Nicanor Abelardo

Nicanor Santa Ana Abelardo (born February 7, 1893 in San Miguel de Mayumo, Bulacan , Philippines , † March 21, 1934 in Manila , Philippines) was a Filipino composer, pianist and music teacher. Nicanor Abelardo is credited for having achieved much in the development of Kundiman, a Filipino song form, into an art song.

Life

1893 childhood, family and first musical education

Nicanor Santa Ana Abelardo was the first child of Valentin Abelardo and Placida Santa Ana. Placida came from a family of painters, wood carvers and sculptors, sang in the church choir and worked as a tailor and rice trader. They had eight children. 'Three of them died in early childhood. Valentin was a musical autodidact. He played the violin, was a music teacher in San Miguel, taught all string instruments and directed a rondalla ensemble. He also tried various other professions to make money. He had a photo studio, tried his hand at goldsmithing, watchmaker, tailor, hat maker and a factory for rattan chairs. Valentin Abelardo taught Nicanor music theory and the playing of bandurria , guitar, at the age of five . At the age of six he was able to play the Wilhelm Tell overture on the guitar and was called a child prodigy. He played in various music groups led by his father, who always criticized him heavily for mistakes. In order to protect himself he practiced very conscientiously. During this time he got to know the Kundimans who were sung in the city. He could easily replay it once heard. At the age of seven he received violin lessons from his father. At the age of eight or nine he composed his first piece of music, the waltz Ang Unang Buko, which he dedicated to his grandmother Macaria Libunao. Comandante Sartu and Padre Joaquin, two influential Spaniards living in the village, recognized the boy's talent and wanted to send him to Spain to study music. His mother was against it, but later regretted it very much.

1902 to 1916 time to study music

In 1902 his uncle Juan Abelardo took him to Manila, where he attended various schools. But he found it difficult. It took him three years to complete the second grade. He preferred to make music. He began to play the piano in his uncle's house. His cousin Victoria had piano lessons and although Nicanor only listened to the lessons, he practiced diligently himself and soon played better than his cousin. When his father found out that Nicanor mainly played the piano, he brought him back home. He took singing lessons from Enrico Capozzi, who refused to be paid to teach such a gifted boy. On the recommendation of the composer Francesco Buencamino, he made music in salons at the age of 13. At fifteen he became a teacher in a school in Sibul, then in San Ildefonso and San Miguel . At 18 he went back to his uncle Juan in Manila. When his uncle realized how well he could play the piano, he looked for a professional music teacher for him, the best cinema pianist in Manila, Francisco Buencamino. He accompanied films in the Cinematografico Filipino cinema and played in bars and theaters. But he found more work as a guitarist accompanying various singers. This is how he met Florentino Ballacer, a leading figure in the Zarzuela scene of that time. He was very impressed with Nicanor's guitar playing skills and his improvisational skills. In 1912 Buencamino asked Abelardo to write a zarzuela with him. A new challenge for Nicanor. Ballacer as librettist and Abelardo as composer thus produced the Zarzuela in three acts Lucila. The play was performed in the Old Opera House in Manila and failed. Critics wrote of a first-class flop . The next collaboration was a few months later the one-act operetta Akibat, which was now a complete success. The publishers and producers wanted everything from Abelardo, whatever he composed. Nicanor wanted to continue making music with Buencamino. So they played in the parlors on Calle de Aceiteros.

1916 time at the University of the Philippines and in the United States

From 1916 he studied at the Conservatory of Music at the University of the Philippines in Manila. His piano teacher was José Estella, his violin teacher Bonifacio Abdon , singing teacher was Victorino Careon, a celebrated tenor, and José Silos taught him on the Bandurria. Guy F. Harrison and Robert Schofield were also among his teachers. He learned the basics of playing the cello and later also wrote compositions for cello solo. Among other things, he financed his studies by making music in the Manila Hotel and the Santa Ana Cabaret . In 1917 he won a university composition competition with the hymn UP Beloved . On July 1, 1917, he married Sixta Naguiat, who worked as a ticket seller in the cinema, in the Santa Cruz Church in Manila. From 1918 he taught music theory and harmony himself as an assistant. In 1921 he graduated with a teaching degree in science and composition. In 1922 he began postgraduate studies in composition at the Conservatory, which he completed in 1923 with the composition of the Piano Concerto in B flat minor, Op. 23. On November 20, 1924 he became head of the composition department at the Conservatory. He shaped musicians like Antonino Buenaventura , Alfredo Lozano and Lucino Sacramento. In May 1931 he went to Chicago Musical College with Wesley La Violette for further studies . In August 1932 he went back to Manila without a degree. In 1933 Abelardo received his Masters at the National University of the Philippines . Back in Manila, he taught at the university again. Among his students were Antonino Buenaventura , Alfredo Lozano and Lucino Sacramento.

