Felipe Padilla de León
- Classical
- orchestra
- Trombone
- horn
- piano
Felipe Padilla de León (May 1, 1912 – December 5, 1992) was a Filipino Romantical music composer, conductor, and scholar. He was known for composing different sonatas, marches and concertos that reflect the Filipino identity.[3]
De Leon was also recognized as a composer who experienced different regime change throughout the course of his lifetime.[4] From the Commonwealth period up to the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos,[4] his music became a representation of Filipino ideals and aspirations throughout the ages of Philippine history.[3]
Early life and career
De Leon was the third of four children by the second marriage of his mother Natalia Padilla to Juan de Leon. His father died when he was three years old, leaving his mother to raise him and his elder half-brother, Pedro P. San Diego. Before becoming a musician, he took various odd jobs to support his family, such as a shoe polisher, carabao herder, carriage driver, and vendor of various items. In 1927, he took up Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines, but he had to abandon his studies to make a living. He played the trombone in cabarets and circuses, and later worked as an assistant conductor of the Nueva Ecija High School Orchestra, where he started composing music. To improve his composing skills he again enrolled to the University of the Philippines, and graduated in 1939 with a diploma of music teacher and conductor. Much later, he continued his studies under Vittorio Giannini at the Juilliard School in New York, U.S.[2]
De Leon married pianist Iluminada Mendoza with whom he had six children, including Bayani, a prominent composer, and Felipe Jr., a writer.[2]
Promotion of Filipino Nationalism
Commonwealth Period
During the 1930s, there was a massive cultural movement of "Filipinism" among several Filipino artists. The reason for the movement was to promote nationalism to Filipinos and as a response to the cultural integration imposed by the United States.[5]
Even though American stewardship was a lopsided deal, particularly the political and economic components at recognizing Philippine independence, the reactions were quite extensive in the cultural aspect. The need to define what is “Filipino” bloomed and inspired a call for action from the artists.
— Renato B. Lucas
Raul Navarro, a professor at the UP College of Music, also pointed out that music education (both primary and secondary) became a means of cultural homogenization and Americanization of Filipinos during those period.[5]
Being affected by the said movement, De Leon, along with his fellow composer Lucio San Pedro, continued the nationalist tradition of Antonio Molina, Francisco Santiago, and Nicanor Abelardo by using the material from Filipino folk songs as the basis of their own created compositions. De Leon also wrote articles and publications highlighting the importance of music as an expression of nationalism.[5]
Music is an important intellectual and sociological force and there is no other force which can socialize, energize and guide the emotions of masses from childhood to maturity than good music
— Felipe Padilla de Leon, The Philippine Collegian (September 1938)
Japanese Occupation
During the outbreak of World War II, De Leon was forced to compose national music for the invading Japanese.[4] His song, "Payapang Daigdig" was also composed during this time period right after the destruction of Manila.[6]
After independence, De Leon soon composed the symphonic poems, "The Cry of Balintawak" and "Bataan" to commemorate the Filipinos who suffered under the Japanese occupation.[7]
Post-war era
De Leon was dubbed "composer of 1949" and was granted fellowship by then Philippine vice president Fernando Lopez. In exchange, De Leon composed for the vice president two symphonic poem during his stay at the Lopez estate in Iloilo, Philippines namely Roca Encantanda and Siete Pecados.[8]
During the 1950s, he revised the Tagalog lyrics of the Philippine national anthem.[9] From 1953 to 1982, he became president of Pambansang Samahan ng mga Banda sa Pilipinas (PASAMBAP) and served as founding president of the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (FILSCAP) from 1965 to 1985.[10]
Awards and honors
- Republic Cultural Heritage Award .
- Rizal Pro-Patria Award
- Presidential Award of Merit
- Patnubay ng Kalinangan Award
- Composer of the Year (1949)
- Musician of the Year (Manila, 1958)
- National Artist of the Philippines (1997)[1][2]
Selected works
Sources:[1][11]
Operas
- Noli me Tangere (Touch me Not), opera in 3 acts (1957)
- El Filibusterismo (Subversion), opera (1970)
Concertos
- Konzertstück for Violin and Orchestra (c. 1950s)
- Flute Concerto (1980)
Orchestral works
- Mariang Makiling Overture (1939)
- Roca Encantada, symphonic legend (1950)
- Maynila Overture (1976)
- Tatlong Tunog Larawan (Three Sound Portraits), for orchestra (1976)
- Orchesterstück (1981)
- Manila Sketches for Orchestra (1949)
- Bataan, tone poem (1947)
- Cry of Balintawak, tone poem (1948)
- Mga Katutubong Tanawin
Marches and other works for band
- Bagong Pagsilang (New Birth)
- Tayo’y Magtanim (Let Us Plant)
- Ang Karomata (The Carriage)
- Tindig, Aking Inang Bayan (Rise Up, My Motherland)
- Fantasy for Trombone and Band
- Mayumi Theme and Variations
- Awit ng Maynila (Song of Manila)
- Himno ng Marikina (Marikina Hymn)
- Awit ng Serbisyo Sibil (Civil Service Hymn)
Chamber
- Fantasy for four flutes and percussion
See also
- Diwa de Leon, Felipe's grandson composer
References
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- ^ a b c d Felipe Padilla de Leon. ncca.gov.ph
- ^ a b c d Short Biography of Felipe Padilla de Leon. (November 29, 2013)
- ^ a b Ganzon, Arch. Carlos Luis (2017). Journey: Contemporary Arts of the Philippines. Phoenix Publishing House. pp. 80–81. ISBN 978-971-06-4330-1.
