TRADITIONAL

COMPOSERS
 NICANOR ABELARDO
• Nicanor Santa Ana Abelardo was
born in San Miguel de Mayumo,
Bulacan, Philippines. He came from
the family of artists in Guagua, the
Hensons. He was introduced to music
at the age of 5. His father taught him
the solfeggio and the banduria. At
the age of 8, he was able to compose
his first work, a waltz entitled “Ang
Unang Buko” which was dedicated to
his grandmother. At the age of 13, he
was already playing saloons and
cabarets in Manila. At the age of 15,
he was already teaching in barrio
schools in San Ildefonso and San
Miguel, Bulacan.
 HIS FAMOUS WORKS ARE:
• * “Nasaan Ka Irog?”
• * “Kundiman ng Luha”
• * “Mutya ng Pasig”
• * “Bituing Marikit”
 FELIPE PADILLA DE LEON
• Felipe Padillia de Leon was a
composer, conductor, and teacher. He
was born in Penaranda, Nueva Ecija,
Philippines. He was the son of Juan de
Leon and Natalia padilla. He married
Iluminada Mendoza, a pianist, with
whom he had six children.
• One of them, Felipe Jr., is a writerand
former National Commision for Culture
and the Arts (NCCA) president, and
another, Bayani, is also a composer.
• During high school years, he played brass instrument
and also composed music pieces for his hometown band.
He took up fine arts at the University of the Philippines
but had to stop attending school to look for a source of
income.
• He was affiliated with many tertiary schools in the
Philippines as an educator, dean, regent, and director. He
also served as technical assistant on cultural affairs in the
office of the President of the Philippines.
• Among de Leon’s famous compositions is “Pasko
Na Naman”. This song was composed by Felipe Padilla
de Leon (music) and Levi Celerio (lyrics) in 1965.

• Other compositions of de Leon include:

