CONTEMPORARY PHILIPPINE MUSIC
RODOLFO S. CORNEJO (1909-1991) Rodolfo S. Cornejo was born on May 15, 1909 in Singalong, Manila. Inspired by his mother’s genuine , the young Cornejo started formal music lessons at the age of six. He performed on stage after only two years of music studies. During this time, he was also invitedas organist of the Pasay Catholic Church. His first composition at age 10 was a piano piece entitled Glissando Waltz. It was followed three years later by a military marched entitled Salute. At the age of 14, 26 of Cornejo’s compositions were already listed by the United Publishing Company Inc. Cornejo graduated with a Teacher’s Diploma in Pianoforte and a teacher’s diploma in Science and Composition in Conservatory Music, University of the Philippines (UP) in 1930. He received his Bachelor of Music Degree major in Piano and theory from the Chicago Musical College of Roosevelt University, USA in 1932. He received a Master of Music degreemajor in Composition and Conducting at the Chicago Musical College Roosevelt University, USA in 1933. He was conferred a doctor of Music degree honoris causa in 1954. He received his doctor Philisophy degree major in composition from the Neotorian College of Philosophy in Kansas City, USA in 1947.
Cornejo was the soloist of the Manila Symphony Orchestra, Filipinas Youth Symphony Orchestra, and UP Symphony Orchestra. Later on, he become the musical director of the Sampaguita and Vera-Perez Movie Companies. Since 1978, he held concerts in the United States. He appeared as a composer-conductor at the Seattle Opera House and the Seattle Playhouse. He is listed in “The International Who’s Who in Music”. Cornejo was also known for his extemporaneous thematic improvisations. His compositional output includes A La Juventud Filipina, Bailes D Ayer, Caprice on a Folk song, Cello Sonata, Ibong Adarna, Kandigan, Malakas o Maganda, Overture, Okaka, Oriental Fantasy, Piano Concerto Nos. 1, 2, 3, Ruby and Song of the Minors. He ed away on August 11, 1991. • Masamyong Bulaklak - Rodolfo S. Cornejo by.mp4 • Rodolfo Cornejo Mirano (Feb 29_1940 - Jan 12_2012).mp4
FELIPE PADILLA DE LEON SR. (1912-1992)
Felipe Padilla de Leon was born on May 1, 1912in Barrio Papaya (now General Tinio) in Peneranda, Nueva Ecija. He is the son of Juan de Leon and Natalia Padilla.Felipe de Leon married pianist Illuminada Mendoza with whom h has six children. Bayani and Felipe Jr, are two of his children. Bayani is a well-known composer, and Felipe Jr. is a writer and the Chairman of the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts (NCCA). De leon’s talent in painting and drawing was discovered during his school days and ired by his uncle, peers. People ask him to make illustrations and sketches and was paid for them. He played the Trombone in dance orchestras which he performed in cabarets, circuses and bodabil (vaudevil). Then he worked as an assistant conductor of the Nueva Ecija High School Orchestra where he started doing musicals arrangement. Later on, he wrote music for the zarzuela.
He decided to study formally and enrolled at the Conservatory Music, University of the Philippines, where he studied under National Artist Col. Antonio Buenaventora and Antonio Molina. He contributed articles on the school paper and venecular magazines. Later, he wrote music columns for the Manila Times (then known as Manila Tribune) and Taliba. He graduated with music teacher’s diploma, major in conducting 1939. De leon received many awards, such as Composer of the year (1949), Manila Msic Lover’s Society, Musician of the year (1958), UP Conservatory of Music, and others. De Leon wrote piano compositions, hymns, marches,art songs, chamber music, symphonic poems, overtures, band music, school songs, orchestral works, operas, kundiman, and zarzuelas. He was known as a nationalist composer who expressed Philippines’ culture identity through his compositions. Two operas which are considered his masterpieces are the Noli Me Tangere (1957) and El Filibusterismo (1970). He also wrote a march during the Japanese regime entitled Tindig, Aking Inang Bayan, and another march Bagong Lipunan during the martial law. He wrote the popular Christmas carols Payapang Daigdig (1946), Noche Buena, and Pasko na Naman, both in 1965. Felipe De Leon received a posthumous award as a National Artist for Music in 1997. He died on Dec.5, 1992. • NOLI ME TANGERE by Felipe P. De Leon.mp4 • Pasko Na Naman _ – Filipe P. de L.mp4
COMPOSERS AND ITS COMPOSITONS: LUCIO SAN PEDRO (1913-2002) National artist for Music
Lucio San Pedro was born on February 11, 1913 in Angono, Rizal. Since in his elementary days, he started composing. He studied the banjo which inspired him to become a serious musician. He later pursued his music degree at the University of the Philippines and the Julliard School in New York, USA. Upon returning to the Philippines, he become a professor of theory and composition at the University of the Philippines College of Music. San Pedro is known as the romantic national. He incorporated Philippine folk elements in his composition with western forms and harmony. His chords have a rich expressive tonality, as represented in his well-loved Sa Ugoy ng Duyan, a lullaby melody sung by his mother.
