Traditional Filipino Composers
Nicanor Abelardo
● Born in San Miguel de Mayumo, Bulacan.
● Came from the family of artists in Guagua, Pampanga.
● He started his journey at an early age composing and
playing at saloons and cabarets in Manila as well as
teaching in barrio schools in San Ildefonso and San
Miguel.
● He studied in UP College of Music and became head
of the school’s composition department then later
on pursued further studies in Chicago Musical
College.
● Abelardo was credited by bringing kundiman to a high
level of art.
● Magbalik Ka Hirang
Felipe De Leon
● A composer, conductor and teacher.
● Born in Penaranda, Nueva Ecija.
● Played in a brass performing in circuses,
cabarets, and bodabil and arranged sarswela
pieces for orchestra.
● He studied in UP then later on to Julliard
School of Music in New York.
● He is an educator and a former NCCA (National
Commission for Culture and Arts) president.
● A nationalist and traditional composer, de Leon’s
expertise in music described the Filipino’s cultural
distinctiveness.
● Ako Ay Pilipino
Lucio San Pedro
● A composer, conductor, and a teacher born in Angono
Rizal.
● His father formed a family band
which served as his training for his
compositions and conducting.
● Also earned his diploma in UP then
enrolled at Julliard School of Music
abroad.
● He is also an educator teaching in many schools in
Manila.
● Sa Ugoy ng Duyan
Antonio Molina
● A composer, a conductor, teacher, and violinist.
● Born in Quiapo Manila from a family of musicians.
● Played several instruments namely violin, banduria,
guitar, laud, octavina, etc.
● Studied bachelor’s degree at Colegio de
San Juan de Letran, a diploma for cello in
UP College of Music.
● Known as the Claude Debussy of the
Philippines.
● He was very active in developing the music of
rondalla music in the Philippines.
● Hatinggabi
Ryan Cayabyab
● Real name - Raymundo Cipriano Pujante Cayabyab
● He was first an accounting student in UP, but his
interest pursued him to enter music.
● Graduated composition in UP in 1983.
● As a traditional composer his expertise were seen
in genres like folk song, kundiman, religious,
musical play, and OPM.
● He obtained recently the award National Artist For
Music by the local government.
● Kailan
Song Composers of the Philippines
➔ 20th century song composers developed their
uniqueness of musical styles and characteristics.
➔ Many of their composed kundiman became
part of the popular cinema music repertoire,
provision for varied programs, nationalistic
events, weddings, social gatherings, and even
funeral rites.
Contancio De Guzman
❖ From Guiguinto Bulacan
❖ Studied under Nicanor Abelardo
❖ He became the director of
FILSCAP (Filipino Society of
Composers, Authors and
Publishers)
❖ Famous Composition:
Maalaala Mo Kaya
Mike Velarde
❖ Born in Manila,
❖ Studied under Antonio Molina and Ariston Avelino.
❖ Became a musical scorer of Sampaguita Pictures
❖ Famous Composition: Dahil Sa’yo
Ernani Cuenco
❖ From Malolos Bulacan
❖ Studied at UST and Sta. Isabel College
❖ Member of orchestral groups and soloists.
❖ Famous Composition: Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal
Levi Celerio
❖ From Tondo, Manila.
❖ Took violin in UP College of Music
❖ Became the PH sought-after lyricist
❖ Famous Composition: Ikaw
George Canseco
❖ From Manila
❖ Journalist and musician
❖ Famous Composition: Ngayon at Kailanman
New Music Composers
➔ New music is characterized by the use of
improvisations and innovations applied in a
composition.
➔ Combining New Music and traditional
musical instruments and rhythms are used in their
compositions.
Jose Maceda (1917-2004)
Maceda’s Musical Style:
➢ 1953, changed when he encountered the music of the
indigenous tribes in Mindoro.
➢ Understanding and preservation of Filipino traditional
music.
➢ Collection of recorded music taken from
the remote mountain villages and far-flung
inland communities.
➢ Compositional approach Western style.
➢ Combined sounds of the environment with ethnic
instruments.
