GROUP 8 PRESENTTION

THE NATIONAL ARTISTS OF THE

PHILIPPINES FOR MUSIC
Although the Philippines is
located in Southeast Asia, its
popular and contemporary
musical traditional is Western
because of the Spanish and the
American colonization periods.
There were no descriptions of
the Philippine music during the
precolonization times. According
to musicologist Corazon Canave
- Dioquino, however,
“subsequent report made by
friars, civil servants and
travelers include descriptions of
instrumental and vocal music.”
She further identified these
instruments as “gongs of
various kind of size and shapes,
drums, flute or different types,
zithers, lutes, clappers, and
buzzers.”
As for vocal Canave –Dioquino
in her study enumerated “epics
relating genealogies and
exploits of heroes and gods ;
work song related to planting,
harvesting, fishing; ritual song
to drive away evil spirits or to
invoke blessing from the good
spirits; song to celebrate festive
occasions particularly marriage,
birth, victory at war, or the
settling of tribal disputes;
mourning song for the dead;
courting songs; and children’s
game songs
“EARLY PHILIPPINES MUSIC WAS
INSTRUMENTAL VOCAL IN FROM”
Because Christianity –
Particularly Catholicism
– was a dominant force
during the Spanish era,
Canave – Dioquino
described Philippine
music as
“religious music
connected to and outside
the catholic liturgy and
a European – inspired
secular music adapted by
the Filipinos and
reflected in their folks
songs and instrumental
music,”
During the American period,
she explained that Philippines
music changed when music
started to be taught in school,
zarzuela entered the scene, and
Filipino exposed to pop culture,
which “gave rise to music
created by Filipino using
western pop forms,”
Today, the talent of Filipino
musicians is appreciated both
here in the country and abroad.
“PHILIPPINE CONTEMPORARY
MUSIC IS HEAVILY
INFLUENCED BY THE WEST
BECAUSE OF COLONIZATION.”
NATIONAL ASTISTS
FOR MUSIC
 Antonino R. Buenaventura
1904 -1996

Year of conferment; 1988

Antonino Rameriz
Buenaventura’s legacy to
Philippines music, according to
the NCCA, is a musical career
“that spanned over decades of
unwavering commitment to
advancing the frontiers of
Philippines music.”
Also Buenaventura brought the
Philippines Army Band back to
its former glory, which was
recognized as “the only band
that can sound like a symphony
orchestra.”
He popularized folksongs by
creating music based on the
wide array of folksongs from
various ethnic groups in the
Philippines. His notable works
include Ode Freedom, Echoes
of the Past, Echoes from the
Philippines, History Fantasy,
and Triumphal March.
Ernani J, Cuenco
1936 – 1988

Year of conferment; 1999

Ernani J. Cuenco, according to
the NCCA, had written “an
outstanding and memorable
body of works that’s resonates
with the Filipino sense of
musicality and which embodies
an ingenious voice that raises
the aesthetic dimensions of
contemporary Filipino music.”
Cuenco’s repertoire as a
musician include being a
music teacher, a
composer, a musical
director, and a film
scorer. As a film scorer,
he composed music for the
film Wild, Wild, Jess and
El Vibora, which earned
him the Best Music Award at the
Metro Manila Film Festival in 1982
and the FAMAS awards,
respectively. Cuenco is also known
for his Filipino love ballads such as
“Kalesa”, “Bato sa buhangin”,
Gaano kita kamahal”, and “Inang
Bayan”, which were enhanced by
adding elements of Kundiman to
the song.
Jovita Fuentes
1895 -1978

Year of Conferment; 1976

In 1979, Jovita Fuentes made
Philippine history by being the
honor as the first female
National Artist for Music.
Trained to play piano at the age
of five, famous Italian singer
Salvina Fornari mentored her to
be a star.
Before Lea Salonga become a
Broadway and West End superstar,
Jovita Fuentes performed roles in
major production such as Mimi in
Giacomo Puccini’s La Boheme and
Princess Yang Gui Fe in Li Tai Pe.
Her role in New York production of
Madama Butterfly was one of her
proud moments.
Jose Maceda
1917 – 2004

Year of Conferment: 1997

National artist Jose Mecada was a
highly acclaimed Filipino composer
and ethnomusicologist.
Personalities working in
ethnomusicologist have training in
music, cultural anthropology,
legend, performance studies,
dance, and cultural studies, making
the understanding of such music
interdisciplinary.
Maceda’s works have resulted
in a vast collection of recorded
music taken from the remotest
region in the country.
You will see that most of his
composition were performed as
a communal ritual, such as the
“Ugma – Ugma” (1963),
“Pagsamba” (1968), and “Udlot
– Udlot” (1975). His other
famous composition ara
“Ugnayan”, “Aradong”, and
“Suling – suling”.
“ETHNOMUSICOLOGIST IS AN
INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDY
OF MUSIC ALONG WITH
OTHER FIELDS SUCH AS
CULTURE ANTHROPOLOGY,
PERFORMANCE STUDIES, AND
DANCE.”
 Lucio D. San Pedro

