Music 4th Quarter

Composition

Composition

the art or process of creating a new piece of music

Skills that composers find useful in their work:

• Essential music theory

• Writing musical notation including the use of music-notation software

• Instrumentation

• Trained ear

• Improvisation

• Other technologies for sound production

Lucio San Pedro (1913-2002)

• The 1991 National Artist of the Philippines for Music.

• He was a master composer, conductor, and teacher. He came from a musically talented family. His father created a family band from which he started his involvement in music. During his late teenage years, he became a church organist after his grandfather's death.

Notable works:

• Sa Ugoy ng Duyan (music)

• "Lahing Kayumanggi"

Antonio Molina (1894-1980)

• Known by many names and titles such as the "First National Artist in Music," the "Father of Modern Music," the "Claude Debussy of the Philippines," and the "Dean of Filipino Composers."

• First composer who was asked to perform his compositions in the Malañang Palace. He was also one of the first to integrate the pentatonic scale and indigenous instruments like the kulintang and gabbang in his symphonies.

Notable works:

• Misa Antoniana Grand Festival Mass

• Ang Batingaw

• Kundiman-Kundangan

• Hatinggabi

Rodolfo Cornejo (1909-1991)

• A composer, conductor, and pianist, who had this great ability to showcase his piano and composition skills through what he called "impromptu classical improvisation." He is married to the lyric soprano Nieves Guerrero.

• At the age of 10, he composed his first piece, Glissando Waltz, a piano piece that he dedicated to his mother. At 13, he composed a military march titled Salute.

Impromptu Classical Improvisation

A way of creating a piano composition suggested by a telephone number, a car plate number, or a name. These numbers are translated into a musical meaning and are made the theme for the piano piece.

Hilarion Rubio (1902-1985)

• A renowned conductor for chorus and band. He was born in Bacoor, Cavite.

• At the age of 8, he was accepted as a clarinetist in the Bacoor Band. By this time, he had composed his first composition titled "Unang Katas" for the band.

Avant-garde

AKA new music, the most important development in music during the second half of the twentieth century.

Can be done in several ways:

• It might not contain melody in some or all parts.

• It may use harmonies that are not explainable by the conventional tonal system.

• It may be played with newly created music instruments.

• It may require traditional instruments to be played in new ways.

• It may not have a clear meter.

Jose M. Maceda (1917-2004)

• The first avant-garde composer of the Philippines.

• He studied composition, piano, and musical analysis in Paris, France. Furthermore, he pioneered the French style of piano playing in the country. He became a conductor of avant-garde music that he arranged for different organizations in and outside of the Philippines and introduced many new musical works.

Lucresia R. Kasilag (1918-2008)

• Regarded as the "First Lady of Philippine Music," she successfully bleneded the Eastern and Western music elements.

• She combined the indigenous Philippine instruments with the orchestra and choir, which she called the "East-West flavor."

Diversion

Kasilag's composition that combines prerecorded music with a live performance

Jeremiah A. Dadap (1935)

• He was born on November 5, 1935 in Hinunangan, Southern Leyte.

• An avant-garde composer who experimented on combining the instruments of the rondalla ensemble with the instruments of the Western orchestra.

Ramon P. Santos (1941)

• A disciple of avant-garde music. Although he was trained outside the country (in Germany, the Netherlands, and the USA), this had not prevented him from composing works that included Philippine native instruments.

• His avant-garde compositional style includes free serialization, electronic music, and controlled improvisation.

Notable works:

• Ding Ding Nga Diyawa

• Nabasag ang Banga

• Siklo

Good Song Characteristics

• Memorable melody

• Catchy phrase

• Instant appeal

• Figurative language

• Well-crafted structure

Constancio de Guzamn Sr. (1903-1982)

A renowned music director and movie composer. He studied piano and composition under the tutelage of Nicanor Abelardo in Manila. However, his father wanted him to study law. That is why he shifted to commerce, and in 1931, he was able to finish a business administration course.

Notable works:

• Ang Tangi Kong Pag-ibig

• Pamaypay ng Maynila (Balitaw)

• Maalaala Mo Kaya (Tango)

Levi Celerio (1910-2002)

• A very prolific songwriter who is credited with writing over 4,000 songs and the 1997 National Artist for Music and Literature. He is married to Leonila Jose.

• He is recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as "the only leaf player in the world." He is the only musician who uses a leaf to produce music.

Notable works:

• Ang Pasko ay Sumapit

• Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal

Mike Velarde (1913-1985)

• Guided by the principle "Think Filipino, Write Filipino, and Sound Filipino," he did not stop composing songs and movie scores that would reflect the richness of our musical heritage.

• He graduated valedictorian and went to Manila to study medicine at the University of the Philippines. However, music was his calling. So he decided to study music, which did not please his father. He thought of this as a challenge to prove to his father that being a musician is just as good as being a doctor. Therefore, he supported his studies and even became a bus director.

Notable works:

• Ugoy-ugoy Blues

• Bituing Marikit

George Canseco (1934-2004)

• A nationally applauded composer of emmorable songs. He did not have a formal training in a conservatory of music. But, he studied piano on his and was able to write, notate, and compose songs at an early age.

• When Martial Law was declared, he started to write music and Imelda Marcos, the former Philippine First Lady, commissioned him to compose "Ako ay Pilipino," the national tribute hymn.