Music History in the Philippines

Contemporary Music in the Philippines

• Refers to compositions that adopted ideas and elements from 20th-century art music in the West and the latest trends and musical styles in the entertainment industry.

Filipino Composers

• Francisco Buencamino founded the Conservatory of Music and the Buencamino Music Academy in 1930.
• Nicanor Abelardo developed a style that combined European romanticism with chromaticism and belongs to the "Triumvirate of Filipino Composers."
• Francisco Santiago is known as the "Father of the Kundiman" and belongs to the "Triumvirate of Filipino Composers."
• Antonio Molina is known as the "Father of Philippine Impressionist Music."
• Lucio San Pedro integrated indigenous musical forms, conventions, and instruments in his works in the modern nationalistic style.

Other Composers

• Hilarion Rubio was a Filipino composer, music teacher, conductor, and clarinetist known for his works for the orchestra.
• Col. Antonino Buenaventura promoted Philippine music by extensively using folk materials in his works.
• Rodolfo S. Cornejo was the first Filipino composer to receive an honorary degree from a government-recognized music school in the United States.
• Felipe P. de Leon was a nationalist composer who expressed the Philippines' cultural identity through his compositions.
• Rosendo Santos Jr. is a prolific composer with works including concerti, sonatas, symphonies, and more.
• Alfredo Buenaventura composed five full-length operas and combined contemporary and conventional music styles.
• Ryan Cayabyab is a contemporary composer and conductor who spans both popular and classical worlds.