phil contemporary

• Contemporary music in the Philippines refers to compositions that have adopted ideas and elements from 20th century art music in the west.
• Francisco Beltran Buencamino Sr. was born on November 5, 1883 in Bulacan and was the son of a musically inclined couple.
• Francisco Beltran Buencamino Sr.'s father was Fortunato Buencamino, a churchorganist and band master.
• Francisco Beltran Buencamino Sr.'s mother was Luisa Beltran, a noted singer.
• Francisco Beltran Buencamino Sr. studied music composition and harmony at Liceo de Manila.
• Francisco Beltran Buencamino Sr. also wrote several zarzuelas and kundimans.
• Francisco Beltran Buencamino Sr. passed away on October 16, 1952 after which a posthumous award honored him with the title “Outstanding Composer.”
• Francisco Beltran Buencamino Sr.'s compositions include: Harana, Mayon (Fantasia de Concierto), Larawan, Maligayang Bati, Ang Bukang Liwayway, and more.
• Francisco S. Santiago is considered as the “Father of Kundiman” and finished his music specialization at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago where he obtained his Doctorate Degree in 1924.
• Among Francisco S. Santiago's famous works are Pakiusap, Madaling Araw, Sakali Man, Pilipinas Kong Mahal, Hibik ng Pilipinas, Ano Kaya ang Kapalaran, and Kundiman (Anak Dalita).
• Francisco S. Santiago's piece Kundiman (Anak Dalita) was sung before the Royal Court of Spain upon the request of King Alfonso II.
• Francisco S. Santiago was also a musical director for films and among the films under his musical supervision were “Kundiman”, “Leron Leron Sinta”, “Madaling Araw”, “Manileña”, and the movie inspired by his own composition, “Pakiusap”.
• Nicanor S. Abelardo studied music at the Chicago Music College and was influenced by the musical styles of the Serialist/Second Viennese School and Post-Romantic European composers.
• Nicanor S. Abelardo's best-known compositions include Mutya ng Pasig, Bituing Marikit, Kundiman ng Luha, Kung Hindi Man, Nasaan Ka Irog, Ikaw Rin, and more.
• Antonio J. Molina was the first National Artist for Music and began his music career as an orchestral soloist at the Manila Grand Opera House.
• Antonio J. Molina served as Dean of the Centro Escolar University, Conservatory of Music from 1948 to 1970 and was also a faculty member of the University of the Philippines’ Conservatory (now College) of Music.
• Antonio J. Molina was a product of both the Romantic and Impressionist schools of thought and was fascinated by the dynamics and harmonies of Debussy but retained much of the Romantic style in his melody.
• Antonio J. Molina's piano composition is Malikmata and his violin composition is Hating gabi.
• Other compositions by Antonio J. Molina are Matinal, Ang Batingaw, Kundiman – Kundangan.
• Hilarion Francisco Rubio is a composer, music teacher, conductor, and clarinetist.
• Hilarion Francisco Rubio became a member of Bacoor Band as a clarinetist at the age of 8.
• Hilarion Francisco Rubio performed in various movie house bands and orchestras.
• Hilarion Francisco Rubio was also a member of LyricTheater Orchestra, Trozo Band in Benevedes Street, and Band Moderna in Tondo.
• Hilarion Francisco Rubio knows how to play violin and timpani.
• Hilarion Francisco Rubio's famous compositions include "Bulaklaken", "Florante at Laura", "Ang Magsasaka", "Hatulan Mo Ako", "Mutya ng Pilipinas", and "Bukang Liwayway".
• Colonel Antonino R. Buenaventura composed songs, compositions, for solo instruments as well as symphonic and orchestral works based on the folksongs of various Philippine ethnic groups.
• This once sickly boy, Colonel Antonino R. Buenaventura, who played the clarinet proficiently has written several marches such as the “Triumphal March,” “Echoes of the Past,” “History Fantasy,” Second Symphony in E-flat, “Echoes from the Philippines,” “Ode to Freedom.”
• Famous compositions of Colonel Antonino R. Buenaventura include “Greetings,” “Pandanggo sa ilaw,” “Prinsesa ng kumintang,” “Pandanggo ni neneng.”
• Lucio San Pedro was born on February 11, 1913 in Angono, Rizal.
• Since his elementary days, Lucio San Pedro started composing.
• Lucio San studied the banjo which inspired him to become a serious musician.
• Lucio San Pedro became a professor of theory and composition at the University of the Philippines’ College of Music up until his retirement in 1978.
• San Pedro is known as a “romantic nationalist.”
• Lucio San Pedro was declared National Artist for Music in 1991 and passed away on March 31, 2002.
• The most popular work of Lucio San Pedro is the well-loved “Arguably." And Sa Ugoy ng Duyan, a lullaby melody sung by his mother.
• Lucio San Pedro composed “Sa Ugoy ng Duyan” together with his friend Levi Celerio as the lyricist.
• Ryan Cayabyab, also known as Mr C, is a popular contemporary composer who also has classical compositions to his credit, such as “Misa” and “Misa 2000”, “Four Poems for Soprano and Piano”, and numerous others.
• Ryan Cayabyab has won numerous awards for his compositions, including “Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika” (1978), Paraiso (1991), as well as the modern zarzuela “Alikabok” (2003), and the musical “Lorenzo – based on the life of St Lorenzo Ruiz (2013).”