THE RISE

OF
FILIPINO COMPOSERS
LUCIO SAN PEDRO. (1913-2002). A
composer, conductor and teacher who loved
his country as much as he loved music. He
studied music at the University of the
Philippines College of Music, with a double
Major in Composition and Conducting. He
continued his musical training at the Julliard
School of Music. His works include: “Sa
Ugoy ng Duyan”, “Lahing Kayumanggi” and
“Malakas at Maganda Overture”.
ANTONIO J. MOLINA (December 26, 1894- January
29,1980),versatile musician, composer and music educator
was the last of the musical triumvirate, two of whom were
Nicanor Abelardo and Francisco Santiago. They elevated
music beyond the realm of folk music. At an early age, he
took to playing the violincello and became an orchestra
soloist for the Manila Grand Opera House. Molina is
credited for introducing such innovations as the whole tone
scale, pentatonic scale, exuberance of dominant ninths and
eleventh chords, and linear counterpoints earning him the
title “CLAUDE DEBUSSY OF THE PHILIPPINES”. His
most familiar composition is “Hatinggabi” a serenade for
solo violin and piano accompaniment. His other works are
“Misa Antoniana”, “Grand Festival Mass” “Ang
Batingaw” “Awit ni Maria Clara” and “Larawan Nitong
Pilipinas”
DR. RODOLFO S. CORNEJO was a
distinguished Filipino composer-pianist-conductor
and professional lecturer. His rare and distinct talent
was his exceptional ability to render piano classical
and contemporary “on-the-spot” improvisations
based on a succession of notes or numbers given by
the audience. He was the composer and musical
director of the Sampaguita and Vera Perez movie
companies, directing the musical scores of 27
movies. He wrote “Ibong Adarna” and “Malakas
and Maganda Overture”
FRANCISCO BELTRAN BUENCAMINO was born in
Bulacan and was the son of a musically inclined couple,
Fortunato Buencamino, a church organist and band master
and Luisa Beltran, a singer. He studied music composition
and harmony at Liceo de Manila. Nicanor Abelardo was
one of his students. Expanding his career, he also ventured
into musical direction and scoring. Composing music for
Sampaguita Pictures, LVN and Excelsior. He also wrote
several sarswelas and kundimans. He was the preserver of
Philippines Style and folksong and was the first to bring
folksongs to the school children. Among his compositions
were “Walingwaling, “Luha” and many others.
RYAN CAYABYAB is a renowed Filipino
musician and was the Executive and Artistic
Director of the defunct San Miguel
Foundation for the Performing Arts. His works
range from commissioned full-length ballets,
theatre musicals, choral pieces from a mass
set to unaccompanied chorus and orchestral
pieces, to commercial recordings of popular
music, film scores and television specials. His
famous works include “Kay Ganda ng Ating
Musika,” “Kumukutikutap,” “Paraiso” and
“Nais Ko”
RF. NULEAM RAMBAMA
MONRA GA PAYON TOSSAN
SENOFIJO “NOCHI” LEDOTO
SEJO CEMADA
CIALUCRE SILAGKA
EWN CIUSM
 Like its Western
counterpart, Filipino
composers tried to create
their own kind of music.
They constantly evolved and
found creative ways to
express their music.
JOSE MACEDA
FR. MANUEL MARAMBA
RAMON PAGAYON SANTOS
JOSEFINO “CHINO” TOLEDO
LUCRECIA KASILAG
SONG COMPOSERS
ERNANI CUENCO (May 10- 1936-
July 11, 1998) was a composer, film
scorer, musical director and music
teacher. His works embody a
Filipino sense of musicality, and the
classical sound of the kundiman is
evident in some of his ballads. He
earned his Bachelor of Music,
Major in Piano from the University
of the Philippines Conservatory of
Music and took postgraduate
studies with the late Ben TUPAS. He
also studied cello at UST. His music
which is still loved s of this today,
includes “Gaano ko Ikaw Kamahal”
“Kalesa” “Bato sa Buhangin” to
name a few.
LEVI CELERIO (April 30, 1910 –
April 2, 2002) was a prolific lyricist
and composer. He studied at the
Academy of Music in Manila and
later went on to join the Manila
Symphony Orchestra. There, he
became its youngest member. He
holds the Guiness Book of World
Records for being the only person
to make a music using only a leaf.
His works include “Ang Pasko ay
Sumapit” “Ang Pipit” ”Bagong
Pagsilang” ”Itik-Itik” and ”Tinikling”
CONSTANCIO DE GUZMAN was born on
November 11, 1903 in Guiguinto Bulacan.
He is known as the Dean of Filipino movie
composers and music directors. He
studied piano and composition under
Nicanor Abelardo, but his father sent him
to law school. He switched to commerce
and finished business administration in
1931. After he took the CPA board exams,
he started working in the movies. His
accidental hit, “Panaginip” paved the way
for him to record hundreds of songs,
principally under Villar Records and
Columbia Records. Some of the De
GUzman’s notable compositions are:
“Bayan Ko” “Babalik Ka Rin” “Ang Tangi
kong Pag-ibig” “Birheng Walang
Dambana” and “Maalaala Mo Kaya. ”
RESTITUTO UMALI popularly
known as Retie Umali, is a teacher
of Choral arranging and
orchestration at the UST
Conservatory of Music. He majored
in Composition and Conducting at
the UP Conservatory of Music and
Commerce at the Jose Rizal
College. His main works are scores
for motion pictures. He studied
harmony with Felipe P. De Leon.
His most popular songs are: “Saan
Ka Man Naroroon” “Alaala ng
Lumipas” “Ang Pangarap Koy Ikaw”
“Sa Libis ng Barrio” “Di ka Nag-iisa”
and “Paano Kita Lilimutin.”
GEORGE MASANGKAY CANSECO was
born on April 23, 1934 in Naic Cavite. He
was a leading Filipino song composer and
he is regarded as one of the best
sentimental musicmakers of his time. His
music has become part of the ground on
which Original Pilipino Music stands on.
Most of his songs were interpreted by the
country’s ace balladeer Basil Valdez, like
“Ngayon at Kailanman.” The songs
”Kapantay ay Langit” “Ikaw” “Gaano
Kadalas ang Minsan” “Paano” “Sana’y
Wala Nang Wakas” “Hanggang sa DUlo ng
Walang Hanggan” “Hiram” “Kahapon
Lamang” and “Dito Ba?” are few of
Canseco’s 300 compositions, all defining
what classic hits should be.