Music

• Contemporary Philippine music refers to composition that have adopted trends and elements from 20th century art and the entertainment industry
• Traditional music portrays the beliefs, customs, and traditions of a cultural group
• Characteristics of traditional Filipino music

  • Emphasis on reading music
  • establish of traditional techniques
  • equipped music theory
  • erratic performance Opportunities
  • Engagement with standard repertoire
• Characteristics of contemporary Philippine music

  • Primary focus on ear training
  • progressive techniques
  • pondering music theory as framework to performance
  • plays "on-the-fly" repertoire
  • Popularity in performance
• The perfect traditional classical musicians:

  • have incredible reading skills
  • be able to play their instrument with a refined method
  • have a deep knowledge of music theory and use it to interpret the notes they see on the page
  • understand and appreciate classical music and its repertoire
  • and have the technical skills needed to perform difficult written out music
• The perfect contemporary musicians:

  • be able to play anything they hear
  • have a high focus on sound and be able to make the specific sound they are trying to reach
  • establish music in a way that will help them fit into the musical context they are playing in
  • appreciate contemporary music and repertoire
  • and have the versatility required to play in a big variety of musical settings
• Three main characteristics of traditional ethnic music

  • Cantata form (vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment and often contain more than one movement)
  • Sonata form (a composition for one or more solo instruments, one of which is usually a keyboard instrument)
  • A cappella (vocal composition without instrumental accompaniment)
• 20th century traditional Filipino composers and their works

  • Francisco S. Santiago (Pakiusap, Madaling Araw, Sakali Man, Hibik ng Pilipinas)
  • Nicanor Abelardo (Mutya ng Pasig, Nasaan ka Irog, Cavatina for Violoncello, U.P Naming Mahal, Cinderella Overture, Panorama)
  • Francisco Buencamino Sr. (Harana, Pandanggo ni Neneng, Collar de Sampaguita, Dulces las Horas, Mayon, Princesa ng Kumintang, Maligayang Bati, Himig ng Nayon)
  • Antonino R. Buenaventura (Pandanggo sa llaw, Prinsesa ng Kumintang, Pandanggo ni neneng)
  • Rodolfo S. Cornejo (A la Juventud Filipina, Ibong Adarna, Kandingan, Kaluwalhatian, Malakas at Maganda overture, Okaka)
  • Felipe P. De Leon Sr. (Bulaklak Alitaptap, Bagong Lipunan, Payapang Daigdig, Pasko na Naman, Noche Buena, Kay Tamis ng Buhay, Sapagkat Mahal Kita, Tatlong Ipê, Isang Konsiyerto)
  • Lucio D. San Pedro (Ugoy ng Duyan, Suite Pastorale, Lahing kayumanggi)
  • Rosendo E. Santos Jr. (Inday.sa Balitaw, Melinda's Masquerade)
  • Antonio J. Molina (Ang Batingaw, Hatinggabi, Kundiman-Kundangan, Awit ni Maria Clara, Magbalik ka Hirang, Kung sa iyong Gunita and Larawan Nitong Pilipinas)
  • Raymundo Cipriano "Ryan" P. Cayabyab (Misa, Four Poems for Soprano and Piano, Te Deum, Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika, Limang Dipang Tao, Alikabok and Kumukuti kutitap)
  • Alfredo S. Buenaventura (Prinsesa Urduha, Diego Silang, Maria Makiling, Ang Ating Watawat, Pasko ng Barangay, Dakilang Lahi, Pilipinas, Gomburza)
• FRANCISCO B. BUENCAMINO SR.

