Traditional Filipino Composers

Composition is the art or process of creating a new piece of music. Some of the skills that composers find useful in their work include the following:

• 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 Lucio started his involvement in music. During his late teenage years, he became a church organist after his grandfather’s death. He received his training in advanced composition under Bernard Wagenaar of the Netherlands. He took harmony and orchestration lessons with Vittorio Giannini and in 1947, he took classes at Juilliard School of Music in New York City.

He also taught at the UP College of Music where he acted as the chairman of the Department of Composition and Conducting for three years.

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.

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 would create a piano composition suggested by a telephone number, a car plate number, or a name. He would translate the number into a musical meaning and make it the theme for the piano piece.

Hilarion Rubio (1902-1985)

A renowned conductor for chorus and band. At the age of 8, he was accepted as a clarinetist in the Bacoor Band. He would have enrolled at the College of Law, but he deeply felt that he was born for music. Therefore, he enrolled at the UP Conservatory of Music. In 1936, he became the opera conductor at the Manila Music School and a choral conductor of a male choir, the Islanders.

New Music Composers

New music, or avant-garde, is the most important development in music during the second half of the twentieth century. In employing the styles and techniques of the avant-garde, contemporary composers in the Philippines, in one way or another, would reject the basic premises on which art music is traditionally based.

Avant-garde music 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.”

Jeremiah A. Dadap (1935)

As an avant-garde composer, he 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.

Song Composers

A good song has the following 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.

Levi Celerio (1910-2002)

A very prolific songwriter and the 1997 National Artist for Music and Literature. Celerio’s compositions range from Philippine folk songs, Christmas songs, love songs, to patriotic songs. He wrote more than 4,000 songs. 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.

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. Velarde 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.

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, Canseco started to write music and Imelda Marcos, the former Philippine First Lady, commissioned Canseco to compose “Ako ay Pilipino,” the national tribute hymn.