• * Noli Me Tangere * “Noche Buena”
• * El Filibusterismo * “Mutya ng Lahi”
• * “Tindig, Aking Inang Bayan” * “ Ako’y Pilipino”
• * “Bagong Pagsilang” * “Lupang Tinubuan”
 LUCIO SAN PEDRO
• Lucio D. San Pedro was a
composer, conductor, and teacher. He
was born in Angono, Rizal, Philippines.
He was the son of Elpidio San Pedro and
Soledad Diestro. He was married to
Gertrudes Diaz. Coming from a family of
musicians, his father formed a family
band, which has served as his
laboratory for composing and
conducting. He played the banduria and
banjo during his early years. San Pedro
earned his teacher’s diploma in
compostions and conducting at the
University of the Philippines College of
music in 1937. he then enrolled at the
Julliard School of Music in 1947.
• Among his connections in line with education are
the following schools: Centro Escolar University, La
Concordia College, Philippine Women’s University, St.
Joseph’s College, St. Paul’s College, Sr. Scholastica’s
College, Santa Isabel College, and the UP College of
Music
• San Pedro’s musical philosophy is described in his
compositions. He had written masses, hymns, choral
works, songs for solo voices, chamber and orchestral
music, incidental music, and background music for
movies.
 HIS FAMOUS COMPOSITIONS:
* “Sa Lupang Sarili,” 1940 * “Simbang Gabi,” 1963
• * Violin Concerto in D minor, 1948 * “Sa Ugoy ng Duyan,” 1943
• * Transfiguration of Christ
• * Divertimento for Woodwind Quartet
• * Lahing Kayumnggi Overture, 1961
• * Malakas at Maganda Overture
* Suite Pastorale, 1956
* The Redeemer, 1989
* Santo Nino Mass
 ANTONIO MOLINA
• Antonio Jesus Naguiat Molina was a
composer, conductor, teacher, and
violinst. Born in Quiapo, Manila,
Philippines, he came from a family of
musicians. His parents were Juan
Molina, founder of 22-piece Orquestra
Molina, and Simeona Naguiat. He was
married to Pilar Siauingco. At the age of
12 he played several string instruments;
namely, violin, banduria, guitar, laud,
octavina, bajo de unas, cello, and
mandolin. He received his bachelor’s
degree at the Colegio de San Juan de
Letran in 1909.
• He also obtained a teacher’s diploma in
violoncello at the University of the Philippines
Conservatory of Music in 1923. Later on, he become
one of the teachers at the UP Conservatory of Music
and at the Centro Escolar University(CEU).
• Molina’s style of composition used whole-tone and
pentatonic scales, chords of ninth and eleventh, and
linear counterpoint. He is known as “Claude Debussy
of the Philippines” because of these similarities in
composition.
 HIS FAMOUS WORKS:
•* “Matinal,” 1912
•* “Lamentos de Mi Patria,” 1913
•* “Magsimula ka”
•* Misa Antonia Grand Festival Mass, 1972
•* Prelude and Romanz for Cello and Piano, 1928
•* Bontoc Rhapsody for String Quartet
•* Suite Pastorale
•* “Hatinggabi,” 1915
• “Hatinggabi” (Midnight) is a danza composition for
violin and piano accompaniment. It was first published in
1932. This piece was arranged for mixed choir by Restie
Umali with lyrics written by Levi Celerio in the 1960s. It is
a serenade piece expressing loneliness for a beloved’s
presence and is said to be one of the favorite pieces for
violin recitals.
 HILARION RUBIO
• Hilaron Rubio y Francesco was a
composer, conductor, clarinetist,
timpanist, and a teacher. He was born
in Bacoor, Cavite, Philippines to
Crispino Rubio and Faustina Francesco.
His first music lessons were with
Amando Buencamino, Aglipayan
chaplain and officer of the Philippine
Constabulary. He played clarinet with
the Bacoor Band and composed his
first musical composition when he was
8 years old. He attended
• Here are some of his affiliations: conductor, National
Opera Company; director, Centro Escolar University;
founder and first president, Philippine Bandmasters
Association; vice president, Pambansang Samahan ng
mga Banda sa Pilipinas (PASAMBAP); charter member,
League of Filipino Composers; and member, Band
Associations of London and Washington DC.
 HIS MAJOR COMPOSITIONS:
* Panamin Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, 1970
*Symphony for Greatness, 1966
*“To the Filipino Youth” 1963
* Kundiman, Palaboy ng Diyos, and Kaban ng Tipan, 1939
 RODOLFO CORNEJO
• Rodolfo S. Cornejo was a
pianist/organist, conductor, and
composer. He was the son of
Miguel Cornejo Sr. and Crisanta
Soldevilla. He was married to a lyric
soprano, Nieves Guerrero.

• He started playing piano at the

age of 6, had his first recital, and
then became the organist of Pasay
Catholic Church at the age of 8.
• As a gifted musician, he was able to write his first
composition, “Glissando Waltz,” and publish his military
march, “Salute” as the age of 10.
• He obtained teacher’s diplomas in piano, and science
and composition at the University of the Philippines
Conservatory of Music with Francisco Santiago, Nicanor
Abelardo, and Alexander Lippay.
 RYAN CAYABYAB
• Raymundo Cipriano Pujante
Cayabyab is a tacher, composer,
arranger, conductor, pianist, singer,
producer, and musical director. He was
the son of Alberto Cayabyab and
Celerina Pujante, an opera singer.
• He was first an accounting student at
the University of the Philipines but
because of his musical talent, he
entered the world of music. He
graduated bachelor of music major in
compositon at the UP College of Music
in 1983.
• As a traditional composer, his musical expertise is seen
through his varied compositions of different genres like
folk song, kundiman, religious, jazz, musical play, and
original Pilipino music (OPM).
• He established a music school, the Ryan Cayabyab
Music Studio. He also founded and managed groups like
Smokey Mountain, 14K, and Ryan Cayabyab Singers. He
hosted the TV show Ryan Ryan Musikahan.
 HIS FAMOUS WORKS ARE:
• * Alikabok * Te Deum
• * El Filibusterismo * “Tsismis”
• * Katy * “Tuloy na Tuloy pa rin ang Pasko”
• * “kumukuti-kutitap” * “Tuwing Umuulan at Kapiling Ka”
• * “Liman-Dipang Tao” * “Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika”
• * Misa 2000
• * Noli Me Tangere
• * “paraiso”