His orchestral compositions are best represented by the Suite Pastorale (1956), a poetic aural description of his hometown Angono, and his nationalistic symphonic poem Lahing kayumanggi (1962). Other compositions include songs, pieces for violin, cello, and chorus. His works for the symphonic band was where he was most profilic and productive both as composer and conductor. His musical prowess was internationally recognized when he was invited to b a judge at the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition 1980. He was declared National Artist for Music in 1991 and ed away on March 31 2002. • Ugoy ng Duyan by Lea Salonga • Luwalhati sa Diyos by Lucio San Pedro
ROSENDO E. SANTOS JR. (1922-1994) Rosendo E. Santos JR. was born on September 3, 1922 in Cavite City. At age 11, he started composing band marches, instrumental, and vocal chords, as well as music for catholic masses. He studied in Cavite schools and later graduated from the UP Conservatory of Music where he eventually became a faculty member. He also pursued a Master of Music degree in theory and composition from the catholic University of America in Washington D.C. After which, he also served on it’s faculty as wellas in West Virginia University and Howard University. As UNESCO scholar, Santos was awarded the “Philippine Composer of the Century” after receiving the “Composer of the Year Award” in Manila in 1956 and 1957. He ed the faculty at Wilkes University, Pennsylvania in 1968. He performed as timpanist, pianist, and conductor with several orchestral group. He conducted church choirs in Maryland, New jersy, Lehman, Huntsville, and Shavertown United Methodist Churches in Pennsylvania, USA.
He composed the background music for J. Arthur Rank Films at Pinewood Studios in London, England, where he worked as British composers Malcolm Arnold and Muir Mathieson. Amon Santos teachers where famous composers Aaron Copland, Irving Fine, Humphrey Searle, and conductor Norman Del Mar. A profilic composer, he had composed several piano concerti, sonatas, symphonies, symphonic poems, five opera’s in Filipino, numerous band overtures, and more than 200 marches. He had also written 50 masses in Latin and 20 in English. He has more than 1,000 musical compositions in the library of the University of the Philippines. Santos’ last musical work and only ballet composition, Melinda’s Masquerade, was performed in 1995, a year after his death. Santos ed away on November 4, 1994 in Swoyersville, Pennsylvania, USA. • Bangkawit by Rosendo Santos.mp4 • Rosendo Santos concerto No. 3 in C for piano
ALFREDO BUENAVENTURA ( 1929- ) Dr. Alfredo Santos Buenaventura, composer, conductor and Teacher, was born in Sta. Maria, Bulacan on Oct. 14, 1929. He grew up in a musical environment and became a band member in his home town at a young age. He was drawn by his fascination with trumpets and trombones and became one of it’s a rangers and conductors. He was one of the 20 boy sopranos of Tiples at Sto. Domingo Church from where he receive his first significant musical training. At that time, he also wrote his first composition, Danza. A prolific composer, Buenaventura has composed over 50 major works including five fuul-length operas, operattas, dance dramas, cantatas, symphonies, concertos, ballets, overtures, prelude, fugues, and chamber music. His composition and other creative works have transcended territorial, racial, and language barriers as these have been performed abroad by international virtuosi and religious groups. Many of his compositions ar based on Filipino heroes, legends, and epics.
He uses native songs, both tribal and folk, as themes of music compositions. A number of his compositions ar accompanied by Filipino Indigenous instruments. Some of his major works include the operas Maria Makiling (1961), Diego Silang (1966), Prinsesa Urduha (1969), cantatas Ang ating watawat (1965), Pasko ng Baraggay (1964), three piano concertos subtitled Celebration, Determination, and Exultation, and symphonies such as Dakilang Lahi (1971), Gomburza (1981), and rizal, the Great Makayin Antogonist (1990). His minor works numbering more than 50 cover mostly religious songs and hymns for specific celebration such as the Sixteenth Centenary of Augustine, mass for the 400th year of the Augustinian Recollect, and the Philippine Music Festival. His other creative musical works have been commissioned by the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Metropolitan Theater, and the National Music Competition for Young Artist (NAMCYA) • Alfredo Buenaventura-Violin Concerto • Alfredo Bunaventura Princess Urduja
CIPRIANO “RYAN” CAYABYAB (1954- ) Ryan Cayabyab was born on My 4, 1954 he is a popular composer who also has classical compositions to his credit , such as Misa, Four poems for soprano, and piano, and Te Deum. His compositional style makes much use of syncopation, extended chords, and chromatic harmony. Among his numerous compositions are the award-winning Kay ganda ng ating Musika (1978), as well as the modern zarzuela alikabok (2003), the opera Spiliarium with libretto by Fides Cuyugan-Asensio, and a variety of choral pieces and song cycles. • Ryan Cayabyab - Kay Ganda Ng Ating Musika.mp4 • Te Deum.mp4
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