Nicanor Abelardo

Born February 7, 1893 San Miguel de Mayumo,Bulacan, Philippines

Origin

Philippines

Died

March 21, 1934 (aged 41)

Genres

Kundiman

Occupations composer

Real Name
Name of Parent :

Nicanor Sta. Ana Abelardo

Placida Sta. Ana

Valentin Abelardo

Abelardo was born in San Miguel de Mayumo, Bulacan. His mother belonged to a family of artists in Guagua, the Hensons. He was introduced to music when he was five years old, when his father taught him the solfeggioand 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 at saloons and cabarets inManila. At age 15, he was already teaching in barrio schools in San Ildefonso and San Miguel Bulacan. All of these happened even before young Abelardo finally took up courses under Guy F. Harrison and Robert Schofield at the UP Conservatory of Music in 1916. By 1924, following a teacher s certificate in science and composition received in 1921, he was appointed head of the composition department at the Conservatory. Years later, he ran a boarding school for young musicians, and among his students were National Artist Antonino Buenaventura, Alfredo Lozano and Lucino Sacramento. In the field of composition he is known for his redefinition of the kundiman, bringing the genre to art-song status. Among his works were "Nasaan Ka Irog," "Magbalik Ka Hirang," and "Himutok." He died in 1934 at the age of 41, leaving a collection of more than 140 works. As a composition major at the University of the Philippines, he also composed the melody for the university's official anthem, U.P. Naming Mahal. The building housing the College of Music in UP Diliman (Abelardo Hall) is named in his honor.[2] The Main theatre of the Cultural Center of the Philippines is named in his honor ( Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo) List of Composition
  

A Study in Kumintang - (for piano and string quartette) A Summer Idyll A Visayan Caprice - (trio for piano, violin, and violencello)

                             

Academic Overture Akibat Alma Mater UP Amarosa - (foxtrot) An Old Love Song Ang Aking Bayan Ang Anak na Malawak (barcarola with words) Ang Binatang Pilipino Ang Dakilang Pagyayakap - (paso doble) Ang Likha ni Pierrot/Batik na Kabihasnan - (tagalog operetta) Ang Mestisa Ang Sarap mong Umibig (duet in Tagalog Zarsueal by F. Ballecer) Ang Unang Buko - (waltz) Ave Maria (tenor/soprano) Ay Kalisud (nicanor) Ay Kalisud (foxtrot arranged for orchestra) Ayaw sa Pusa - (street song) Balitaw - (Visayan ballad) Banaag at Lakas Bato-bato at Siniguelas - (duet in Tagalog Zarsuela) Bibingkat Langgonisa Bituing Marikit - (1937) isinapelikula ng Sampaguita Pictures - titik Bonifacio Song Buhay ng Dalagat Binata Bunyng M.H. del Pilar Canto del Viajero Capriccio Espagnole Carola Cavatina Cinderella (overture for orchestra)

                             

Concerto in B Flat Minor Conservatory Commencement Hymn Coronation March Dakilang Punglo Emilio Jacinto Fifes and Castagnettes (bolero for flute and piano) Filipino Boy - (2 step) First Nocturne - (Piano Solo) First Quartette in F major Fughetta in C on a Theme Grand March Halika, Magandang Mestisa - (serenade for tenor) Himig ng Bayan Himno Masonico - (tenor serenade) Himno Plaridel for Full Orchestra Himutok Historical Pageant Honor and Arms Hoy-Hoy Ikaw (Argentine Tango) Ikaw Pa Rin - (1948) titik Ikaw Rin - ! (Sola Tu!) - titik Initiation Song - (Rizal Center Fraternity) Intermezzo (for symphonic band) Into Your Eyes (ballad) Isa de Requiem Kapayapaan/Bunga ng Masamang Hilig Kawanggawa (zarsuela) Kumintang ng Bayan Kundiman (Piano & Violin)

                             