1913 – 2002
Year of Conferment: 1991
An educator, master conductor
and a brilliant composer,
national artist Lucio Diestro San
Pedro through his works
“evoked the folk elements of
the Filipino heritage.”
Coming from a family of
musicians, he started his
musical career at the young age
following the footsteps of
grandfather who has organist at
the local church.
San Pedro led local bands such
as the Bands Angono Numero
Uno, the San Pedro Band of
Angono, and the Peng Kong
Grand Mason Concert Band as
master conducter.
Some of his popular works
include The Devil’s Bridge
(orchestral music), “Sa Mahal
Kung Bayan” (choral music),
Lahing Kayumanggi (band
music), and “Sa Ugoy NG
Duyan” (vocal music), a famous
Filipino lullabay.
Levi Celerio
1910 – 2002

Year of conferment: 1997

Levi of Celerio was highly
talented lyrics, with more than
4,000 songs under his name.
This volume of lyrics is perhaps
Celerio’s contribution which has
greatly enriched the Philippines
for no less than two generations
and has appealed to all social
classes.
He was also known as an
excellent leaf player, using a
leaf to create music as cited
by the Guinness Book of
World Records. He is also
lyricist for love songs such as
“Saan Ka Man Naroroon” and
“Ikaw’.
He also wrote some of the
most well-liked Christmas
songs such as “Misa de
Gallo” and “Pasko na
naman.”
Felipe Padilla Leon
1912 – 1992

Year of Conferment: 1991

Felipe Padilla De Leon is a
multitalented musician who
was a composer, a
conductor, and a scholar. His
works have “Filipinezed
Western music forms,”
De Leon’s body of works
include concertos, sonatas,
and marches which often
described how Filipinos
express their feelings and
their inspirations in times of
strife and peace.
Some of maestro’s notable
works include Mariang
Makiling Overture,
Ochestertuk , and Lupang
Tinubuan, and the opera
adaptation Noli Me Tangere.
Lucrecia R. Kasilag
1917 – 2008
Year of Conferment: 1989
Lucrecia Roses Kasilag, a
native of La Union, was
renowned Filipino composer.
Her legacy in Philippines music,
according to the NCCA, is “to
discover the Filipino roots
through ethnic music and fusing
it with Western influences.” This
led to Kasilag to create the
Bayanihan Folk Arts Center for
research and theatrical
presentations that urges to
integrate native Filipino
instruments in orchestral
productions. She popularized
the following orchestral
music: Her Son, Jose, Sisa,
and the Legend of
Sarimanok.
The Dean Of Filipino
Composer is no one else but
Antonio J. Molina. This
national artist was a
multitalented musician,
writer, and musical educator.
Antonio J. Molina

1894 – 1980
Year of Conferment: 1973
He was the last of the
musical triumvirate. At a
young age, he learned to
play the violoncello. It did
not take long before this
young talent was playing for
the Manila Grand Opera
House.
Molina taught some of the
most astonishing Filipino
artists such as Felipe Padilla
de Leon. “Hatinggabi,” a
popular serenade for solo
violin and piono supplement,
can be credited to him.
He also popularized the
following music such as
“Kung sa iyong Gunita,”
“Awit ni Maria Clara,” ang
“Larawan Nitong Pilipinas.”
Andrea O. Veneracion

1928 - 2013
Year of Conferment: 1999
Andrea Ofilada Veneracion
founded the Philippine
Madrigal Singers. The group
is one of the most passionate
and talented musical group
in the country.
It acquired several international
awards including the UNESCO
Artist for Peace in 2009. Aside
from the Philippine Madrigal
Singer, Veneracion was also the
creator of the Asian Institute for
Liturgy and Music (AILM)
Chorale.
By founding the Philippines
Madrigal Singers,
Veneracion, according to the
NCCA, had been responsible
for “spearheading for the
development of Philippine
choral music.”
Francisco Feliciano

1941 – 2014
Year of Conferment: 2014
Francisco Feliciano was a
prolific composer of over 30
major works. He studied
music composition at the
University of the Philippines,
the Hochschule der Kuenste
in Berlin, Germany and the
Yale University school
of Music. He was mentored
by internationally renowned
conductors and composers
such as Martin Behrmann,
Jacob Druckman, Isang Yun,
H. W. Zimmerman, and
Krystof Penderecki.
He composed operas
including La Loba Negra,
ashem Wings, Sikhay Sa
Kabila ng Paalam (Beyond
the Farewell), and Yerma. He
received the John D.
Rockefeller Award in Music
Composition in 1977.
Prepared by:
April Rose Cahigas &
Lorence Jay Garde

Group 8
presentation