➢ Compositions were usually for large groups of
musicians.
Among his works are:
1. Pagsamba (1968) - A musical ritual for a
circular auditorium using several ethnic
percussion instruments.
2. Cassettes 100 (1971) - A composition for
100 cassette tape recorders
Lucrecia R. Kasilag (1918-2008)
Kasilag’s Musical Style:
➢ Composition demonstrated a fusion of Eastern
and Western styles in using instruments,
melody, harmony, and rhythm.
➢ Incorporating indigenous Filipino instruments into
orchestral productions.
➢ Former Dean, at College of Music and Fine Arts,
Philippine Women’s University.
➢ President of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
➢ She is credited for having written more than 200
musical works, ranging from folksongs to
operate to orchestral works, which she continued
to compose for the rest of her life.
➢ National Artist for Music in 1989.
Kasilag’s many compositions are:
1. Toccata for Percussion and Winds (1959)
- Composed for indigenous Muslim
instruments and Western instruments.
2. The Legend of the Sarimanok (1963) -
Composed for chamber orchestra and Philippine ethnic
instruments.
Ramon P. Santos (1941 - )
Santos’ Composition Style:
a. Chromaticism
b. Music Seria
c. Electronic components, combined with indigenous
Philippine music elements.
➢ Dean of the UP College of Music from 1978-1988.
➢ Head of the UP Center of Ethnomusicology.
➢ Professor Emeritus of the same institution.
➢ He was conferred the title of National Artist for
Music in 2014.
His works include:
1. Ding Ding Nga Diyawa - 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.
2. Abot Tanaw
Fr. Manuel Maramba, OSB (1936 - )
➢ 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.
➢ Bachelor of Music degree major in Piano at
the Conservatory of Music, University of Sto.
Tomas (UST).
➢ Fr. Maramba is a monk at Our Lady of
Montserrat Abbey in Manila.
➢ Former director, Paul VI Institute of Liturgy in
Malaybalay, Bukidnon during which he composed the music
for the papal mass.
➢ A prominent canon lawyer, National Appellate
Matrimonial Tribunal.
➢ Faculty member in USTConservatory
of Music, St. Scholastica’s College, and
Sta. Isabel College.
Composed Operas:
1. Aba!
2. Sto. Nino
3. La Naval
4. Lord Takayama Ukon
Three Masses:
1. Papal Mass for World Youth Day, 1995
2. Mass in Honor of St. Lorenzo Ruiz
3. The Mass in Honor of the Sto. Nino
Francisco F. Feliciano (1942-2014)
➢ Avant garde composer and conductor for band and chorus.
➢ Music career, high school band (cymbals and the clarinet)
➢ 1964 - Teacher’s Diploma in
Composition and Conducting at the
Conservatory of Music, UP. ➢ 1967
- Bachelor of Music degree major in
composition.
Subsequent Degrees:
■ Master in Music Composition UP.
■ Diploma in Music Composition from the
Hochschule der Kunst in Berlin, Germany.
➢ 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.
➢ 2014 - Title of National Artist for Music.
➢ He died on September 19, 2014.
➢ One of his Composition: Silence My Soul
Josefino Toledo (1959 - )
➢ Josefino “Chino” Toledo is a recognized figure in
the Asian contemporary art music scene.
➢ He is noted for conducting the premiere
performances of the works of Filipino composers as
well as other Asian composers.
His own music, including works:
1. For Chorus
2. Orchestra
3. Chamber ensemble
4. Solo instrument
5. Music theater have been performed by well-known
international artists and ensembles.
➢ One of his Composition: Pamantasang Hirang
Overtune
Jonas Baes (1961 - )
➢ 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.
➢ Known for writing music utilizing
unorthodox musical instruments such as:
beanpod rattles, leaves, iron-nail chimes.
➢ Various Asian Instruments such as:
Bamboo scrapers, bamboo flutes, and
vocal music using Asian vocal techniques.
➢ PATANGIS BUWAYA (“The Crocodile Weeps”) - Four
sub-contrabass recorders or any blown instruments (2003)