Philippine Music: Antonio Molina

• Philippine music has four eras: Ethnic, Spanish colonial, American colonial, and contemporary.
• Western influence dominates Philippine music due to Spanish and American rule.
• Ethnic musical backgrounds persist in less Westernized highland and lowland areas.
• Contemporary Philippine music adopts 20th-century Western art music elements and entertainment trends.
• Filipino contemporary composers are categorized by musical style.
• A composer creates music through notation, oral tradition, or electronic manipulation.
• Composition is the process of creating a new piece of music, from simple jingles to operas.
• Compositional techniques are employed by composers.
• Useful skills for composers include music theory, notation, instrumentation, a trained ear, improvisation, and technology.

Antonio Molina (1894-1980)

• Antonio J. Molina, born in Quiapo, Manila on December 26, 1894, was named the "First National Artist in Music."
• Molina's father, Juan Molina, founded the Molina Orchestra.
• Molina studied solfeggio and violin under Celestino de Vera.
• Molina earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from San Juan de Letran in 1909.
• Molina's first composition, "Matinal," was created in 1912.
• Molina received a teacher's diploma in violoncello at the UP Conservatory of Music in 1923.
• Molina's children inherited his musical talent.
• Molina formed the Centro Escolar University String Quartet.
• Molina mentored composers Lucresia Kasilag and Felipe de Leon..
• Molina composed over 500 compositions.
• Molina was the first composer to perform his compositions in Malacañang Palace.
• Molina integrated the pentatonic scale and indigenous instruments like kulintang and gabbang in his symphonies.
• Molina introduced the whole tone scale, pentatonic scale, dominant ninths and eleventh chords, and counterpoints.
• Molina is known as the "Claude Debussy of the Philippines."
• Molina passed away in 1980 at the age of 86.

Lucio San Pedro (1913-2002)

• Lucio San Pedro, born on February 11, 1913 in Angono, Rizal, was a National Artist of the Philippines for Music in 1991.
• San Pedro was a master composer, conductor, and teacher.
• San Pedro's father, Elpidio San Pedro, created a family band.
• San Pedro became a church organist after his grandfather's death.
• San Pedro trained in composition under Bernard Wagenaar.
• San Pedro took harmony and orchestration lessons with Vittorio Giannini.
• San Pedro taught at the UP College of Music and chaired the Department of Composition and Conducting.
• San Pedro received his National Artist award on May 9, 1991.
• San Pedro's compositions include concertos, choral works, chamber music, and songs.
• San Pedro died of cardiac arrest on March 31, 2002, at the age of 89.

Antonino Buenaventura (1904-1996)

• Antonino R. Buenaventura, born on May 4, 1904, was a soldier, composer, conductor, and educator.
• Buenaventura was exposed to music through his father, a band leader during the Spanish times.
• Buenaventura graduated from the University of the Philippines Conservatory of Music.
• Buenaventura led the Philippine Military Academy Band and the Philippine Constabulary Band.
• Buenaventura researched Philippine folk songs and dances with Francisca Reyes Aquino.
• Buenaventura wrote songs for solo instruments and symphonic works based on folk music.

Ryan Cayabyab (Born 1954)

• Ryan Cayabyab, born on May 4, 1954, is known as "Mr. C".
• Cayabyab is a conductor, composer, arranger, pianist, singer, and mentor.
• Cayabyab's genres include classical, Manila sound, jazz, religious, and adult contemporary.
• Cayabyab uses vocal, piano, and multitrack recording.
• While studying Business Administration, Cayabyab was an accompanist for the DBP Chorale Ensemble.
• Cayabyab received a scholarship to study music.
• Cayabyab earned a Bachelor of Music degree from UP College of Music.
• Cayabyab was appointed Executive and Artistic Director of the San Miguel Foundation for the Performing Arts.
• Cayabyab's works include ballets, musicals, choral pieces, and film scores.

Rosendo Santos Jr. (1922-1994)

• Rosendo Santos Jr., born on September 3, 1922, was a composer, timpanist, pianist, conductor, patriot, and educator.
• Santos started composing at age 11.
• Santos was educated in Cavite and graduated from the University of the Philippines Conservatory of Music.
• Santos received a master's degree from the Catholic University of America.
• Santos taught at Catholic University, West Virginia University, and Howard University.
• Santos was named "The Philippine Composer of the Century."
• Santos' teachers included Aaron Copland, Irving Fine, and Humphrey Searle.
• Santos' works include concertos, sonatas, operas, band overtures, and marches.
• Santos wrote 50 masses in Latin and 20 in English.
• Santos wrote background music for J. Arthur Rank Films at Pinewood Studios in London.
• Santos' ballet, Melinda's Masquerade, was performed in 1995, after his death in 1994.

Rodolfo Cornejo (1909-1991)

• Rodolfo S. Cornejo, born on May 15, 1909, was a composer, conductor, and pianist.
• Cornejo's mother, Crisanta Soldevilla, kindled his interest in music.
• Cornejo's first piano teacher was Gelacio Reyes.
• At 8, Cornejo became the organist of the Pasay Catholic Church.
• At 10, Cornejo composed his first piece, Glissando Waltz.
• At 13, Cornejo composed a military march entitled Salute.
• Cornejo entered the UP Conservatory of Music at 14.
• Cornejo taught at UP and influenced brilliant people.
• Cornejo acquired a Bachelor of Music in Piano from the Chicago Musical College in 1932.
• Cornejo finished a Master of Music degree in Composition from the same school.
• In 1947, he finished his Doctor of Philosophy in Composition at the Neotarian College in Kansas City.
• Cornejo credited Francisco Santiago, Glenn Dillard Gunn, Alexander Lippay, Bernard Rogers, Howard Hanson, Vittorio Giannini, Nicanor Abelardo, and Rudolf Ganz for influencing his musical style.
• Cornejo married lyric soprano Nieves Guerrero in 1949.
• Cornejo showcased his piano and composition skills through "impromptu classical improvisation."
• Cornejo would create piano compositions based on numbers like telephone numbers or birthdates.
• Cornejo died in Manila on August 11, 1991.

Hilarion Rubio (1902-1985)

• Hilarion F. Rubio, born in Bacoor, Cavite on October 21, 1902, was a conductor for chorus and band.
• Rubio was exposed to music through his uncles, who were band musicians.
• Rubio was first taught by Father Amando Buencamino, an Aglipayan priest.
• At 8, Rubio was accepted as a clarinetist in the Bacoor Band.
• Rubio composed his first composition entitled Unang Katas for the band.
• After graduating high school, he established the "Anak Zapote Band."
• Rubio enrolled at the UP Conservatory of Music.
• Rubio was the bandleader and captain of the ROTC band.
• Rubio was the timpanist in the UP Junior Symphony Orchestra.
• In 1936, he became the opera conductor at the Manila Music School and choral conductor of the Islanders.
• Rubio was appointed instructor at the UP Conservatory of Music.
• Rubio was a faculty member of Buencamino Music Academy, Santa Isabel College, and others.
• Rubio conducted operas like La Boheme, I Pagliacci, and Faust.
• Rubio transcribed musical pieces from records due to a lack of musical scores.
• Rubio also created music for movies like Kundiman, Palaboy ng Diyos, and Kaban ng Tipan.