Col. Antonino R.

Buenaventura
Born: Birthplace: Died: May 04, 1904 Baliuag, Bulacan January 25, 1996

In Philippine music, Buenaventura became a byword. He was known not only as a fine composer, but also a competent conductor and a dedicated educator. He came from a family in Baliuag, Bulacan, where he was born on May 4, 1904 that is known as a family of fine musicians. As a young boy, he was exposed to the music of his father, who was a band leader during the Spanish times. A sickly child who was unable to engage in much physical activities, he spent his time learning the clarinet and composing his own melodies instead. Immediately after his graduation with a Teacher s Diploma in Music, major in Science and Composition in 1929 and earning his post graduate diploma in Composition with German Prof. Jeno Von Tackacs as his mentor for 3 years, Col. Buenaventura joined the U.P Conservatory as an assistant instructor. Though he graduated from the University of the Philippines Conservatory of Music, and started teaching , he wanted to be part of the military. He was later commissioned by Gen. Basilio Valdes and assigned to Dau. In time, he was transferred to the Philippine Military Academy where he taught and conducted the PMA Band until World War II. When Baguio was bombed, he and his wife moved to San Pablo, Laguna, where they established a music academy. He then led the Philippine Constabulary for the next sixteen years. When his mentor Nicanor Abelardo died in 1934, he was designated by Dr. Francisco Santiago, the dean of the conservatory to take over Abelardo s class. Some of the outstanding work that he wrote after undertaking field research are the following Minuet (1937), which borrowed largely from Igorot tunes for its thematic thrust, the popular Pandanggo sa Ilaw (1936), Echoes from the Philippines, Varations and Fugere, Greetings and many others. In 1935, he and Francisca Reyes Aquino, National Artist in Dance, conducted research on Philippine folk songs and dances, which has influenced the popularization of folk music up to this day. Col. Buenaventura passed away on January 25, 1996, but his works are continuously recognized all over the country for enriching Philippine music.

A soldier by profession, Col. Antonino R. Buenaventura was made National Artist in Music in 1988. He has spent seven decades pushing Philippine music forward, composing songs for solo instruments and also symphonic and orchestral works that are based on folk music of different ethnic groups. Thus, he became the bridge between the earlier masters of folk music and today s generation.

Buenaventuras major works include:

The Triumphal March Echoes of the Past History Fantasy Second Symphony in E-flat Echoes from the Philippines Ode to Freedom Concert Overture Prelude and Fugue in G Minor Philippines Triumphant Mindanao Sketches Symphony in C Major

Reference:
bulacan.gov.ph