Contemporary Philippine music

• Contemporary music in the Philippines refers to compositions that have adopted ideas and elements from 20th century art music in the West, as well as the latest trends and musical styles in the entertainment industry
• The modern Filipino repertoire consists of musical pieces that have been written in the 20th century
• Types of new music compositions

  • Improvisational works
  • Dr. Ramon Santos' Radyasyon and Quadrasyon
  • Josefino "Chino" Toledo's Samut-Sari, Pintigan and Terminal Lamentations
  • Jonathan Baes' Wala and Banwa
• With Spain and then America having colonized the Philippines from the early 1500s to the late 1800s, it was unavoidable that Western compositional techniques found their way into the works of Filipino composers
• Even 20th century Filipino composers have managed to retain some traditional elements in their assimilation of Western techniques
• Major Philippine contemporary composers who used traditional styles

  • Francisco Buencamino Sr.
  • Francisco Santiago
  • Nicanor Abelardo
  • Antonio Molina
  • Hilarion Rubio
  • Col. Antonino Buenaventura
  • Rodolfo Cornejo
  • Lucio San Pedro
  • Rosendo Santos Jr.
  • Alfredo Buenaventura
  • Ryan Cayabyab
• Francisco Buencamino Sr.


  Born in 1883 in Bulacan, studied music composition and harmony at Liceo de Manila, taught at Ateneo de Manila and Centro Escolar de Señoritas, founded Buencamino Music Academy in 1930
• Francisco Santiago

  Born in 1889 in Sta. Maria, Bulacan, known as the "Father of the Kundiman", part of the "Triumvirate of Filipino Composers", obtained Doctorate Degree in 1924 from American Conservatory of Music in Chicago
• Famous works by Francisco Santiago

  • Pakiusap
  • Madaling Araw
  • Sakali Man
  • Hibik ng Pilipinas
  • Ano Kaya ang Kapalaran
  • Kundiman (Anak Dalita)
• Francisco Santiago was the first Filipino Director of the University of the Philippines' (UP) Conservatory of Music
• Nicanor Abelardo


  Born in 1893 in San Miguel de Mayumo, Bulacan, part of the "Triumvirate of Filipino Composers", studied at the Chicago Music College, influenced by Schoenberg, Hindemith, and Stravinsky
• Nicanor Abelardo composed the melody for the University of the Philippines' official anthem, U.P. Naming Mahal
• Antonio Molina


  Born in 1894 in Quiapo, Manila, first National Artist for Music, part of the "Triumvirate of Filipino Composers", served as Dean of the Centro Escolar University Conservatory of Music from 1948 to 1970, faculty member of the University of the Philippines' Conservatory (now College) of Music
• Notable compositions by Antonio Molina

  • Malikmata (Transfiguration)
  • Hatinggabi
  • Misa Antoniana Grand Festival Mass
  • Ang Batingaw
  • Kundiman-Kundangan
  • String Quartet
  • Kung sa Iyong Gunita
  • Pandangguhan
  • Amihan
  • Awit ni Maria Clara
  • Larawan Nitong Pilipinas
• Hilarion Francisco Rubio

  Composer, music teacher, conductor, and clarinetist who created substantial works for the orchestra
• Hilarion Francisco Rubio was born

  October 21, 1902
• Hilarion Francisco Rubio

  • Served as conductor for opera, ballet, dance recitals, and movie music
  • His early interest in music came from the influence of his uncle who was then playing with the Bacoor Band
  • His first music lessons were with Fr. Amando Buencamino who taught him solfeggio and some musical instruments
  • Became a member of the Bacoor Band as a clarinetist at age 8
  • Composed his first work Unang Katas for his concert with the band
  • Became a member of several orchestras in high school
  • Performed with various movie house bands and orchestras
  • Co-founded the Anak Zapote Band after graduating high school
  • Became a bandleader of the ROTC Band and conductor of the Conservatory of Music, University of the Philippines
  • Played the violin and timpani with the UP Junior Symphony Orchestra
  • Became a conductor of opera at the Manila Music School in 1936
  • Became the choirmaster and choral conductor of the Choir Islanders
  • Assumed the position of instructor at the UP Conservatory of Music
  • Became a lecturer at various music schools and academies
  • Became full professor of the UP Conservatory of Music from 1936-1937
  • Appointed director of the Conservatory of Music, Centro Escolar University in 1944-1945
  • Composed and arranged many works and conducted many military and civilian brass bands during WWII
  • Appointed conductor of the Manila Municipal Symphony Orchestra after the war
  • Held various positions including Vice President of PASAMBAP, board and charter member of the League of Filipino Composers, and first President of the Philippine Bandmasters' Association
  • Conductor of the National Opera Company for 23 years from 1937 to 1960
  • Composed numerous works including Bulaklaken, Theme and Variations for Band, Dance of the Nymphs Rondo, Filipinas Kong Mahal, and more
• Antonino Ramirez Buenaventura

