CONTEMPORARY

PHILIPPINE MUSIC
QUARTER 3 – MODULE 1

Myka Alexa G. Dordas

10- San Pedro

 LESSONS
LESSON 1:
OVERVIEW: Traditional VS. Contemporary Music
LESSON 2:
20th Century Traditional Composers (Part I)
LESSON 3:
20th Century Traditional Composers (Part II)
LESSON 4:
20th Century Traditional Composers (Part III)
 LESSON 1:
OVERVIEW: Traditional VS.
Contemporary Music
 The 20th century music of the Philippines primarily
revolves around cultural influences from the West,
especially due to the Spanish and American rule for
over three centuries. When the Americans came,
they brought the blues, folk, R&B, and rock and roll.
They also made music a part of the educational
curriculum. This developed the musical skills of the
Filipinos who used this skill to imitate Western music
and to create local versions of Western music.
TRADITIONAL MUSIC
 Traditional Music composers of the
Philippines were influenced mostly by western
classicism; they followed the traditional
standard as to technique, Music theory,
performances, and repertoire. As mentioned by
the John Gotsis of Vibe Music Academy,
below are the characteristics of traditional
music composition.
 Traditional Music
 Emphasis on Reading Music
traditional musicians are expected, when perfected,
to read whatever pieces they are given.

 Established Traditional Techniques

The approach founded by traditional composers is an
optimum performances technique to be used in an
instrument. Meaning, there is the right way to play a
specific musical instrument.
 Traditional Music
 Equipped Music Theory
They analyze notes, standard rules and therefore
can scrutinize sheet music accurately.

 Erratic Performance Opportunities

The scope of classical performances nowadays
is erratic (irregular) than that of contemporary
musicians. However, the skill developed by traditional
composers lends itself to contemporary performances.
 Traditional Music
 Engaged into Standard repertoire
Traditional Composers focus heavily on classical
performances.Professional composers are expected to
play difficult pieces memorized as what has been written
into sheet music.

Filipino composers have managed to retain some

traditional elements in their assimilation of Western
techniques. In fact, they have been the strongest
foundations of what we now know as Philippine Music.
 REMEMBER
The perfect traditional/classical musicians:

 have incredible reading skills;

 be able to play their instrument with a flawless method,
giving them the ideal Classical sound;
 possess a deep knowledge of Classical music theory and
use it to interpret the notes they read on the page; and
 understand and appreciate Classical music and
repertoire, and have the tools needed to perform difficult,
written-out music.
CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
 The influence of traditional music did not
stop as contemporary music emerged.
Instead, this came as an avenue to dynamic
creativity and progressivism in music. In
contrast to the Traditional Music, listed
below are some of the characteristics of the
new music: (c.f. Vibe Music Academy)
 Contemporary Music
 Primary focus on Ear Training
Contemporary music prefers more on auditory
senses. Hearing matters most.

 Progressive Techniques
Contemporary music has its way of saying
“proper techniques.” There is no “right way” of holding
a specific instrument. As long as it relays quality
musical elements, then it can be accepted.
 Contemporary Music
 Pondering Music Theory as Framework to
performance - They use, but not limit, music theory
to guide their performance.

 Popularity in performance
New Music (contemporary) is defined generally
more popular than that of traditional music—which
means—that there are more performance
opportunities for contemporary musicians.
 Contemporary Music

 Plays “on-the-fly” repertoire

Jazz, Blues, country, and rock bands perform
their go-to (on-the-fly) learned collection of songs. It
is important to be familiarized with the melodic flow
to amaze the audience with their improvisations.
 REMEMBER
The perfect contemporary musicians:

 be able to play quickly anything they hear;

 have a high focus to sound and be able to make the
specific sound they are trying to reach;
 establish music theory in a way that will help them fit
into the musical context they are playing in; and
 understand and appreciate Contemporary music
and repertoire, and have the tools required to grow in
a big variety of musical settings.
 LESSON 2:
20th Century Traditional
Composers (Part I)
 Filipino composers of the 20th
century may adapt contemporary
music, but the remnants of its roots,
as to classicism, romanticism, and
baroque music, remained evident to
its musical compositions.
Philippine traditional composers

Francisco B. Buencamino Sr.

