TRADITIONAL COMPOSERS

LESSON 1
 NICANOR ABELARDO
(FEBRUARY 7, 1893 – MARCH 21, 1934)

was a Filipino composer known for his kundiman songs, especially before the 

Second World War.
 He was born in to Valentin Abelardo and Placida Santa Ana.
His mother belonged to a family San Miguel de Mayumo, Bulacan  of artists in Guagua,
the Henson.
He was introduced to music when he was five years old when his father taught him the 
solfeggio and the banduria.
 Abelardo completed his first composition, a waltz entitled "Ang Unang Buko" dedicated
to his grandmother, at the age of eight.
By the age of thirteen, he was playing at saloons and cabarets in Manila
and by fifteen, he was teaching at barrio schools in San Ildefonso and San Miguel in
Bulacan.
 NICANOR
ABELARDO
(FEBRUARY 7, 1893 –
MARCH 21, 1934)
Abelardo died in 1934 at the age of 41, leaving behind a
collection of roughly 140 compositions.
He is known for redefining the kundiman, bringing the form to
art-song status. Notable among his works are 'Nasaan Ka Irog,"
"Magbalik Ka Hirang," and "Himutok."
The main theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and
the building housing the College of Music in UP Diliman
 (Abelardo Hall) were named in his honor and memory.
 FELIPE PADILLA DE LEON
 (MAY 1, 1912 – DECEMBER 5, 1992) 

• He was a Filipino classical music composer, conductor, and scholar.

• He received the Republic Cultural Heritage Award, Rizal Pro-Patria Award, Presidential Award of
Merit and Patnubay ng Kalinangan Award, among others.
• He was named Composer of the Year in 1949, Musician of the Year in Manila in 1958, and a 
National Artist of the Philippines in 1997.
•  Before becoming a musician he took various odd jobs to support his family, such as a shoe
polisher and vendor of various items.
• He played the trombone in cabarets and circuses, and later worked as an assistant conductor of the
Nueva Ecija High School Orchestra, where he started composing music.
• Much later, he continued his studies under Vittorio Giannini at the Juilliard School in New York,
U.S.
 FELIPE PADILLA DE LEON
 (MAY 1, 1912 – DECEMBER 5, 1992) 
 FELIPE PADILLA DE LEON
 (MAY 1, 1912 – DECEMBER 5, 1992) 

Pasko Na Naman
• Was composed by Felipe Padilla de Leon (Music) and Levi Celerio (Lyrics) in 1995.
• It was arranged for chamber orchestra by Lucio San Pedro
• It was frequently heard during Christmas and used in as final song of the Misa de Aguinaldo.
Other compositions of De Leon:
• Noli Me Tangere
• El Filibusterismo
• “Tindig, Aking Inang Bayan”
• “Noche Buena”
• “Mutya ng Lahi”
 NATIONAL ARTIST
(AWARD)
The highest national recognition given to Filipino individuals who have made
significant contribution to the development of Philippines arts;
• Dance
• Music
• Theater
• Visual arts
• Literature
• Film and Broadcast Arts
• Architecture and Allied Arts
 LUCIO SAN PEDRO
(FEBRUARY 11, 1913 – MARCH 31, 2002)

 is a master composer, conductor, and teacher whose music evokes the folk elements of the Filipino
heritage.
 He was born in Angono, Rizal.
 He was the son of Elpidio San Pedro and Soledad Diestro
 He was merried to Getrudez Diaz
 He played bandurria and banjo during his early years.
  came from a family with musical roots and he began his career early
 When he was still in his late teens, he succeeded his deceased grandfather as the local church organist.
 By then, he had already composed songs, hymns and two complete masses for voices and orchestra.
 After studying with several prominent musicians in the Philippines, he took advanced composition
training with Bernard Wagenaar of the Netherlands.
 He also studied harmony and orchestration under Vittorio Giannini and took classes at Juilliardin 1947.
 LUCIO SAN PEDRO
(FEBRUARY 11, 1913 – MARCH 31, 2002)
 LUCIO SAN PEDRO
(FEBRUARY 11, 1913 – MARCH 31, 2002)

 AMONG HIS FAMOUS WORKS WERE:

• Lulay”
• “Sa Ugoy ng Duyan”
• “In the Silence of the Night”
• “Easter Cantata”
• “Sa Mahal Kong Bayan”
• “Rizal’s Valedictory Poem”
 ANTONIO MOLINA 
(26 DECEMBER 1894 – 29 JANUARY 1980) 

• He was born in Quiapo, Manila

• He son of Juan Molina, a government official, who founded the Molina Orchestra 
• He attended the Escuela Catolica de Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno in Quiapo, Manila, and college at 
San Juan De Letran where he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1909.
• made his first composition in 1912 titled Matinal, which is preserved in an unpublished volume
called Miniaturas, Vol. 1.
• He was appointed to teach harmony, composition, music history, and violincello at the UP Conservatory
of Music, pursuing a career in music education until being appointed dean of the Centro Escolar
Conservatory of Music.
• He founded the CEU String Quartet which was professionally organized and financed by its music
school.
• As a composer Molina is credited with over 500 compositions.
 ANTONIO MOLINA 
(26 DECEMBER 1894 – 29 JANUARY 1980) 
 ANTONIO MOLINA 
(26 DECEMBER 1894 – 29 JANUARY 1980) 

• AMONG HIS FAMOUS WORKS WERE:

• “Matinal,” 1912
• “Magsimula ka”
• “Hating Gabi” 1915 (Is a danza composition for violin piano accompaniment.)
 HILARION RUBIO Y FRANCESCO
 (OCTOBER 21, 1902 – DECEMBER 28, 1985)

• was a Filipino composer, music pedagogue , conductor and clarinettist.

• came into contact with the music by his uncle, who played in the orchestra of Bacoor. 
• He received his first music lessons in solfège and clarinet from Father Amando Buencamino. 
• At the age of 8 he was recorded as a clarinettist in the harmony orchestra of Bacoor. Shortly
thereafter he wrote his first composition "Unang Katas" for this wind band. 
• In his High school time he was a member of various orchestras in the region and also played in the
orchestra of the lyrical theater, in the Trozo harmony orchestra and the Band Moderna in Tondo.
•  Around 1930 he founded the "Anak Zapote Band" with others. He became conductor of the ROTC
Band of the University of the Philippines Conservatory of Music until he graduated in 1933. He
was temporarily also a violinist and timpanist in the symphony orchestra of the university.
 HILARION RUBIO Y FRANCESCO
 (OCTOBER 21, 1902 – DECEMBER 28, 1985)
 HILARION RUBIO Y FRANCESCO
 (OCTOBER 21, 1902 – DECEMBER 28, 1985)

Compositions:
• Bulaklaken theme and variation for concert band
• Dance of Nymphs Rondo
• Florente at Laura , overture
• Halik , Danza
• Unang Katas
 RODOLFO CORNEJO

• He was a pianist/oraganist, conductor, and composer.

• He was the son of Miguel Cornejo Sr. and Crisanta Soldevilla.
• He was married to Lyric Soprano, Nieves Guerrero.
• He started playing piana at the of 6, had the first recital, and then
became the organist of the Pasay Catholic Church at the age of 8.
• Glissando waltz and salute published his military march as early as the
age of 10.
RODOLFO CORNEJO
 RYAN CAYABYAB 
(BORN MAY 4, 1954 KNOWN AS MR. C)  

• Raymundo Cipriano Pujante Cayabyab is a Filipino musician, composer and conductor;

• He was Executive and Artistic Director for several years of the defunct San Miguel Foundation
for the Performing Arts.
• He was named a National Artist of the Philippines in 2018.
• His works range from commissioned full-length ballets, theater musicals, choral pieces, a Mass
set to unaccompanied chorus, and orchestral pieces, to commercial recordings of popular
music, film scores and television specials.
• He is the executive director of the Philpop MusicFest Foundation Inc., the organization behind
the Philippine Popular Music Festival. This songwriting competition for amateurs and
professionals puts the spotlight on songwriters and encourages Filipinos to preserve their
unique musical identity.
 RYAN CAYABYAB 
(BORN MAY 4, 1954 KNOWN AS MR. C)  
 RYAN CAYABYAB 
(BORN MAY 4, 1954 KNOWN AS MR. C)  

 Among his famous works are:

• Alikabok
• Katy
• “Liman-Dipang tao”
• Misa 2000