Jacobo Z.

Gonzales Memorial National HighSchool

Project
in
Music
Philippine Contemporary composers
By: Sean Michael D. Ella
To: Mrs. Rocel J. Desacula
 Nicanor Santa Ana Abelardo was born on the 7th of February, 1893 in San Miguel de Mayumo,
Bulacan. He was a composer, pianist and teacher. He was the eldest of eight children born to Valentin
Abelardo, a photographer, and Placida Santa Ana, a church singer. His father taught him solfeggio and
bandurria when he was five. At six, he could already play the William Tell Overture on the guitar. He
composed and dedicated a waltz, "Ang Unang Buko" (First Bud) to his grandmother, at age eight. In 1902,
his uncle, Juan Abelardo, a painter, brought him to Manila where he studied in several primary schools.
While working for his uncle, he learned to play the piano, and later studied voice under the Italian maestro
Enrico Capozzi who refused to be paid for teaching such a talented boy.1 Upon the recommendation of
composer, Francisco Buencamino, he was hired to play at saloons and cabarets at age 13. At barely 15,
Abelardo took on a teaching job in barrio schools in San Ildefonso and San Miguel, Bulacan.

In 1916, he studied at the University of the Philippines Conservatory of Music. While there, he
composed the "U.P. Beloved", a school hymn which won first prize in an open musical contest in 1917. In
1918, he was appointed as an assistant instructor in solfeggio and harmony. He became a full-pledged
instructor in 1919. He received his teacher's certificate in science and composition in 1923. He then became
the head of the composition department the following year.

Abelardo was a prolific composer of kundiman (art song). He redefined this genre and elevated it to
artistic heights through his compositions like "Nasaan Ka Irog?" (1923); "Kundiman ng Luha" (1924), and
"Paghanga" (1939). Abelardo also composed music for the sarswela - such as "Kawanggawa" (1918);
"Dakilang Punglo" (1926); "Tayo'y Pakasal Na" (1930); "Kapabayaan o Bunga ng Masamang Hilig" (1918);
"Sumilang", "Ang Tala ng Unibersidad", "Lucila" (1911); the operetta "Akibat" (1913); "Ang Likha ni
Pierrot o Batik ng Kabihasnan" (1931); "Ang Mestiza" (1922); "Makabagong Dalaga" and "Batang Tulisan"
(1934). He also wrote in different musical forms such as the "Kung Hindi Man" (transcribed from a love
song originally for voice, violin, cello and piano), "Ang Aking Bayan" (patriotic song), "Bonifacio Song",
and "Naku...Kenkoy!" He also has works in the classical genre which include "Sonata for violin and piano",
"Salve Regina Mater" (1932), and many others. After more than 140 works, Abelardo began to jail. He died
in 1934 leaving behind several unfinished works.
 Dr. Francisco Santiago was born on the 29th of January, 1889 in Santa Maria, Bulacan, Philippines. He was a
composer, pianist, teacher and film director. His parents were Felipe and Maria Santiago. He married Concepcion de
Leon in 1923 and they had four children.

The young Francisco had his elementary education at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran. He finished high
school at the Liceo de Manila. When he was seven years old, he took piano lessons from a private tutor. After three
years, he studied pianoforte under Blas Echegoyen, and then Faustino Villacorta and Primo Calzada. Because his
family was poor, he had to support himself throughout school.

When the University of the Philippines Conservatory of Music was founded in 1916, he was taken in as a piano
instructor. He studied advanced harmony and counterpoint under Robert Schofield. Dr. Santiago obtained his teacher's
certificate in science and composition from the University of the Philippines in 1922. He obtained his masters in music
at the Conservatory of Chicago, USA in 1924 and his doctorate at the Chicago Music School in the same year. It was
there that he presented his Concerto in B flat minor for pianoforte and orchestra, which is considered his masterpiece.
He returned to the Philippines in 1925 and resumed teaching at the University of the Philippines.1 He became the
director at the UP Conservatory of Music from 1930 to 1946. He was appointed Professor Emeritus at the University
of the Philippines.

Among Dr. Santiago's popular kundimans are "Sakali Man" and "Hibik ng Pilipinas" (1917); "Pakiusap" (1921);
"Ang Pag-ibig" (1922); "Ano Kaya Ang Kapalaran?" (1938). Among his undated kundimans are "Hatol Hari Kaya?";
"Aking Bituin" and "Pagsikat ng Araw". The kundimanentitled "Kundiman, Anak Dalita", which he wrote in 1917,
was sung before the Royal court of Spain under the request of King Alfonso II.