  Renowned composer, conductor, and teacher
• Antonino Ramirez Buenaventura was born

  May 4, 1904
• Antonino Ramirez Buenaventura


  • His father Lucio was the chief musician of the Spanish artillery band in Intramuros and founder of Banda Buenaventura
  • Demonstrated a passion for music while learning the rudiments of music and solfeggio and becoming a proficient clarinet player
  • Received a Teacher's Diploma in Science and Composition at UP
  • Nicanor Abelardo and Francisco Santiago were among his famous mentors
  • Led the UPROTC Band and established the UP Junior Orchestra which was the first collegiate orchestra in the country
  • Pursued further studies at the Institute of International Education in New York and was awarded a study grant by UNESCO in 1949
  • Represented the country at the general meetings of the International Music Council (IMC) and the International Society for Music Education
  • Was a music instructor and band conductor of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA)
  • Restored the Philippine Constabulary Band in 1945 which was considered "one of the best military bands in the world"
  • Founded the San Pablo Music Academy in Laguna
  • Became the music director of the Conservatory of Music, University of Santo Tomas (UST) in 1961
  • Became the music director at the School of Music and Arts, University of the East (UE) in 1964
  • Promoted Philippine music through his extensive use of folk materials
  • Composed Minuet, Mindanao Sketches, Divertimento for Piano and Orchestra, Variations and Fugue, and Greetings based on Philippine folk music
  • Composed the popular Pandanggo sa Ilaw
• Antonino Ramirez Buenaventura was declared National Artist for Music


  1988
• Antonino Ramirez Buenaventura passed away

  January 25, 1996
• COLONEL ANTONINO R. BUENAVENTURA (1904-1996) was a National Artist for Music
• As a boy, the younger Buenaventura had already demonstrated a passion for music while learning the rudiments of music and solfeggio and becoming a proficient clarinet player
• Nicanor Abelardo and Francisco Santiago were among Buenaventura's famous mentors at UP
• Buenaventura led the UP ROTC Band and established the UP Junior Orchestra which was the first collegiate orchestra in the country
• Buenaventura pursued further studies at the Institute of International Education in New York and was awarded a study grant by the UNESCO in 1949
• Buenaventura represented the country at the general meetings of the International Music Council (IMC) in Rome (1962) and Hamburg (1964), and was later a delegate to the general assembly of the International Society for Music Education held in Montreux, Switzerland in 1976
• Buenaventura was a music instructor and band conductor of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA)
• Buenaventura restored the Philippine Constabulary Band in 1945, which was reputedly likened to a symphony orchestra, and was considered "one of the best military bands in the world"
• Buenaventura founded the San Pablo Music Academy in Laguna
• Buenaventura was a faculty member of the UP Conservatory of Music and later became the music director of the Conservatory of Music, University of Santo Tomas (UST) in 1961
• After retiring from the military, Buenaventura became the music director at the School of Music and Arts, University of the East (UE) in 1964
• Buenaventura promoted Philippine music through his extensive use of folk materials which he had recorded around the country with Ramon Tolentino and National Artist for Dance Francisca Reyes Aquino
• Buenaventura composed the music and folk dance notations for the researches of Aquino
• Buenaventura composed Minuet, Mindanao Sketches, Divertimento for Piano and Orchestra, Variations and Fugue, and Greetings based on Philippine folk music
• Pandanggo sa Ilaw, one of Buenaventura's most popular compositions, remains a favorite in the performance repertoire of many folk dance companies
• Buenaventura was declared National Artist for Music in 1988 and passed away on January 25, 1996
• RODOLFO S. CORNEJO (1909-1991) was a renowned composer, pianist, and conductor
• Cornejo started formal music lessons at the age of six and performed on stage after only two years of music studies