- ^ a b c Matherne, Neal (June 2014). "Naming the Artist, Composing the Philippines: Listening for the Nation in the National Artist Award" (PDF). University of California Riverside.
- ^ a b c Lucas, Renato (2019). "Zeitgeist through the Eyes of Felipe P. De Leon (1912-1992): Musical Nationalism and the Cultural Environment of the 1930s" (PDF). Unitas Journal.
- ^ Gil, Baby A. "Payapang Daigdig lives on". Philstar.com. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
- ^ "National Artist for Music, Prof. Felipe Padilla De Leon". daigdigpinoy.com. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
- ^ Galang, Zoilo M. (1958). Encyclopedia of the Philippines: Builders. E. Floro. pp. 33–34.
- ^ Vile, John R. (January 13, 2021). America's National Anthem: "The Star-Spangled Banner" in U.S. History, Culture, and Law. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. ISBN 979-8-216-04526-7.
- ^ "Senate Resolution no. 771" (PDF). Senate of the Philippines.
- ^ Tiongson, Nicanor (Ed.). (1994). CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art (Vol. 6: Philippine music). Manila: Cultural Center of the Philippines.
- v
- t
- e
- 1973 Juan Nakpil
- 1976 Pablo Antonio
- 1990 Leandro Locsin
- 2006 Ildefonso P. Santos Jr.
- 2014 José María Zaragoza
- 2018 Francisco Mañosa
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/National_Artist_of_the_Philippines.svg/80px-National_Artist_of_the_Philippines.svg.png)
- 1973 Francisca R. Aquino
- 1976 Leonor Orosa
- 1988 Lucrecia Reyes
- 2006 Ramon Obusan
- 2014 Alice Reyes
- 2022 Agnes Locsin
- 2006 Ramón Valera
- 2022 Salvacion Lim Higgins
- 1976 Lamberto V. Avellana
- 1982 Gerardo de León
- 1997 Lino Brocka
- 2001 Ishmael Bernal
- 2003 Eddie Romero
- 2006 Fernando Poe Jr.
- 2009 Manuel Conde
- 2018 Kidlat Tahimik
- 2022 Nora Aunor
- 2022 Marilou Diaz-Abaya
- 2022 Ricardo Lee
- 1997 Carlos Quirino
- 1973 Amado V. Hernandez
- 1973 José Garcia Villa
- 1976 Nick Joaquin
- 1982 Carlos P. Romulo
- 1990 Francisco Arcellana
- 1997 N. V. M. Gonzalez
- 1999 Edith Tiempo
- 2001 F. Sionil José
- 2003 Virgilio S. Almario
- 2003 Alejandro Roces
- 2006 Bienvenido Lumbera
- 2009 Lazaro Francisco
- 2014 Cirilo F. Bautista
- 2018 Ramon Muzones
- 2018 Resil B. Mojares
- 2022 Gémino Abad
- 1973 Antonio Molina
- 1976 Jovita Fuentes
- 1988 Antonino Buenaventura
- 1988 Lucrecia Kasilag
- 1991 Lucio San Pedro
- 1997 Levi Celerio
- 1997 Felipe Padilla de León
- 1997 José Maceda
- 1999 Ernani Joson Cuenco
- 1999 Andrea Veneracion
- 2014 Ramon Santos
- 2014 Francisco Feliciano
- 2018 Ryan Cayabyab
- 2022 Fides Cuyugan-Asensio
- 1987 Atang de la Rama
- 1997 Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero
- 1997 Rolando Tinio
- 1999 Daisy Avellana
- 2001 Severino Montano
- 2003 Salvador Bernal
- 2018 Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio
- 2022 Tony Mabesa
- 1972 Fernando Amorsolo
- 1973 Botong Francisco
- 1973 Guillermo Tolentino
- 1976 Napoleon Abueva
- 1976 Victorio Edades
- 1981 Vicente Manansala
- 1990 Cesar Legaspi
- 1991 Hernando R. Ocampo
- 1997 Arturo R. Luz
- 1999 J. Navarro Elizalde
- 2001 Ang Kiukok
- 2003 José T. Joya
- 2006 BenCab Cabrera
- 2006 Abdulmari Imao
- 2009 Federico Aguilar Alcuaz
- 2014 Francisco Coching
- 2018 Larry Alcala
- National Commission for Culture and the Arts
- Cultural Center of the Philippines