CONTEMPORARY PHILIPPINE MUSIC

20 CENTURY
TRADITIONAL
COMPOSERS
TH

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

Francisco
Buencamino Sr.
(1883-1952)

Born: November 5, 1883

Bulacan
Father: Fortunato
Buencamino, a church
organist and band master
Mother: Luisa Beltran, a

He studied music
composition and harmony at
Liceo de Manila.
Unfortunately, he was not
able to finish.

He taught at the Ateneo de

Manila, and at Centro
Escolar de Seoritas whose
conservatory of Music he
founded. He also created the
Buencamino Music Academy
in 1930 where Nicanor

Expanding his career, he

ventured into musical
directing and scoring, and
composing film music for
sampaguita Pictures, LVN,
and Excelsior.

COMPOSITIONS:
-Harana
-Pandanggo ni Neneng
-Collar de Sampaguita
-Dulces las Horas
-Mayon (Fantasia de
Concierto)
-My Souls Lament
-Larawan

COMPOSITIONS:
- Boholana
- Mi Bandera
- Princesa ng Kumintang
- Maligayang Bati
- Ang Bukang Liwayway
- Pandanggo Ni Neneng
- Ang Bagong Galitaw
- Himig ng Nayon
- Damdamin (Romance)
- Pizzicato Caprice

He passed away on
October 16, 1952 after
which a posthumous
award honored him with
the title Outstanding

Francisco Santiago
(1889 1947)

- Father of Kundiman
- First Filipino Director of UP
Conservatory of Music
- He finished his music
specialization at the American
Conservatory of Music in Chicago,
where he obtained his Doctorate

His music: Romantic in style,

incorporating Western forms
and technique with folk
materials.

COMPOSITIONS:
-Pakiusap
-Madaling Araw
-Sakali Man
-Hibik ng Pilipinas
-Ano Kaya and Kapalaran
-Kundiman (Anak Dalita)

Anak Dalita was sung

before the Royal court of
Spain upon the request of
King Alfonso II.

He was also a musical director for

films.
- Kundiman
- Leron, Leron sinta
- Madaling Araw
- Manilea
- Pakiusap

Hilarion Rubio Y
Francisco
(1902 1985)

Born: October 21, 1902 Bacoor,

Cavite
Musical influence: his uncle who
was then playing with the Bacoor
Band.

- composer, teacher, conductor,

clarinetist
- Created substantial works for
orchestra
- Conductor for opera, ballet, dance
recitals, and movie music

When he was 8 years old, he was

accepted as a member of the
Bacoor Band as clarinetist. At that
time he made his firs composition
Unang Katas for his concert with
the band.

High School:
- Member of several orchestras
- Performed with different movie
houses

After High School:

- He co-founded the Anak Zapote
Band
- Band leader and conductor of the
ROTC Band of the Conservatory of
Music, UP
- Played the violin and timpani with

- Conductor at the Manila Music

School
- Choirmaster and choral conductor
of the Choir Islanders

During the Second World War, he

composed and arranged many
works and conducted many
military and civilian brass bands.

COMPOSITIONS:
- Bulaklaken
- Theme & Variations for Band
- Dance of the Nymphs Rondo
- Florante at Laura (overture)
- Halik
- Danza
- Unang Katas
- Filipinas Kong Mahal
- To the Filipino Youth
- National Heroes Day Hymn

He passed away on December 28,

1985.

Col. Antonio
Buenaventura
(1904 - 1996)
National Artist for
Music

- composer, conductor, teacher

Father: Lucio chief musician of
the Spanish artillery band in
Intramuros and founder of Banda
Buenaventura
- Clarinet player

- He further developed his musical

abilities at the Consevatory of
Music, UP at the age of 19.
- Nicanor Abelardo and Francisco
Santiago were among of his
mentors.

- He led the ROTC Band and

established UP Junior Orchestra.
- He pursued further studies at the
Institute of International Edication
in New York.

- He was a music instructor and

band conductor of the Philippine
Military Academy (PMA).
- Philippine Constabulary Band in
1945
One of the best military bands in
the world.

- Instructor in UST and UE.

- Buenaventura composed the
music and folk dance notations
for the dance researches of
Aquino.
- He was declared National Artist
for Music in 1988 and passed

COMPOSITIONS:
- Minuet
- Mindanao Sketches
- Divertimento for Piano &
Orchestra
- Variations and Fugue
- Pandanggo Sa Ilaw

Rodolfo S. Cornejo
(1909 - 1991)

Born: May 15, 1909 Singalong,

Manila
Musical influence: Mother
- Started formal music lessons at
the age of six.
- Invited as organist at the Pasay
Catolic Church
- First Composition: Glissando

- At the age of 14, 26 of Cornejos

compositions were already listed
by the United Publishing
Compnay Inc.
- He graduated with a Teachers
Diploma in Science and
Composition at the Conservatory
of Music, UP in 1930.

- He received his Bachelor Degree major in

piano and theory from the Chicago
Musical College of Roosevelt University,
USA in 1932.
- Master of Music Degree Major in
composition and Conductin in 1933.
- He was conferred as Doctor of Music
degree honoris causa in 1954.
- He received his Doctor of Philosophy
degree major in composition from the

Teacher: UP Conservatory of Music

Commissioned by Pres. Manuel L. Quezon
to write Symphony and an opera and
compose the music for the documentary
film on Pres. Quezons funeral.
He is listed in The International Whos
Who in Music.
He passed away on August 11, 1991.