Kundiman ng Luha - titik Kung Akoy Umibig Kung Hindi Man Libertador (kundiman) Longing (Quartette, Male) Lucila Lulay (folk song arrangement) Magbalik Ka Hirang - isinapelikula noong 1939 - titik Marcha Triunfal May Isang Bulaklak na Muling Lumitaw - (folk song arrangement) May Isang Dalagang Nanggaling sa Bukid Meditation for Harmonium Solo Modernista Mountain Suite Mutya ng Pasig - (1948) isinapelikula ng LVN Pictures - titik Naku... Kenkoy! Nasaan Ang Aking Puso Nasaan ka, Irog - (1937) komposisyon at titik National Heroes Day Hymn National Institute Song Ode to the Sampaguita Offertory to St. Cecilia Our National Pride (Balitaw-waltz) Paalam sa Pagkadalaga - (folk song arrangement) Pag-ibig na Walang Hanggan - (romantic duet) Paghanga (Overture for String Band) Pahimakas! (Awit ng Naghihingalo) Pahiwatig - titik Panoramas (suite for flute, violin, viola, celesta and piano) Paraluman(Waltz)

                             

Pearl of the Orient - (March) Petite Serenade for Violin and Piano Processional March (orchestra) Reminiscences Reverie (for Violin and Piano) Romanza Sa Gintong Panaginip - (kumintang) Sa Iyong Kandungan Sa Libingan ng Irog Salve Regina - (for soprano, baritone, and trio) Second Fugue - ( for string quartette) Serenade - Cello & Piano Sinfoniette for orchestra Sonata - for violin and piano Sonata for String Quartette Sonata in 4 Movements Sonata in G Major Spirit of 96 Stabat Mater Tayoy Pakasal - (music for the comic duet in 3 acts) The Flower and the Bird - (a caprice for flute and violin w/ piano accompaniment) The Naughty Nymph - (polka for flute and piano) The Song of the Lonesome Traveller The Violet Three Pieces For the Piano Forte Tinig ng mga Kahabag-habag Trio for Piano, Cello & Violin Ultimo Adios for Female Voices and Orchestra Umaga (ballad) Un Cuento de Lola Basiang

         

UP Beloved (hymn) UP Spells UP Valse Caprice (Piano Solo) Valse Elegante - (for symphonic band) Valse Extase - (Concert waltz for Saxophone & and Piano) Valse in D Flat Visayan Orientale (Musical Sketch in 7 Scenes) Walang Palad sa Paggiliw Waltz (nicanor) Wedding March (nicanor) -(orchestra)

Francisco Santiago (January 29, 1889 September 28, 1947), was a Filipino musician, sometimes called The Father of Kundiman Art Song. Santiago was born in Santa Maria, Bulacan, Philippines, to musically-minded peasant parents, Felipe Santiago and Maria Santiago. In 1908, his first composition, Purita, was dedicated to the first Carnival Queen, Pura Villanueva, who later married the distinguished scholar Teodoro Kalaw. Santiago's masterpiece was the "Concerto in B flat minor" for pianoforte and orchestra. His most famous piece "Kundiman, (Anak-Dalita)", was sung upon the request of King Alfonso XIII before the Royal Court ofSpain. His other compositions are the kundiman "Sakali Man", "Hibik ng Filipinas", "Pakiusap", "Ang Pag-ibig", "Suyuan", "Alaala Kita", "Ikaw at Ako", "Ano Kaya ang Kapalaran?", "Hatol Hari Kaya?", "Sakali't Mamatay", "Dalit ng Pag-ibig", "Aking Bituin", "Madaling Araw" and "Pagsikat ng Araw". He was named UP Emeritus Professor of Piano, on May 25, 1946. When the University of the Philippines Conservatory of Music was celebrating its 30th anniversary, the patriotic musician died of a heart attack. He was buried at the North Cemetery, Manila.

