(1904-1996)

National Artist for Music

Biography:
He was born on May 4,
1904 in Baliwag, Bulacan.
He was the son of Luciano
Buenaventura and
Leocadia Ramirez.
At a young age, he was
already exposed to
music.
He became proficient in
playing the clarinet.
Later on, he conducted the
Banda Buenaventura.
He studied at the
Conservatory of Music in
the University of the
Philippines.
(He graduated with a teachers diploma in
science and composition in 1932. )
While he was still studying at the
Conservatory, he joined the
Music Seniors Organization.
(He served as its first president)
He organized the first UP
student string quartet .
(the nucleus of the UP Junior Symphony Orchestra)
He also served as
conductor of the UP ROTC
Band.
In 1935, Buenaventura was
appointed by Jorge
Bocobo, as a member of
the UP presidents advisory
committee on folk songs
and dances.
Together with his
colleagues, Francisca
Reyes and Ramon
Tolentino, he researched
and documented the
traditional music and
dances of Filipinos around
the country.
In 1939, he became the
music instructor and band
conductor of the Philippine
Military Academy.
When Second World War
broke out, he, and his wife
Rizalina Exconde, founded
the San Pablo Music
Academy in Laguna.
After the war, he reorganize
the Philippine Constabulary
Band.
He was able to reassemble 98
of its original members. He led
the band, and became the
Philippine Army Band, for 16
years, until his retirement from
military service in 1961.
In 1948, he served as co-
conductor of the Manila
Symphony Orchestra.
After retiring from military
service, he became the
director of the Conservatory of
Music of the University of Santo
Tomas.
In 1964, he organized the
School of Music and Arts of the
University of the East.
Buenaventura represented the
Philippines in various
international conferences.
(As president of the National Music Council, he
represented the country in the International Council
of Music in Rome in 1962, and Hamburg, in 1964. He
went to Kyoto, Japan in 1974 as vice chairman of
the League of Filipino Composers. In 1976m he was
the Philippine representative to the General
Assembly of the International Society for Music
Education which was held in Switzerland. He was the
over-all coordinator of the Second Southeast Asian
Bandmasters Association and a member of the 40th
Anniversary of the All-Nippon Bandmasters
Association held in Tokyo, Japan in 1978.)
HIS WORKS AND
COMPOSITIONS
Buenaventura held the singular
distinction of adopting ethnic and
folk materials neoclassical or
neoromantic style. He saw the
potential of Philippine indigenous
musical traditions in creating what
is now called the Philippine
Sound.
Minuet (1937), for chamber
orchestra
Mindanao Sketches (1947), a
tone-poem
Divertimento for Piano and
Orchestra (1959)
Variations and Fugue for full
orchestra
Greetings (1978), a fantasy
piece for band based on the
kumintang of the
Batangueos.
Pandanggo sa Ilaw which
was composed in 1936.
(This composition was originally intended to
accompany a dance choreographed by
Francisca Reyes-Aquino. It later became a
song, renamed Pandangguhan by Levi
Celerio, who wrote the lyrics.)

Echoes of the Philippines
which was performed by the
Philippine Constabulary Band
under Loving at the Golden
Gate Exposition in Californiain
1936.
In 1947, he composed By the
Hillside which became one of
the countrys widely performed
symphonic works.
In 1986, Buenaventura
composed Awit sa Tagumpay
ng Bayan, which was
dedicated to the People Power
Revolution in February 1986.
In 1966, Buenaventura wrote a
book, Sing and be Happy,
which was used by music
classes in grades V and VI.

AWARDS AND HONORS
Band Conductor of the Year
(1951), from the Music Lovers
Society
Patnubay ng Sining at
Kalinangan Award (1971)

Pro Mundi Beneficial Medal and
Diploma Award (1975), from the
Academia Braziliera de Ciencias
Humanas
The Award of Merit for
Outstanding Contributions to
Philippine Music (1976), given by
the Philippine Army
Director Emeritus Award (1981),
from the University of the East
In 1988, President Corazon C.
Aquino named him National Artist
for Music.
Buenaventura was included in
Whos Who in the World in 1974
and in the Directory of
International Biographies the
following year.
Buenaventura was married to
Rizalina Exconde, by whom he had
four children.
He died on January 25, 1996 at
the age of 92.
His remains lie with Filipino
heroes and other great men at
the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
REFERENCES:
Hallazgo, J.A. Encyclopedia of Philippine Art Volume 6. Manila:
Cultural Center of thePhilippines, 1994.
Buenaventura, National Artist for Music Dies. Philippine Daily
Inquirer. January 28, 1996. p.5.
http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about-ncca/org-
awards/music/antonio_buenaventura.php
http://www.nhi.gov.ph/downloads/ca0016.pdf
ALVAREZ LIM YU
ARELLANO RAMONES
COQUIA RELEVO