  • Founded the Centro Escolar de Senoritas, Conservatory of Music, and Buencamino Music Academy in 1930.
  •  His piano works have become staples in the Philippine repertoire of today’s performers. 
  • He ventured into musical direction and scoring for films, composing zarzuelas and kundiman.
• NICANOR S. ABELARDO

  A 20th century modern composer, also a composer in the Romantic style. The Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater) of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and Abelardo Hall of the UP College of Music are named after him.
• FRANCISCO S. SANTIAGO

  “Father of the Kundiman” and belongs to the “Triumvirate of the Filipino Composers”. His music was Romantic in style, incorporating Western forms and techniques with folk materials.
• ANTONIO J. MOLINA

  A product of both Romantic and Impressionist style, known as 

  the “Father of Philippine Impressionist Music”. Fascinated by the dynamics and harmonies of Debussy but retained much of the Romantic style in his melody
• Col. Antonino R. Buenaventura

  He recorded folk and dance music around the country. He restored the Philippine Constabulary Band in 1945, which is considered “one of the best military bands in the world”.  Declared National Artist for Music in 1988. 
• Rodolfo S. Cornejo

  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 VeraPerez movie companies.
• Felipe P. De Leon Sr.

  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, overture, band music, school songs, orchestral works, operas, kundiman, and zarzuelas.
• Lucio D. San Pedro

  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. Was declared National Artist for Music in 1991.
• Rosendo E. Santos Jr.

  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 S. Buenaventura

  His compositions combine contemporary and conventional styles, and contain melodies that are simple and understandable, while using contemporary harmonies that enhance their complexity.
• Raymundo Cipriano “Ryan” P. Cayabyab

  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. His compositions are mostly of traditional Western influences.
• Opera


  An art musical form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text (libretto) and musical score, usually in an elaborate theatrical setting
• Opera


  • Incorporates many elements such as acting, scenery, costumes and sometimes dance
• The emergence of Filipino opera started during that period

  Middle part of 19th century. That period in PH was ripe for artist to voice their own love of country for independence from colonial rule
• Filipino opera


  Artists voiced their own sentiments about love of country and independence from colonial rule
• Local theaters in the Philippines

  • Teatro Zorilla
  • Metropolitan Theater (MET)
  • Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP)
• Early Filipino operas


  • Il barbiere Di Siviglia
  • Ernani
  • La sonnambula
• Manila Grand Opera House and Metropolitan Theater

  • Designed by Leandro Locsin, logo by Carlos "Botong" Francisco, first theater director Lucrecia Kasilag, later became National Artists
• Noli Me Tangere


  Three-act Filipino opera based on the novel by Jose Rizal, composed by National Artist Felipe Padilla De Leon with libretto by National Artist Guillermo Tolentino, premiered in 1957
• Noli Me Tangere


  The title originated from the Latin version of the words from the Bible verse John 20:17
• Characters in Noli Me Tangere opera

  • Juan Crisóstomo Ibarra y Magsalin (Ibarra)
  • María Clara
  • Father Dámaso
  • Elías
  • Father Salví
  • Captain Tiago (Don Santiago de los Santos)
  • The Ensign
  • Old Tasio (Don Anastasio)
• El Felibusterismo


  Three-act opera based on the novel by Dr. Jose Rizal, composed by National Artist Felipe Padilla De Leon in 1970 with libretto in Filipino by Anthony Morli
• El Felibusterismo


  The novel is a sequel to the earlier Noli Me Tangere and tells the continuing struggle of the Filipino people to achieve freedom from Spanish rule
• The Fili was later used as a major piece of evidence in the subversion charges against Rizal
• Characters in El Felibusterismo opera

  • Simoun
  • Basilio
  • Kabisang Tales
  • Juli
  • Isagani
  • Tandang Selo
  • Paulita
• Opera


  An art musical form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text (libretto) and musical score, usually in an elaborate theatrical setting. Incorporates many elements such as acting, scenery, costumes and sometimes dance.
• The emergence of Filipino opera started during this period

  Middle part of 19th century
• That period in history was ripe for artists to voice their own sentiments about colonial rule and love of country for independence
• Local theaters and early PH operas


  • Zona theater
  • Metropolitan theater (MET)
  • Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP)
• Other local theaters


  • Teatro Zorilla
  • Teatro Principe Alfonso XII
  • Variedades
  • Teatro De Tondo
  • Orco Theatro de Bilibid
  • Teatro Siliping
• These were the seven mainly Italian operas that became venues for the early Filipino operas
• Early Italian operas performed


  • Il barbiere Di Siviglia
  • Ernani
  • La Sonnambula