CONTEMPORARY

PHILIPPINE MUSIC
 According to National Artist Dr. Ramon Santos,
“contemporary music in the Philippines refers to
compositions that have adopted ideas and elements
from 20th century art music in the west, as well as
the latest trends and musical styles in the
entertainment industry.”
tional
ic
posers CONTEMPORARY
rs 3
2
1PHILIPPINE MUSIC
Traditional
Composers
 With Spain and then America having colonized the
Philippines from the early 1500s to the late 1800s, it was
unavoidable that Western compositional techniques found
their way into the works of Filipino composers. However,
many 20th century Filipino composers have managed to
retain traditional elements and integrated them with
Western techniques. In fact, these composers were known to
have laid the foundations of what we now know as
Philippine music
FRANCISCO SANTIAGO (1889-1947)
• He is considered as the “Father of
Kundiman” and belongs to the
“Triumvirate of Filipino Composers”.
• Santiago’s music was Romantic in style,
incorporating Western forms and
techniques with folk materials.
• He composed several works such as
kundiman, symphonies, piano concerti,
and other music pieces for the piano,
violin, and voice.
Among his famous works are the following:
• Pakiusap
• Madaling Araw
• Sakali Man
• Pilipinas Kong Mahal
• Hibik ng Pilipinas
• Ano Kaya ang Kapalaran
• Kundiman (Anak Dalita).
 He was also a musical director for
films. Among the films under his musical
supervision were “Kundiman”, “Leron
Leron Sinta”, “Madaling Araw”,
“Manileña”, and the movie inspired by his
own composition, “Pakiusap”.
He became the first Filipino Director
of the UP Conservatory of Music.
NICANOR ABELARDO (1893-1934)
• He is one of the “Triumvirate of Filipino
Composers”.
• Abelardo, together with Francisco
Santiago elevated the status of the
Kundiman into an Art Song status
equivalent to that of the German Lied, the
French Chanson, and the Italian Aria.
• Abelardo developed a style that combined
European romanticism with chromaticism.
• His compositions contain hazy tones,
dissonance. and unusual chordal
combinations, as seen in his works
Cinderella Overture, Panoramas, and a
violin sonata.
• Although a 20th century modern composer
in style, Abelardo is also considered a
composer in the Romantic style.
His best-known compositions include the following:
• Mutya ng Pasig
• Nasaan Ka Irog
• Bituing Marikit
• Ikaw Rin
• Kundiman ng Luha
• Pahimakas
• Kung Hindi Man
• Pahiwatig
• Cavatina for Violin and Piano,
• First Nocturne for Piano, and
• Magbalik Ka Hirang
Antonio Molina (1894-1980)
• He is the first National Artist for
Music
• “Father of Philippine Impressionist
Music”
• He is considered one of the
“Triumvirate of Filipino Composers”
which includes Nicanor Abelardo and
Francisco Santiago.
• Molina was a product of both the
Romantic and Impressionist
schools of thought.
• He was fascinated by the dynamics
and harmonies of Debussy but
retained much of the Romantic
style in his melody.
 A characteristically impressionist work is his piano work
“Malikmata” (Transfiguration). The mysteriously exotic chords of
this piece gradually lead to a lyrical melody, with the traditional
harmonies abruptly returning to the initial mood.

Molina wrote several compositions for piano, violin, and voice as

well as a Spanish-style opera form known as the zarzuela.

He is best known for his poignantly romantic serenade for

violin and piano “Hatinggabi”. Subsequent transcriptions of this
piece were written for the cello, flute, piano, and guitar.
Other works by Molina include:
• Orchestral music - Misa Antoniana Grand Festival Mass, Ang
Batingaw, Kundiman-Kundangan;
• Chamber music - String Quartet, Kung sa Iyong Gunita,
Pandangguhan; and
• Vocal music - Amihan, Awit ni Maria Clara, and Larawan
Nitong Pilipinas.

He received the National Artist for Music award in 1973.