 November 5, 1883
 Bulacan
 Liceo de Manila (Music
Composition & Harmony)
 Teacher; Musical/Scoring
Director
Philippine traditional composers

Compositions:
Harana, Pandanggo ni Neneng, Collar de
Sampaguita, Dulces las Horas, Mayon (Fantasia de
Concierto), My Soul’s Lament, Larawan, Mazurka,
Boholana, Mi Bandera, Princesas ng Kumintang,
Maligayang Bati, Ang Bukang Liwayway,
Pandanggo ni Neneng, Ang Bagong Balitaw, Himig
ng Nayon, Damdamin (Romance) and Pizzicato
Caprice.
Philippine traditional composers

He instituted the Centro Escolar de Señoritas,

Conservatory of Music. He also created the
Buencamino Music Academy in 1930. Nicanor
Abelardo was one of his students. Expanding his
career, Buencamino also ventured into musical
direction and scoring, composing music for
Sampaguita Pictures, LVN, and Excelsior. He also
wrote several zarzuelas and kundiman.
Philippine traditional composers

Francisco Santiago
( Father of Kundiman )
 January 29, 1889
 Sta. Maria, Bulacan
 American Conservatory of
Music in Chicago (Music
Specialization)
Philippine traditional composers

Compositions:
Pakiusap, Madaling Araw, Sakali man,
Hibik ng Pilipinas, Ano kaya ang Kapalaran and
Kundiman (Anak Dalita);Among the films
whose music he supervised were Kundiman,
Leron Leron Sinta, Madaling Araw, Manileña
and the movie, Pakiusap He also composed
Pilipinas Kong Mahal.
Philippine traditional composers

Additional Information:
He became the first Filipino director of
the Conservatory of Music, University of the
Philippines. He is an affiliate of the
Triumvirate of Filipino Composers.
Philippine traditional composers

Nicanor Abelardo
 February 7, 1893
 San Miguel de Mayumo,
Bulacan
 Chicago Music College
Philippine traditional composers

Compositions:
Cinderella Overture, Panoramas, and a
violin sonata, Mutya ng Pasig, Nasaan Ka Irog,
Cavatina for Violoncello, and Magbalik Ka
Hirang
Philippine traditional composers

Additional Information:
One of the “Triumvirate of Filipino
Composers;” he composed the melody for the
official anthem of a university, UP naming
Mahal; and developed a style that combined
European Romanticism with Chromaticism.
Philippine traditional composers

Antonio J. Molina
 December 26, 1894
 Quiapo, Manila
 Orchestra soloist at Manila Grand
Opera House Dean of Centro
Escolar University (1948-1970)
Faculty member of University of the
Philippines Conservatory of Music.
Philippine traditional composers
Compositions:
Romantic Serenade: Hatinggabi
Orchestral Music: Misa Antoniana Grand
Festival Mass, Ang Batingaw, Kundiman-
kundanga
Chamber Music: String Quartet, Kung sa Iyong
Gunita, Pandannguhan;
Vocal Music: Amihan, Awit ni Maria Clara and
Larawan Nitong Pilipinas
Philippine traditional composers

Additional Information:
He received the National Artist for Music
award in 1973 and passed away on January 29,
1980.He is one of the "Triumvirate of Filipino
Composers." He began his music career as an
orchestral soloist at the Manila Grand Opera House
and garnered the First National Artist for Music
award here in the Philippines. He is also known as
the Father of the Philippine Impressionist Music.
 LESSON 3:
20th Century Traditional
Composers (Part II)
Philippine traditional composers

Hilarion Francisco Rubio

 October 21, 1902
 Bacoor, Cavite
 University of the Philippines
 Music Director, conductor,
professor
Philippine traditional composers
Compositions:
Unang Katas, Bulaklaken, Theme and Variations for
band, Dance of the Nymphs Rondo, Florente at Laura
(overture), Halik, Danza, Unang Katas, Two-part
invention (piano), ang Konsyerto (ballet); Ang
Magsasaka, Bukang Liwayway, Conertino in C
(marimba and piano), Filipinas kong Mahal, Hatulan
Mo ako, Ginintuang Araw, In a tropical sea, Light,
Narra, Mutya ng Silangan, To the Filipino Youth, Nela,
National Heroes Day Hymn, and Salmisim.
Philippine traditional composers

Additional Information:
He was a Filipino composer, music teacher,
conductor, and clarinetist. His name was closely
identified with his works for the orchestra, conductor
for opera, ballet, dance recitals, and music for
movies. During World War II, Rubio created,
composed and arranged various works, and
conducted many military and civilian brass bands.
Philippine traditional composers

Col. Antonio Buenaventura

 May 4, 1904
 Baliuag, Bulacan
 University of the Philippines
Conservatory of Music at the age
of 19; Institute of International
Education in New York
 Music instructor and Band
conductor of the PMA; Colonel
Philippine traditional composers

Compositions:
Pandanggo sa Ilaw, Minuet, Mindanao
Sketches, Divertimento for Piano and
Orchestra, Variations & Fague and
Greetings
Philippine traditional composers

He promoted Philippine music by extensively 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.
Buenaventura composed the music and did the
notations for the folk dances, as researched by Aquino.
He restored the Philippine Constabulary Band in 1945,
which was reputedly likened to a symphony orchestra,
and was considered, "One of the best military bands in
the world."
Philippine traditional composers

Rodolfo S. Cornejo
 May 15, 1909
 Singalong, Manila
 Conservatory of Music (UP)
Teacher’s Diploma in Pianoforte and
Teacher’s Diploma in Science and
Composition
 Teacher at UP Conservatory of
Music; Organist of Pasay Catholic
Philippine traditional composers

