Filipino Composers and Their Music

Filipino Composers and Music

• Classical music is distinct from Western folk and popular music, characterized by formality and complexity in musical form and harmonic organization, often using polyphony
• 19th-century music styles had resemblance to European traditional music
• New music composers in the Philippines are experimenting with new sounds and styles in music composition, using diverse instruments and musical elements
• Key Filipino composers include Jose Maceda, Lucrecia Kasilag, Josefino Toledo, Ramon Santos, and Jonas Baes

Jose Maceda (1917-2004)

• Born in Manila, January 17, 1917, died May 5, 2004
• Studied music at the Academy of Music in Manila, followed by studies in Paris with Alfred Cortot (a French pianist)
• Furthered studies in the USA with E. Robert Schmitz, earning a Doctorate in Ethnomusicology from UCLA
• His style transformed after encountering indigenous music in Mindoro in 1953. His life was dedicated to preserving Filipino traditional music
• Collected and recorded music from remote villages across the Philippines
• Combined Western musical ideas with environmental sounds and ethnic instruments
• Worked in a Paris recording studio specializing in musique concrète
• Taught piano and musicology at the University of the Philippines, College of Music from 1952 to 1990
• Became Executive Director of Central Ethnomusicology in 1997
• Awarded National Artist for Music in 1997

Lucrecia Kasilag (1918-2008)

• Born August 31, 1918, died August 16, 2008
• Raised in a family of musicians; her mother was her first solfeggio teacher
• Studied at Philippine Women's University, Bachelor of Arts in English
• Furthered music studies at St. Scholastica's College, earning a Bachelor in Music in 1949 and then studying at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY
• Became a National Artist for Music (1989)
• Composed music by combining Western orchestral instruments with indigenous Filipino instruments, creating a unique sound
• Held various positions including concert pianist, founder of the Bayanihan Folk Arts Center, former president of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, head of the Asian Composer League, and chair of the Philippine Society for Music Education

Ramon Santos (1941-)

• Born February 25, 1941
• Earned a Teacher's Diploma and Bachelor of Music in Composition and Conducting at the University of the Philippines
• Studied under Jose Maceda and earned a Master of Music in Indiana University of New York in 1972
• Furthered graduate studies in Ethnomusicology at the University of Illinois
• A contemporary composer, conductor, and musicologist
• Inspired by Mahler and Debussy, blending Neoclassicism with Philippine and Asian musical elements. His work incorporated non-conventional instruments, environmental sounds, and the incorporation of natural forces into his compositions to create a unique, time-shifting sound
• Awarded the Achievement Award in Humanities (1994), Composer-In-Residence (1997) and Artist-In-Residence (1998)

Josefino "Chino" Toledo (1959-)

• His approach to music composition is described as pure and powerful
• Fuses contemporary Western music ideas with Southeast Asian flavors, creating compositions that range from solo instruments to orchestras, choirs, chamber ensembles, and film scores, performed nationally and internationally
• Holds positions as Instructor at UP, instructor at UST, principal percussionist for Manila Symphony Orchestra, Music Director for Siena-Letran Chorale, Director at Score Music Consultant Company
• Executive Director of Miriam College Center for Applied Music

Jonas Baes (1961-)

• A composer born in Los Baños, Laguna
• Studied Bachelor of Music in Composition at the University of the Philippines Diliman
• Furthered musicology studies with Jose Maceda
• Studied composition and musical politics with Mathias Spahlinger at the Hochschule für Musik
• Earned a Ph.D. in Philippine Studies from the University of the Philippines, Diliman in 2004
• Inspired by the Iraya Mangyan people of Mindoro and utilized unorthodox instruments (e.g., bean-pod rattles, leaves, iron-nail chimes) and incorporated Asian vocal techniques

Awards

• Various composers have received awards for significant contributions to music