Philippine Music during

the Spanish

Era

In what ways and means did the Spanish missionaries

taught the early Philippine society the Catholic faith?

The Liturgy was celebrated using

Gregorian Chant, Polyphonic Masses and Motetsand Hymns,

all in Latin.

POLYPHONIC MUSIC - two or more independent melodies sung or played at the same timeEx.• A Home on the Rolling Sea -

round• Halleluah from Messiah by George Friedrich Handel• Kyrie by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

 Natives were not only

instructed in singing but also in playing various

instruments like guitar, violin, flute, harp and

organ.

In 1857 a boy’s choir was formed in the Dominican convent of Sto. Domingo which evolved into a music school.

Las Pinas Boy’s Choir

In 1643, Fray Juan de Torres established the Manila Orchestra. In

1742, the Colegio de Niños Tiples de la Iglesia Cathedral was founded.

Later a fine organ was installed in the church.

The first orchestra was formed in the Augustinian Convent of

Guadalupe in 1601.

Between 1816-1824, Fr. Diego de Cerra built a unique instrument, the famous Las Piñas Bamboo Organ which is still being used for liturgical services in the Parish Church of St. Joseph. It contains 950 bamboo pipes with 22 stops, 43 pipes for each register and 12 pedals.

Catholic faith was preached to the natives through the

introduction of the liturgical mass that was in Latin and the

music that went with it was Western.

KyrieGloria

AlleluiaCredo

SanctusPater

NosterAgnus Dei

Parts of the Liturgical Mass

KYRIE

Kyrie eleison; Christe eleison; Kyrie eleison  Lord have mercy; Christ, have

mercy; Lord, have mercy

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth; pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua Hosanna in excelsisHoly, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts; Heaven and earth are full of Your glory.Hosanna in the highest.

SANCTUS

SACRED MUSIC• Music written over the ages to be used in

the sung liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church

Gregorian chants and melodies

• It is simple for the singing congregation and more elaborate as the degree of musicianship increases

Polyphonic pieces in

the middle ages and

the Renaissance

SINGING AND DANCING

Singing and dancingLeaping and prancing

La, la, la, la…Flutes raise their voices,

Cello rejoicesMusic delights us

music invites us to join in the dance

Fa, la, la, la….

SECULAR MUSIC• Non- sacred music that developed in the

Medieval period and was used in the Renaissance• Love songs, political satire, dances and

dramatic works• Drums, harps, recorders and bagpipes

were the instruments used in secular music because they were easy for the travelling musicians to tote around• Common people sing these songs for

entertainment

Filipino Composers During the Spanish

Era

In 1870 the Augustinian Fray

Toribio organized an orchestra at the San

Agustin Church in Intramuros. The

orchestra was led by Marcelo Adonay, the

first native Filipino to compose a Mass.

Other Filipino musicians were

Pantaleon Lopez and Ladislao Bonus.

MARCELO ADONAY 1848 - 1928, Pakil,

Laguna

• Filipino composer, organist, conductor, and music teacher

• Known as the “Prince of Philippine Church Music,” he was one of the most well-known Philippine musicians of the late 19th century

• He was a self-taught musician, having taught himself to play the organ, piano, and violin through self-study. He was able to learn all of these while serving as a church boy at the San Agustin Church, where an uncle brought him when he turned eight years old.

Pequeña Misa Solemne sobre

Motivos de la Missa Regia

del Canto Gregoriano

– largest and most significant

extant work 

GloriaGloria in excelsis Deo et in terra pax

hominibus bonae voluntatis.

Laudamus te,benedicimus te, adoramus te,glorificamus te, gratias agimus tibi

 

Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to men of good will.

We praise You, we bless You, we adore You, we glorify You, we give thanks

 

Religious Musical Works• Liberame (1869) • Lectio (1885)

• Gazos a Nuestra Señora de la Consolacion (1890) • Vita Jesu (1891)

• A San Pascual Bailon en Obando (1894)

• Responsarium (1894) • Benedictus (1895) • Hosana (1899)

• Pequeña Misa Solemne (1903) • A Nuestra Señora de Antipolo (1909)

• A San Juan Bautista (1916)