Traditional Filipino Composers

• FRANCISCO BUENCAMINO - founded the Centro Escolar de Señoritas, Conservatory of Music, as well as the Buencamino Music Academy in 1930. Many of his piano works have become staples in the Philippine repertoire of today's performers, especially Mayon, Larawan, and Maligayang Bati. He also ventured into musical direction and scoring for films, as well as composing several zarzuelas and kundiman.
• FRANCISCO SANTIAGO - is known as the "Father of the Kundiman" and belongs to the "Triumvirate of Filipino Composers" along with Nicanor Abelardo and Antonio Molina. Santiago's music was Romantic in style, incorporating Western forms and techniques with folk materials. Among his famous works are Pakiusap, Madaling Araw, and Kundiman (Anak Dalita). He became the first Filipino Director of the Conservatory of Music, University of the Philippines.
• NICANOR ABELARDO - although a 20th century modern composer, was also a composer in the Romantic style. His best-known compositions include Mutya ng Pasig, Nasaan Ka Irog, Cavatina for Violoncello, and Magbalik Ka Hirang. The Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater) of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Abelardo Hall of the UP College of Music are named after him.
• ANTONIO MOLINA - was a product of both the Romantic and Impressionist styles, and came to be known as the "Father of Philippine Impressionist Music." He was fascinated by the dynamics and harmonies of Debussy, but retained much of the Romantic style in his melody. A characteristically impressionist work is his piano composition Malikmata (Transfiguration).
• HILARION RUBIO - was a composer, music teacher, conductor, and clarinetist. His name was closely identified with his works for the orchestra; as a conductor for opera, ballet, and dance recitals; and his music for movies
• COL. ANTONINO BUENAVENTURA - 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. He restored the Philippine Constabulary Band in 1945, which was considered "one of the best military bands in the world." He is a National Artist for Music
• RODOLFO CORNEJO - was the researcher and official composer of the Philippine government-in-exile, under President Manuel L. Quezon. He served as pianist-director of a USO concert unit that entertained the Allied Forces during World War II. He later became the soloist of several orchestras, and eventually the musical director of the Sampaguita and Vera-Perez movie companies.
• FELIPE P. DE LEON SR. - is known as a nationalist composer who expressed the Philippines' cultural identity through his compositions. He wrote piano compositions, hymns, marches, art, songs, chamber music, symphonic poems, overtures, band muic, school songs, orchestral works, operas, kundiman, and zarzuelas. His two operas, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, are considered his masterpieces. He is a National Artist for Music.
• LUCIO SAN PEDRO - is known as a "romantic nationalist." He incorporated Philippine folk elements in his compositions with Western forms and harmony. His chords have a rich expressive tonality, as represented in his well-loved lullaby Sa goy ng Duyan, his orchestral compositions Suite Pastorale, a musical description of his hometown Angono, and his nationalistic symphonic poem Lahing Kayumanggi. His other compositions include songs; pieces for violin, cello, and chorus; and works for the symphonic band. He is a National Artist for Music
• ROSENDO SANTOS JR. - was a prolific composer whose works include concerti, sonatas, symphonies, symphonic poems, five operas in a Philippine dialect, numerous band overtures, and over 200 marches. He also wrote 50 Masses in Latin and 20 in English.
• ALFREDO BUENAVENTURA - holds the sole distinction among Filipino composers of having composed five full-length operas. His compositions combine contemporary and conventional styles, and contain melodies that are simple and understandable, while using contemporary harmonies that enhance their complexity.
• RYAN CAYABYAB - is a contemporary composer and conductor who spans both popular and classical worlds with his pop music, ballads, operas, zarzuelas, orchestral arrangements, masses, psalms, and choral compositions. Among these are the award-winning Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika, the modern zarzuela Alikabok, and the opera Spoliarium with libretto by Fides Cuyugan-Asensio. His compositions are mostly of traditional Western influence.