Compositions:
Glissando Waltz, Salute, A la Juventud
Filipina, Bailes de Ayer, Caprice on a Folksong,
Cello Sonata, Ibong Adarna, Kandingan,
Malakas at Maganda Overture, Okaka, Oriental
Fantasy, Pianco Concerto Nos. 1,2,3 Ruby, Song
of the Miners, Philippine Fantasy with Marimba
Solo and the cantata Christ the Redeemer.
Philippine traditional composers

He was considered the first Filipino composer who

received an honorary degree from a government
recognized music school in the United States. He
was known for his pianistic and compositional talent
by extemporizing a piano composition at the spur of
the moment. He was a founding member of the
League of Filipino Composers and is listed in "The
International Who's who in Music“. He wrote over
300 compositions, ranging from classical to pop.
Philippine traditional composers

Felipe Padilla De Leon Sr.

 May 1, 1912

 Barrio Papaya in Penaranda,

Nueva Ecija
 Conservatory of Music University
of the Philippines; Julliard School
of Music in New York, USA
Philippine traditional composers

Compositions:
Two Operas-- Noli Me Tangere (1957) and
El Filibusterismo (1970); March entitled: Tindig,
Aking Inang Bayan and Bagong
Lipunan.Christmas Carols Payapang Daigdig,
Noche Buena and Pasko Na Naman.
Philippine traditional composers

Additional Information:
He wrote music columns for the Manila Times
and Taliba; He was conferred an honorary degree,
Doctor of Philosophy in the Humanities by the
University of Philippines, in 1991.After his death, he
received a posthumous award as National Artist for
Music. He was known as a nationalist composer who
expressed the Philippines' cultural identity through
his compositions.
 LESSON 4:
20th Century Traditional
Composers (Part III)
Philippine traditional composers

Lucio Diestro San Pedro

 February 11, 1913
 Angono, Rizal
 University of the Philippines and
Julliard School in New York, USA
 Composer, Conductor and
Professor at University of the
Philippine traditional composers

Compositions:
Lahing Kayumanggi, Sa Ugoy ng
Duyan
Philippine traditional composers
Additional Information:
He studied the banjo which inspired him to
become a serious musician. He incorporated Philippine
folk elements in his compositions with Western forms to
create highly tonal melody and rich expressive
harmonies. His chords have a rich expressive tonality as
represented in his well-loved Sa ugoy ng Duyan, a
lullaby melody sung by his mother.Known as the
"Romantic Nationalist", a National Artist for Music in
the Philippines.
Philippine traditional composers

Rosendo E. Santos
 September 3, 1922
 Cavite City
 UP Conservatory of Music
(Bachelor’s degree); Catholic
University of America in
Washington, DC
 Faculty in West Virginia and
Howard University
Philippine traditional composers

Compositions:
Melinda’s Masquerade and other
unnamed concerti, sonatas, symphonies,
symphonic poems, operas, band
overtures, and marches
Philippine traditional composers

Rosendo Santos Jr. is listed in the “New Groves Dictionary

of Music and Musicians.” A prolific composer, his works
include concerti, sonatas, symphonies, symphonic poems,
five operas in Philippine dialect, numerous band overtures,
and more than 200 marches. He wrote 50 masses in Latin
and 20 in English. He has more than 1,000 musical
compositions in the library of the University of the
Philippines. He is known to be the Philippine Composer of
the Century as what had UNESCO granted him.
Philippine traditional composers

Alfredo Buenaventura
 October 14, 1929

 Sta. Maria, Bulacan

 Composer, Conductor,
Teacher
Philippine traditional composers

Compositions:
Major works include operas: Maria Mailing,
Diego Silang & Prinsesa Urduha; Cantatas 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 Antagonist.
Philippine traditional composers
He grew up in a musical environment and drawn by his
fascinations with trumpets and trombones. He became an
official organist of the Manila Cathedral and later the Dean
of the College of Music, Centro Escolar University. He
holds an honorary Doctor of Music degree from the
Philippine Women's University. Alfredo Buenaventura is
among the few composers in the Philippines who composed
five full-length operas. He created a combination of
contemporary and conventional, kept his melodies simple
and understandable, but he used contemporary harmonies
to suit the intellectuals.
Philippine traditional composers

Cipriano “Ryan” Cayabyab

 May 4, 1954
 Manila
 University of the Philippines
College of Music
 Teacher in UP, well-known
professor, musical director,
composer, arranger and conductor
in the Philippine concert and
Philippine traditional composers

Compositions:
Classical compositions such as Misa, Four
Poems for Soprano and Piano and the Deum;
Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika, Zarzuela Alikabok,
Opera Spoliarium with libretto and a variety of
choral pieces and song cycles.
Philippine traditional composers

Additional Information:
Ryan Cayabyab spans both popular
and classical worlds with his pop, ballads,
operas, zarzuela, orchestral, and choral
compositions.