- Contemporary music has its own way of saying “proper techniques.” There is no “right way” of
holding a specific instrument. As long as it relays quality musical elements, then it can be
accepted. Meaning, good music, whether sheet music or not can be done in varied techniques.
 Pondering Music Theory as Framework to performance
- Since contemporary musicians rely strongly on improvisation in their playing, they use, but not
limit, music theory to guide their performance.
 Popularity in performance
- New Music (contemporary) is defined generally more popular than that of traditional music—
which means—that there are more performance opportunities for contemporary musicians,
and, by number, contemporary musicians are rapidly multiplying than that of the traditional
musicians.
 Plays “on-the-fly” repertoire
 - Jazz, Blues, country, and rock bands performs their go-to (on-the-fly) learnt learned collection
of songs. It is important to be familiarized with the melodic flow as to amaze the audience with
their improvisations.

ALWAYS REMEMBER!

6
The perfect contemporary musicians:
 be able to play quickly anything they hear;
 have a high focus to sound and be able to make the specific sound
they are trying to reach;
 establish music theory in a way that will help them fit into the
musical context they are playing in; and
 understand and appreciate Contemporary music and repertoire,
and have the tools required to grow in a big variety of musical
settings.

With these being presented, you are now able to identify differences between traditional and
contemporary musical characteristics, which will be vital for the next lessons. Are you ready?

What’s More

Rebuild the Musician in You! | Direction: Imagine yourself to be the avatar below. What characteristics
of traditional and contemporary music would you like to acquire?

Traditional/Classical New/Contemporary
Music Characteristics Music Characteristics
(choose between the 5 (choose between the
E’s) 5 P’s)
 1. Have you thought of becoming a modern musician? If you are to create your own band name,
what would it be? From the generated band name,7 create a 2 -5 minute presentation of a genre
that would relate to your proposed band. Are you ready?
______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
2. What influences from traditional and contemporary music did you pick? Why? Since I like the
traditional styles, assumed ______________________________
3. _________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_____________ Since I like the traditional styles, assumed ______________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

What I Have Learned

Fill in the (E-Ps) Fill me up | Direction: Complete the statements that would describe the salient
features of traditional and contemporary salient features in music. You can do it! Good luck.
A. Traditional/Classical Music
1. Emphasis on ________________________________________________.
2. Establish ___________________________________________________.
3. Equipped ___________________________________________________.
4. Erratic _____________________________________________________.
5. Engaged ___________________________________________________.

B. Contemporary Music
1. Primary Focus ______________________________________________.
2. Progressive _________________________________________________.
3. Pondering __________________________________________________.
4. Popularity___________________________________________________.
 5. Plays ______________________________________________________.

What I Can Do
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YouTube Time! | Direction: Let us test your understanding and by distinguishing whether the composer
is of the Philippine traditional and or contemporary music. Describe his/her composition and defend why
that salient feature has been presented.
Composer 1: Four Poems for Soprano and Piano (Ryan Cayabyab)

Composer 2: Malikmata (Antonio Molina)

Composer 3: Mazurka Boholana (Francisco Buencamino)

Assessment

Double Choice Test | Direction: Write TM if it relates to Traditional Music and CM if it relates to
Contemporary Music. Write your answers on the space before each number.

_____1. Optimum performance technique

_____2. Emphasize on reading music
_____3. Focus on ear training
_____4. Provides tools needed to perform difficult, written-out music sheet
_____5. Classicism, Romanticism, Baroque Period
_____6. Plays their instrument with flawless method to create ideal sound
_____7. Jazz, Blues, Country and Rock
_____8. More popular and thus encourages more musicians
_____9. “No right way to play”
_____10. Prefers sight as primary guiding sense to create quality music
_____11. You are taught well on proper posture and methods of instrumental performance
_____12. Calvin uses varied improvisations to his musical piece
_____13. Possess deep understanding of Classical Music Theory
_____14. High focus to sound and be able recreate instantly
_____15. Erratic Performance opportunities
 Additional Activities

Crafts Time | Direction: Create or improvise poems/songs in order to come up with a summary of the
9 Unleash the poet/musician in you. Start and craft
difference between traditional and contemporary music.
now. I know you can do it!