Antonio J. Molina National Artist for Music (1973) (December 26, 1894 – January 29, 1980)
Was a versatile musician, composer, conductor, and pedagogue. He was the last of the musical triumvirate, two of whom were Nicanor Abelardo and Francisco Santiago, who elevated music beyond the realm of folk music.
Molina was born into a musical family on 26 December 1894, Quiapo, Manila. 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.
At an early age, he took to playing the violoncello and on 1919, enrolled at the UP Conservatory of Music for a teacher’s diploma in Cello. He played it so well it did not take long before he was playing as orchestra soloist for the Manila Grand Opera House.
Molina is credited for introducing such innovations as the whole tone scale, pentatonic scale, exuberance of dominant ninths and eleventh cords, and linear counterpoints. It is said that he was known as the Claude Debussy of the Philippines due to his use of impressionism in music. He was also the first Filipino composer who was invited to perform his works to Malacañang.
As a member of the faculty of the UP Conservatory, he had taught many of the country’s leading musical personalities and educators like Lucresia Kasilag and Felipe de Leon. He also became the dean of the Centro Escolar Conservatory of Music and founded the first chamber music group, the CEU String Quartet which was professionally organized and financed by its music school.
His first composition was "Matinal" in 1912 and it is preserved in an unpublished volume "Miniaturas", Volume I. As a composer Molina was credited with over 500 compositions, including:
Hatinggabi, among earliest violin selections
Malikmata, We were moonlight, piano
Ana Maria, zarzuela
Misa Antoniana Grand Festival Mass
Amihan, Awit ni Maria Clara
Sources National Artist - Antonio J. Molina. (2015, June 03). Retrieved March 10, 2016, from http://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/culture-profile/national-artists-of-thephilippines/antonio-j-molina/ Quodala, S. (2011, December 25). Antonio J. Molina: 'Dean of Filipino Composers' Retrieved March 14, 2016, from http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/117149/antonio-j-molina-‘dean-of-filipinocomposers’ Inquirer Research Antonio J. Molina. (2008, May 29). Retrieved March 10, 2016. GNU Free Documentation License
AVELINA MAGBOO MANALO (Nov. 10, 1927-Dec. 25, 200 )
A pianist, singer, composer and a devoted pedagogue. Avelina was born to Placido Delgado Manalo, a lawyer, and Josepha Magboo, a teacher and an opera singer, whose talent was specially recognized in her hometown, Bauan, Batangas where she would sing on special occasions. Began formal lessons in piano and solfegio at an early age and developed perfect pitch early. Became a pupil of the late maestra Jovita Fuentes in singing, despite her fragile health. From 1952-1955, Avelina would accompany on the piano Jovita Fuentes’ students from different schools. At age 21 in 1948 Avelina graduated as a piano major at the UP College of Music and the following year, would obtain a Bachelor of Music degree at the UST Conservatory of Music. From 1953-1955 she took up and finished her Masters’ in Piano at the UST’s Graduate School. For a decade since 1950 she had been a member of the faculty of both the St. Joseph’s College, School of Performing Arts and the music department of St. Theresa’s College. Was given a grant to do a specialization course in piano in Italy. She tackled performance and pedagogy classes, going around Europe. Giving concerts as well. In Salzburg she received eight curtain calls after a performance. Yet instead of pursuing a career as a concert pianist, she accepted the wish of her parents; for her to return to the Philippines and continue nurturing the talents of her homeland. She was an avid collector of miniature pianos. She served as Professor at the UP College of Music for three decades, as well as the Philippine Highschool for the Arts. She performed in the 1992 piano faculty concert,
“Twenty Fingers Plus” with Professors, Agot Espino, Nita Quinto, Imelda Ongsiako, Pia Dino and Mark Carpio. Her works for piano are: Rupikal ng Capiz (Capiz Chimes) Katlala (Nostalgia) Sources PROF. AVELINA M. MANALO Tribute. (n.d.). Retrieved March 16, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1txlWD4aEE
