CONTEMPORARY

PHILIPPINE MUSIC
20th Century Filipino Composers
(Traditional Composers)
 RULES
• Minimize your noise
• Don’t keep on standing
• Ask permission before going out
• Objectives for the day
• Describe features of traditional and contemporary Philippine
music;
• Appreciate the contemporary Philippine music through
singing and listening.
• Perform selections of contemporary Philippine music;
• Contemporary music in the Philippines refers to the
compositions that have adopted ideas and elements from
the 20th century art music in the West.
• The Filipino repertoire consists of musical pieces that have
been written in the 20th century idioms.
impressionism
expressionism
neo-classicism
avant-garde
new music
 20th Century Traditional Composers
• With the Spain and then America having colonized the
Philippines ,Western compositional techniques found
their way into the works of Filipino composers.

• 20th century Filipino composers have managed to retain

some traditional elements in their assimilation of
Western techniques.
Francisco Buencamino Sr.
November 5, 1883 – October 16, 1952

• Founded the Centro Escolar de Señoritas,

Conservatory of Music, as well as the Buencamino
Music Academy in 1930.
• He also ventured into musical direction and scoring
for films, as well as composing several zarzuelas and
kundiman.
Best works:
• Mayon
• Larawan
• Maligayang
Bati
 Antonio J. Molina
December 26, 1894 – January 29, 1980

• “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.
• He was best known for his poignantly romantic
serenade for violin and piano
Best works:
• Malikmata
• Hatinggabi
• Misa Antoniana Grand Festival Mass
 Lucio San Pedro
February 11, 1913 - March 31, 2002

• He became a professor of theory and composition at the

University of the Philippines College of Music.
• Known as “romantic nationalist” , He incorporated Philippine
folk elements in his compositions with Western forms and
harmony.
• His chords have a rich expressive tonality.
Best works:
• Ugoy ng Duyan
• Suite Pastorale
• Lahing Kayumanggi
National Artist for Music in
1991
Francisco Santiago
January 29, 1889 - September 28, 1947

• Known as the “ Father of the “Kundiman” and

belongs to the “Triumvirate of Filipino
Composers”.

• Santiago’s music was Romantic in style,

incorporating Western forms and techniques with
folk materials.
Best works:
• Pakiusap
• Madaling Araw
• Kundiman(Anak Dalita)
 Nicanor Abelardo
February 7, 1893 – March 21, 1934
• He belongs to the ”Triumvirate of Filipino Composers”
together with Francisco Santiago and Antonio Molina.

• The Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo of the Cultural

Center of the Philippines and the Abelardo Hall of the
College of Music, University of the Philippines are
named after him.
Best works:
• Mutya ng Pasig
• Nasaan Ka Irog
• Magbalik ka Hirang
 Felipe De Leon Sr.
May 1, 1912 – December 5, 1992
• Wrote piano compositions, hymns, marches, art songs,
chamber music, symphonic poems, overtures, band music,
school songs, orchestral workds, operas, kundimans and
zarsuelas
• He was known as a nationalist composer who expressed
the Philippines’ cultural identity through his compositions.
Best works:
• Two operas which are considered his masterpieces are the Noli Me
Tangere(1957) and El Filibusterismo(1970)
• Awit sa Paglikha ng Bagong Pilipinas
National Artist for Music in 1997 • Bagong Pagsilang
 Col. Antonino Buenaventura
May 4, 1904 – January 25, 1996

• Promoted Philippine music by extensive 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
Best works:
• Minuet
• Fugue
• Pandanggo sa Ilaw
National Artist for Music in 1988
Ryan Cayabyab
May 4, 1954 (age 68 years)

• He is a popular contemporary composer who also has

classical compositions to his credit.
• His compositional style makes much use of syncopation,
extended chords, and chromatic harmony.
• Spans both popular and classical worlds with his pop,
ballads, operas, zarzuela, orchestral, and choral
compositions.
Best works:
• Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika
• Zarzuela Alikabok
• The Opera “Spoliarium” with
libretto
• Question and answer (Q & A)

1. Who are the major Contemporary composers?

2. What are the 20th century music styles and their characteristic features?
 Group Activity

• Present at least one song composed by the 20th Century Filipino

Composers (Traditional Composers).