COMPOSITION:
- A la Juventud Filipina
- Bailes de Ayer
- Caprice on a Folksong
- Cello Sonata
- Ibong Adarna
- Kandingan
- Malakas at Maganda
- Overture
- Okaka
- Oriental Fantasy
- Ibong Adarna
- Piano Concerto Nos. 1, 2, 3
- Ruby
- Song of the Miners

Felipe Padilla de
Leon Sr.
(1912 1992)
National Artist for
Music

Born: May 1, 1912 Barrio Ppaya (now General

Tinio) in Penaranda, Nueva Ecija
Father: Juan de Leon
Mother: Natalia Padilla (pianist)
- Painting and drawing was his talent (he was paid
for his drawings and sketches)

- He took up Fine Arts at the UP in

1927 (Stopped)
- He played the trombone in dance
orchestras
- He worked as an assistant conductor
of Nueva Ecija High School Orchestra
where he started doing musical
arrangements.

- He enrolled at the Conservatory of

Music, UP.
- He graduated with a music teachers
diploma, major in conducting in 1939.
- He took advanced studies in
composition at Julliard School of
Muwic in New York, USA.
- He died on December 5, 1992.

AWARDS:
Copser of the Year 1949
Manila Music Lovers Society
Musician of the Year, UP 1958
Conferred honorary degree, doctor of
philosophy in humanities by the UP in
1991.
National Artist for Music in 1997..

COMPOSITIONS:
- Opera: Noli Me Tangere, El
Filibusterismo
- March: Tindig, Aking Inang Bayan,
Bagong Lipunan (during the martial
law)
- Christmas carols: Payapang Daigdig
(1946), Noche Buena, Pasko Na
Naman

Lucio San Pedro

(1913 2002)
National Artist for
Music

Born: February 11, 1913 in Angono,

Rizal
Elementary: started composing
He studied the banjo which inspired
him to become a serious musician.
He is known as a Romantic
nationalist.

- Pursued music degree at the

University of the Philippines and the
Julliard School in New York, USA.
- Professor of theory and composition
at the UP College of Music.
- He incorporate Philippine folk
elements in his composition with
Western forms and harmony.

COMPOSITIONS:
- Sa Ugoy ng Duyan
- Suite Pastorale
- Lahing Kayumanggi

Rosendo E. Santos Jr.

(1922 1994)

Born: September 3, 1992, Cavite City

Age 11: he started composing band
marches, instrumental and vocal
scores as well as music for Catholic
masses.

- Studied at UP Conservatory of Music

where he eventually became a faculty
member.
- Pursued Master of Music degree in
theory and composition from the
Catholic University of America in
Washington D.C.
- He also served on its faculty as well
as in West Virginia University and

- UNESCO scholar
- Awarded as Philippine Composer of
the Century
- Composer of the Year 1956 and
1957

- Composed several piano concerti,

sonatas, symphonies, symphonic
poems, five operas in Filipino, band
overtures and more than 200
marches.
- Last musical work and only ballet
composition, Melindas Masquerade.

Alfredo
Buenaventura
(1929 - )

- Born: October 14, 1929, Sta. Maria,

Bulacan
- Composer, conductor and teacher.
- He grew up in a musical environment
and became a band member in his
hometown at a young age.
- Trombones and trumpets.
- One of the twenty boy sopranos of
Tiples at Sto. Domingo Church.

- Danza: his first composition

- Has composed over 50 major works
including five full-length operas,
operettas, dance dramas, cantatas,
symphonies, concertos, ballets,
overtures, prelude, fugues and
chamber music.
- Many of his compositions are based
on Filipino heroes, legends and epics.

COMPOSITIONS:
- Maria Makiling
- Diego Silang
- Prinsesa Urduha
- Ang Ating Watawat
- Pask ng Barangay
- Three Piano Concertos: Celebration,
Determination and Exultation
- Symphonies: Dakilang Lahi, Gomburza,
Rizal, the Great Malayan Antagonist

AWARDS:
Republic Cultural Heritage Award (twice)
The Outstanding Filipino Award (TOFIL) for
Music in 1995

Ryan Cayabyab
(1954 - )

Born: May 4, 1954 in Manila

- He obtained his Bachelor Degree at the UP
College of Music.
- Faculty member for composition
- Executive and Artistic Director of the Sa
Miguel Foundation for Performing Arts
(San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra and
San Miguel Master Chorale)

COMPOSITIONS:
- Misa,
- Four Poems for Soprano and Piano
- Te Deum
- Spolarium (opera)

COMPOSITIONS:
- Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika
- Paraiso
- One (album) he personally sang the
unaccompanied songs on different tracks
to produce 16 voices.
- Tuwing Umuulan, Limang Dipang Tao, Da
Coconutnut, Paraisong Parisukat,
Kumukutikutitap, etc.

TRIUMVIRATE OF FILIPINO COMPOSERS

1. Francisco Santiago
2. Nicanor Abelardo
3. Antonio Molina