Contemporary Filipino Composers

• Contemporary Philippine Music refers to composition that have adopted the ideas and elements from the 20th Century art music in the West, as well as the latest trends in musical style.
• Francisco Santiago -

  • Father of the Kundiman
  • Romantic style incorporating Western Forms and Techniques with Folk Materials.
  • Compositions: Pakiusap, Madaling Araw, and Kundiman.
  • First director of the Conservatory Music U.P
• Nicador Abelardo

  • Known Composition: Mutya ng Pasig, Nasaan ka Irog, Magbalik ka Hirang
  • developed a style that combined European romanticism with chromaticism. He belongs to the “Triumvirate of Filipino Composers” together with Francisco Santiago and Antonio Molina.
• Antonio J. Molina

  • The first National Artist for Music, is also considered as one of the “Triumvirate of Filipino Composers”, which includes Nicanor Abelardo and Francisco Santiago.
  • Father of the Philippine Impressionist Music
  • Claude Debussy of the Philippines
  • He is best known for his poignantly romantic serenade for violin and piano “Hatinggabi”, subsequent transitions of which were written for the cello, flute, piano and guitar.
• Lucio San Pedro

  • Started composing since Elementary.
  • Is known as a “Romantic Nationalist” and incorporated Philippine Folk Elements in his composition.
  • His chords have a rich expressive tonality, as represented in his well-loved “Sa Ugoy ng Duyan” , a lullaby melody sung by his mother.
• Cipriano “Ryan” Cayabyab

  • Is a popular contemporary composer who has classical composition to his credit, such as Misa, Four poems for soprano and piano, and Te Deum.
  • His compositional style style make much use of syncopation, extended chords, and chromatic harmony, among his numerous composition are the award winning Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika (1978) as well as the modern zarzuela Alikabok (2003).
• Col. Antonio Ramirez Buenaventura

  Buenavetura was actively involved with various military bands, which ultimately earned him his military rank of “Colonel”. He was a music instructor and band conductor of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).

  Pandango sa Ilaw, one of his most popular composition, remains a favorite performance repaertiore of many folk dance campanies.
• Rodolfo S. Cornejo

  • A National Artist for Music
  • He was born on May 15, 1909 in Singalong, Manila.
• Rosendo E. Santos Jr.

  • Received the title for “Philippine Composer of the Century.”
  • He is listed in the “New Groves Dictionary of Music and Musicians.”
• Francisco Buencamino

  • Received a posthumous award in 1952 with the title “Outstanding Composer”.
  • He belonged to a family of musicians. At age 12, he could already play the organ.
• Jose Maceda

  • Maceda’s musical style changed when he encountered the music of the indigenous tribes of Mindoro in 1953.
  • Although his compositional style rendere to be western in style, Maceda combined sounds of the environment with ethnic instruments.
• Lucrecia R. Kaslilag As educator, composer, and performer, Kasilag was known for incorporating indigenous Filipino music with Western influences, thus paving the way for more experimentation among Filipino musicians.
• Ramon Pagayon Santos

  • His compositional style features chromaticism, music seria and electronic components, combined with indigenous Philippine Music Instruments.
  • His works include “Ding Ding nga Diyawa, Nabasag na banga, at Iba’t iba pang pinag ugpong-ugpong na pananalita sa Wikang Pilipino para sa labing anim na tinig and L’BAD.
• Fr. Manuel Perez Manamba, OSB. Is best known as a liturgical composer whose body of works lean towards religious figures and events.
• Josefino “Chino” Toledo

  • Is a recognized figure in Asian Contemporary Art Music scene. He is currently a full professor of music composition and theory at the University of the Philippines, and the music director of MMCO.
  • Toledo is one of the (Philippines’) finest and best conductors ever. His music has been described as pure and powerful.
  • Toledo is cited in the “New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians.
• Jonas Baes

  • He received the “Gawad Chancellor para sa Pinakamahusay na Mananaliksik” (Hall of Fame, 2003) from the University of the Philippines.
  • He is currently an associate professor in Composition and Theory at the UP College of music as well as an ethnomusicolo activist, and writer.
• Francisco F. Feliciano

  • He is an Avant Garde composer and conductor for band and chorus.
  • Dr. Francisco F. Feliciano, one of the Philippines' most important composers today, obtained his music education from the University of the Philippines (Master in Music Composition)
  • One of Asia's leading figures in liturgical music, Dr. Feliciano has composed hundreds of liturgical pieces, mass settings, hymns, and other songs for worship.
• Jerry Dadap

  • He is the first Filipino composer to conduct his works at the Carnegie Recital Hall in New York in 1971.
  • Upon his return to the Philippines in 1971, he taught composition, ear training, and orchestration at the Sta. Isabel College of Music in Manila.
• Levi Celerio

  • Prolific lyrcist and composer, Levi Celerio was named a National Artist for Music and Literature in 1997. Also a violinist, he had written the lyrics for over 4,000 songs in his lifetime, including those for film.
  • His Achievement include an inclusion in the Guinnes Book of World Records for being the only person to make music with a mouth-blown leaf.
• Constancio de Guzman

  • He was acknowledged as the “Dean of Filipino movie composers and musical directors.” He is the composer of the nationalistic song Bayan Ko.
  • Bayan Ko, Babalik Ka Rin, Ang Tangi Kong Pagibig, Birheng Walang Dambana, Maalaala Mo Kaya, Sa Piling Mo, Ang Langit ko’y Ikaw.
• Miguel “Mike” Velarde

  • To support his dream, he became a bus conductor. Later he ran a weekly show, Stardust Program, where he sang and played his own jazz arrangements on the piano.
  • His most important works are Luksang Tagumpay (1960), which received the FAMAS Best Picture award from the Filipino Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS), and for which he wrote the story and screenplay, and Alaala Kita (1961).
• Ernani J. Cuenco

  • He was a composer, film scorer, musical director and a music teacher. He was conferred the National Artist in Music in 1999.
  • To this day, his compositions are pouplar and well-loved, especially Gaano Kita Kamahal and Bato sa Buhangin which he composed for films in honor of his wife Magdalena “Nena” Marcial.
• Restie Umali

  • He arranged the Philippine national anthem and the local classic Kataka-taka for the Boston Pops Orchestra when it performed for the Philippine Independence Night in Boston in 1972.
  • Saan Ka Man Naroroon, Alaala ng Lumipas, Ang Pangarap Ko’y Ikaw, Sa Libis ng Barrio, Di Ka Nag-iisa, Paano Kita Lilimutin
• George Canseco

  • George Canseco was a leading Filipino song composer. He is regarded by music critics as one of the best sentimental music maker of his time.
  • It was during this period when Canseco was commissioned by former Philippines First lady, Imelda Marcos, to compose the national tribute hymn, "I Am a Filipino" (Ako Ay Pilipino).
  • Canseco's songs caused some of our most talented performers to rise to fame. Canseco's last recorded love song made its way to Martin Nievera's 2002 album.
• Hilarion Rubio His name was closely identified with his works for the orchestra, conductor for opera, ballet, dance recitals, and music for movies. He was a Filipino composer, music teacher, conductor, and clarinetist.
• Felipe P. De Leon

  • He wrote piano compositions, hymns, marches, art songs, chamber music, symphonic poems, overtures, band muic, school songs, orchestral works, operas, kundimans and zarsuelas.
  • He was known as a nationalist composer who expressed the Philippines' cultural identity through his compositions.