Among his works in the classical genre are the "Philippine Overture" and the "Sonata Filipina in D flat Major"
written in 1922. The latter is the "first sonata written in the Philippines introducing Philippine musical themes"
according to the films, among which are "Kundiman", "Leron-leron Sinta", "Madaling Araw", "Manilena", and
"Pakiusap" (the movie which was inspired by his own composition). Dr. santiago also composed a version of "Ave
Maria" for high voice with violin obligato in 1919. He did musical transcriptions; "Ang Kumintang", "Kura-kura" (a
Jolo folk song) and "Hawi-hawi" (an Aeta folk song). These last three pieces are undated. He also composed
"Sumilang na Ang Manunubos" in 1932, a Philippine Christmas carol, which according to composer, Antonio Molina,
is the "first Philippine Christmas carol ever written for mixed chorus and symphony orchestra." 3 Dr. Francisco
Santiago wrote the music of the sarswela, "Si Margaritang Mananahi" in 1913, with libretto by Severino Reyes.
 Some of the sarswelas he wrote are: "Marcela" (1904), "Si Tio Celo" (1904) and
"Yayang " (1905). In 1908, the popularity of the sarswela started to wane because of
American repression and the entry of silent movies. Francisco Buencamino then
turned to composing kundimans.

One of his earliest compositions is "En el bello Oriente" (1909), which uses Jose
Rizal's lyrics. "Ang Una Kong Pag-ibig", a popular kundiman, was inspired by his
wife. In 1938, he composed an epic poem which won a prize from the Far Eastern
University during one of the annual carnivals. His "Mayon Concerto" is considered his
magnum opus. Begun in 1943 and finished in 1948, "Mayon Concerto" had its full
rendition in February 1950 at the graduation recital of Rosario Buencamino at the
Holy Ghost College. "Ang Larawan" (1943), also one of his most acclaimed works, is
a composition based on a Balitaw tune. The orchestral piece, "Pizzicato Caprice"
(1948) is a version of this composition. Many of his other compositions were lost
during the Japanese Occupation, when he had to evacuate his family to Novaliches,
Rizal.

As a musical director, he was involved in anumber of movies such as

"Mabangong Bulaklak", "Ang Ibong Adarna", "Mutya ng Pasig", and "Alitaptap".

Francisco Buencamino died on the 16th of October, 1952. in the same year, he
was given a posthumous Outstanding Composer Award by the Manila Music Lovers
Society.

Additional Information: Pianist Cecile Licad, is his grand niece. Composers

Willy Cruz, Lorrie Ilustre and Nonong Buencamino, and actor Noni Buencamino are
his grandnephews.
 Francisco Beltran Buencamino was born on the 5th of November, 1883 in San
Miguel de Mayumo, Bulacan. He is the sixth of ten children of Fortunato Buencamino
and Luisa Beltran. His father was a church organist and band master, and his mother, a
singer. Francisco was married to Pilar Luceno and they had two children, both of
whom also took up music.

Francisco first learnt music from his father. At age 12, he could play the organ.
At 14, he was sent to study at the Liceo de Manila. There, he took up courses in
composition and harmony under Marcelo Adonay. He also took up pianoforte courses
under a Spanish music teacher. He did not finish his education as he became interested
in the sarswela.

In the early 1900s, Francisco Buencamino taught music at the Ateneo de Manila
and at the Centro Escolar de Senoritas. At the latter, he founded the Conservatory of
Music and was its head until 1938. At the same time, he also handled music lessons at
the Liceo de Manila. He founded the Buencamino Music Academy in 1930. It was
authorized by the Department of Public Instruction to grant music degrees. Some of
his pupils were Nicanor Abelardo, Ernestina Crisologo, Estela Velasco, Beatrice Alba,
and Amelia Hidalgo. In the 1940s, he started working as a musical director. He also
composed music for films produced by Sampaguita Pictures, LVN and Excelsior. For
a time, Francisco Buencamino frequently acted on stage. He also collaborated on the
plays written and produced by Aurelio Tolentino. The Philippine Music Publishers,
which Buencamino established, undertook the printing of his more important
compositions, but it was not a successful venture.