Nicanor Abelardo

Background
- was a composer who emerged from the post-colonial Philippines to create a national musical identity. A composer
of over 140 works that included sonatas, concerti and chamber music, Abelardo is best known for elevating the
Philippine genre of the Kundiman into a western art-song form.
- 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.
- He died on March 21, 1934, to heart failure due to alcoholic causes. He was buried at the La Loma Cemetery. He
left behind various sketches of unfinished music, among them a symphony and an opera.

Most Famous Compositions

- Much of his work belonged to the so-called kundiman, written in a genre of traditional Filipino love songs.
- Mutya ng Pasig - It tells a story of a beautiful maiden who lived by the Pasig River
- Nasaan ka, Irog - It expresses longing for a loved one who is far away.
- Bituing Marikit - It speaks of how the woman he loves thrills him and compares her to a pretty star in the celestial
heavens.
- Abelardo's compositions are regularly played in concerts in the Philippines.

Achievements
- Abelardo was credited for bringing the kundiman to the level of art. He completed more than 140 compositions.
- Some of his notable achievements in his career include being awarded the title of National Artist of the
Philippines in 1987 and being inducted into the Philippines' Hall of Fame for Music in 1999.
- Abelardo won first prize for “U.P. Beloved” in a competition for the university hymn
- Awit Award for Best Traditional Recording 2001