20 CENTURY TRADITIONAL

TH

COMPOSERS
RODOLFO S. CORNEJO (1909 – 1991)

 Was born on May 15, 1909 in Singalong, Manila. Inspired by his mother’s genuine support, the
young Cornejo started formal music lessons at the age of six.
 He performed on stage after only two years of music studies. During this time, he was also invited
as organist of the Pasay Catholic Church. His first composition at age 10 was a piano piece entitled
Glissando Waltz.
 At the age of 14, 26 of Cornejo’s compositions were already listed by the United Publishing
Company Incorporated.
 Cornejo graduated with a Teacher’s Diploma in Pianoforte and a Teacher’s Diploma in Science and
Composition at the Conservatory of Music, University of the Philippines in 1930.
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FELIPE PADILLA DE LEON SR. (1912-1992)

 Felipe Padilla de Leon was born on May 1, 1912 in Barrio Papaya (now General Tinio) in
Penaranda, Nueva Ecija. He is the son of Juan de Leon and Natalia Padilla. Felipe de Leon
married pianist Iluminada Mendoza with whom he had six children.
 Bayani is a well-known composer, and Felipe Jr. is a writer and the chairman of the National
Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
 He took up Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines in 1927, but he had to stop schooling to
make a living.
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 LUCIO SAN PEDRO (1913 – 2002)

 was born on February11, 1913 inAngono, Rizal. Since his elementary days, he started
composing. He studied the banjo which inspired him to become a serious musician.He later
pursued his music degreeat theUniversity of the PhilippinesandtheJuilliardSchoolin New York,
USA.
 he became a professor of theory and composition at the University of the Philippines’ College of
Music.
 San Pedro is known as a “romantic nationalist.” He incorporated Philippine folk elements in his
compositions with Western forms and harmony. His chords have a rich expressive tonality, as
represented in his well-loved Sa Ugoy ng Duyan, a lullaby melody sung by his mother.
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ROSENDO E. SANTOS JR. (1922-1994)

 was born on September 3, 1922 in Cavite City. At age 11, he started composing band marches,
instrumental, and vocal scores, as well as music for Catholic masses.
 He studied in Cavite schools and later graduated from the UP Conservatory of Music where he
eventually became a faculty member. He also pursued a Master of Music degree in theory and
composition from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
 Santos was awarded the “Philippine Composer of the Century” after receiving the “Composer of
the Year Award” in Manila in 1956 and 1957. He joined the faculty at Wilkes University,
Pennsylvania in 1968. He performed as timpanist, pianist, and conductor with several orchestral
groups.
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DR. ALFREDO SANTOS BUENAVENTURA (1929-)

 He grew up in a musical environment and became a band member in his hometown at a young
age. He was drawn by his fascination with trumpets and trombones and became one of its
arrangers and conductors. He was one of twenty boy sopranos of Tiples at Sto. Domingo Church
from where he received his first significant musical training.
 At that time, he also wrote his first composition, Danza.
 A prolific composer, Buenaventura has composed over 50 major works including five full-length
operas, operettas, dance dramas, cantatas, symphonies, concertos, ballets, overtures, prelude,
fugues, and chamber music.
 Some of his major works include the operas Maria Makiling (1961), Diego Silang (1966),
PrinsesaUrduha(1969),cantatas Ang AtingWatawat(1965), Pasko ng Barangay (1964), three piano
concertos subtitled Celebration, Determination, and Exultation, andsymphonies such as
DakilangLahi (1971), Gomburza (1981), and Rizal, the Great Malayan Antagonist (1990).
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CIPRIANO “RYAN” CAYABYAB (1954-)

 a popular contemporary composer who also has classical compositions to his credit, such as Misa,
Four Poems for Soprano and Piano, and Te Deum. His compositional style makes much use of
syncopation, extended chords, and chromatic harmony.
 Among his numerous compositions are the award-winning Kay Ganda ng AtingMusika (1978), as
well as the modern zarzuela Alikabok (2003), the opera Spoliarium with libretto by Fides Cuyugan-
Asensio, and a variety of choral pieces and song cycles.
 At present, he continues to be a much sought-after professor, musical director, composer, arranger,
and conductor in the Philippine concert and recording scenes.
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