Lucio San Pedro (1913-2002)
• San Pedro is known as a “romantic
nationalist.”
• He incorporated Philippine folk elements in
his compositions with Western forms and
harmony.
• His most popular work is the well-loved “Sa
Ugoy ng Duyan”, a lullaby melody sung by
his mother. He composed “Sa Ugoy ng
Duyan” together with his friend Levi Celerio
as the lyricist.
• He was declared National Artist for Music in
1991
Ryan Cayabyab (born 1954)
• Ryan Cayabyab, also known as Mr. C, is a
popular contemporary composer who also
has classical compositions to his credit, such
as “Misa” and “Misa 2000”, “Four Poems for
Soprano and Piano”, and “Te Deum”.
• His compositional style makes much use of a
variety of influences – from Moroccan
musical cultures, Jazz, African-American
Spirituals and Gospel music, European Neo-
Classicism, Music for Films, American
Broadway musicales, to Philippine
indigenous chants.
• He spans both popular and
classical worlds with his pop
music, ballads, operas, zarzuelas,
orchestral arrangements, musicals,
masses, psalms, and choral
compositions.

• His compositions are mostly of

Traditional influence.
• Among his numerous compositions are the award-winning “Kay
Ganda ng Ating Musika” (1978), Paraiso (1991), as well as the
modern zarzuela “Alikabok” (2003), and the musical “Lorenzo” –
based on the life of St. Lorenzo Ruiz (2013).
• The opera Spoliarium with libretto by Fides Cuyugan-Asensio, and a
variety of choral pieces and song cycles of were also among his
masterpieces.
• He also produced several recordings, including the memorable
album “One” and subsequently, “One Christmas”, and “One More”,
all of which were one-man vocal jazz a cappella album that he
himself arranged and sang.
• He was named National Artist for Music in 2018.
Francisco B. Buencamino Sr. (1883-1952)
• Francisco Buencamino founded the Centro
Escolar de Señoritas, Conservatory of
Music, as well as the Buencamino Music
Academy in 1930.
• Many of his piano works have become
staples in the Philippine repertoire of
today's performers, especially Mayon,
Larawan, and Maligayang Bati.
• He also ventured into musical direction
and scoring for films, as well as composing
several zarzuelas and kundiman.
Hilarion F. Rubio (1902-1985)
• Hilarion Rubio was a composer, music teacher,
conductor, and clarinetist. His name was
closely identified with his works for the
orchestra; as a conductor for opera, ballet,
and dance recitals; and his music for movies.
• His compositions include:
o Bulaklaken
o Salamisim
o Ang magsasaka
o Bukang Liwayway
o Ginintuang Araw
o Mutya ng Silangan
Colonel Antonino R. Buenaventura (1904-1996)
• He promoted Philippine music by
extensively using folk materials in his
works.
• He composed Minuet, Mindanao
Sketches, Divertimento for Piano and
Orchestra, Variations and Fugue, and
Greetings based on Philippines folk music.
He also composed Pandanggo sa Ilaw.
• He is a National Artist for Music.
Rodolfo S. Cornejo (1909-1991)
• He was the researcher and official composer
of the Philippine government-in- exile, under
President Manuel L. Quezon.

• He was also known for his extemporaneous

thematic improvisations based on the
letters of people’s name. He wrote over 300
compositions that includes Ibong Adarna,
Kandingan, Cello Sonata, Oriental Fantasy, at
Okaka.
Felipe P. De Leon Sr. (1912-1992)
• He is known as a nationalist composer.
• He wrote piano compositions, hymns, marches, art
songs, chamber music, symphonic poems, overtures,
band music, school songs, orchestral works, operas,
kundiman, and zarzuelas.
• His two operas, Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo, are considered his masterpieces.
• He is a National Artist for Music.
• He wrote the popular Christmas carols Payapang
daigdig, Noche Buena, and Pasko Na Naman.
Rosendo E. Santos Jr. (1922-1994)

• He was a prolific composer whose works

include concerti, sonatas, symphonies,
symphonic poems, five operas in a Philippine
dialect, numerous band overtures, and over
200 marches. He also 50 Masses in Latin and
20 in English.
• His lasts musical work and only ballet
composition, Melinda’s Masquerade, was
performed in 1995, a year after his death.
Alfredo S. Buenaventura (born 1929)
• His compositions combine contemporary
and conventional styles, and contain
melodies that are simple and
understandable, while using contemporary
harmonies that enhance their complexity.
• Many of his compositions are based on
Filipino heroes, legends, and epics. He uses
native songs, both tribal and folk, as themes
of his music compositions; and a number of
his compositions make use of Filipino
indigenous instruments.
 Among Buenaventura’ s major works are
operas Maria Makiling, Diego Silang, and Prinsesa
Urduha; cantasas Ang ating Watawat and Pasko
ng Barangay, three piano concerti subtitled
Celebration, Determination, and Exultation; and
symphonies such as Dakilang Lahi, Gomburza, and
Rizal, the Great Malayan Anatagonist.
Thank You!