Antonio J. Molina (1894-1980) was a National Artist of the Philippines. A musical great, he was considered the peer of two other great Filipino musicians Nicanor Abelardo and Francisco Santiago. His talent was prodigious: he was the first violincellist of pre-war times, a composer, conductor, pedagogue, and music administrator.

Early Life Molina was born into a musical family Quiapo, Manila on 26 December 1894. His father Juan Molina was an influential government official who also founded the Molina Orchestra. His first formal music lessons was violin and solfeggio under Celestino de Vera, then a member of his father's orchestra. He attended the Escuela Catolica de Nuestra Padre Jesus Nazareno in Quiapo. He continued high school and college at San Juan De Letran where he obtained abachelor of arts degree in 1909. Complying with his father's wishes he pursued a Bachelor of Laws initially at the UST. He transferred in his second year of law studies to the Escuela de Derecho de Manila, where he finished his studies. He attained a teacher's diploma in violincello at the UP Conservatory of Music in 1923.

Career His first composition was "Matinal" in 1912 and it is preserved in an unpublished volume "Miniaturas", Volume I. He did a professional work, as concert soloist, composer, and conductor in Hanoi, French Indochina (now North Vietnam). Back in the Philippines, he was appointed to teach harmony, composition, music history, and violincello at the UP Conservatory of Music]]. He was also the first Filipino composer who was invited to perform his works toMalacaang. From being a consultant in music education at the Bureau of Public Schools, he also became the dean of the Centro Escolar Conservatory of Music. He also founded the first chamber music group, the CEU String Quartet which was professionally organized and financed by its music school. As a conductor, he lead the first performance in the Philippines of Bach's Christmas Oratorio presented by the combined Knox and Central Church Choirs (1947), as well as the first performance Mozart's opera Don Giovanni, presented by the Manila Little Theater Group at the FEU Auditorium (1950). He is also remembered as the conductor of the first televised choral concert, featuring the Centro Escolar University Conservatory Chorus, over then DZAQ-TV Channel 3 (1953). As a composer Molina was credited with over 500 compositions, including:
        

Hatinggabi, among earliest violin selections Malikmata, piano Ana Maria, zarzuela Misa Antoniana Grand Festival Mass Ang Batingaw, Kundiman- Kundangan; (chamber music) Kung sa Iyong Gunita, Pandangguhan; (vocal music) Amihan, Awit ni Maria Clara Larawan Nitong Pilipinas, among others.

A true pioneer, he was one of the first composers to incorporate pentatonic scales and ethnic instruments such as the kulintang, and gabbang in his symphonies. Molina influenced many prominent Filipino musicians including Lucresia Kasilag and Felipe Padilla de Leon.

Personal Life Antonio Molina Married his first wife Pilar Siauingco when he was 23. They had 6 children: Rosita, holder of a music teacher's diploma in piano; Exequiel, also known as "Lito" a journalist who was also known as one of the country's best saxophone players; Antonio Maria, a graduate in composition and choral conducting in the United States, and who, according to Molina, was a far better musician than his father and Monserrat, who holds a bachelor's degree in nutrition, but is a pianist. Molina remarried in 1965. His wife, Carmen Serrano, was a former student of his at Centro Escolar University. She holds a bachelor in music degree in music education and an AB degree from the Colegio de Santa Isabel. He died on 29 January 1980 at age 86 and was honored with a state funeral befitting a Philippine National Artist. Awards and Distinctions


Diploma of Honor, Manila Music Lovers Society, 1940 Commemorative medal and diploma, Department of Education, Health and Public Welfare, 1942

Choral Conductor of the Year and Music Researcher of the Year, Music Lovers Society, 1949

Honorary doctor of laws, honoris causa, CEU, 1953 Araw ng Maynila Award in music, 1969 Phi Kappa Phi Award and the UP Alumni Association Professional Award, 1972 Republic Cultural Heritage Award, in 1965 and 1972 National Artist of the Philippines, on 12 June 1973