Died in Manila on March 21, 1934 at the age of 41. He left his wife Sixta Naguiat with six children, two of whom became musicians.

Works (selection)

Nicanor Abelardo served all forms of music in Filipino society. He composed music for Sarswelas [Zarzuela], operettas and operas, symphonies and concerts, sonatas and string quartets, suites, fugues, overtures, ballads and serenades, art songs and the Filipino forms of art songs such as the classical Kundiman, Kumintang, Balitaw and Danza, vocal duet , Trios and choral music, marches and hymns, both spiritual and patriotic, character pieces such as Nocturne, Valse, Cavatina, Capriccio, Intermezzo, Polka, Fantasie impromptu, Reverie, Barcarole and Bolero, music for theater, symphonic poetry, dances such as Foxtrot, Tango, Two -Step and Paso Doble, folk song arrangements and compositions for various instrumental ensembles. In total he left more than 140 compositions.

He was not only a musician, but also wrote lyrics for his compositions. They are counted among the best poetic literature of its time.

The Sonata in G major from 1921 has been lost.

• First Nocturne , 1921
• Valse Caprice, 1921
• Romanza for cello and piano op. 8. Abelardo composed the piece in 1921 and dedicated it to Antonio Molina. It was published in 1927. The piece was recorded by cellist Renato Lucas and pianist Raul Sunico.
• Cavatine for violin and piano op. 7. Abelardo composed the piece in 1921 when he was awarded a teacher certificate. He dedicated it to his friend and colleague Alejandro V. Orellano, who premiered it. It is a popular piece by Filipino instrumentalists. There are arrangements for flute and other string instruments. The violinist and conductor Redentor Romero created an orchestral version which he performed with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra .
• Serenade for cello and piano, 1922
• Valse in D flat major, 1922

Works without opus number

• Ang Unang Buko, waltz
• A Summer Idyll, for violin
• A Visayan Caprice
• Bituing marikit., Kundiman. Text in Tagalog : Servando Angeles.
• Caprice for Flute, Violin and Piano: The flower and the bird [The flower and the bird]
• Cinderella; Concert overture
• Concerto for piano and orchestra, B flat minor, 1923. I. Allegro moderato misterioso II. Andante romántico III. Rondo. Allegro fantástico. The work was recorded by the pianist Luci Magalit and the UP College of Music Centennial Festival Orchestra under the direction of Josefino Chino Toledo on September 24, 2015 in the Abelardo Hall of the University of the Philippines.
• Himutok for voice and piano, 1928
• Wedding march for orchestra. The work was performed on August 23, 1948 with the Manil Municipal Symphony in Honolulu under the direction of Ramon Tapales (1906-1995).
• Kundiman ng Luha [Song of Tears]
• Mountain Suite for orchestra. The suite consists of four movements based on Filipino bolks music. The work was performed on August 19, 1948 with the Manil Municipal Symphony in Honolulu under the direction of Antonino Buenaventura .
• Mutya ng Pasig, Kundiman, 1926 There is an arrangement for violin and piano by the violinist Carmencita Lozada. In 1997 she recorded it with the pianist Adelheid Lechner. The recording was published in 2004 by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts in Manila.
• Naku Kenkoy for voice and piano, 1930
• Nasaan Ka, iroq? Kundiman, a Filipino love song
• Panoramas for violin, viola, flute, piano and celesta , 1932 I Dawn II Planting Rice III Afternoon Siesta-Lullaby IV Work in the Fields V Angelus VI Serenade VII Despedida
• Sinfonietta for string orchestra
• A study Kumintang, for piano and string quartet, 1932
• Violin Sonata, 1931. Abelardo composed it as a student at the Chicago Musical College
• UP Beloved , University of the Philippines Anthem; won a composition competition at the university

He also left a number of unfinished works, such as a symphony, an opera, and a concert.

Evaluation and reception

In The Dynamic Teeners of the 21st Century, p. 70, Nicanor Abelardo is referred to as the Master of the Kundiman . Nasaan Ka, iroq? as one of the most popular Kundiman song sung today [one of the most popular Kundiman still sung today]. Abelardo's position for Kundiman is compared here with Franz Schubert's position for the German song. With their compositions, both had elevated Kundiman and song to an art form .

The Abelardo Hall, the concert hall of the College of Music at the University of the Philippines-Diliman, and the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo, the main theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, are named after Nicanor Abelardo.

Joseph B Ortiguera writes in his dissertation Nicanor Abelardo, Violin Sonata from 2014: Abelardo is best known for elevating the Filipino genre of Kundiman to a western art song form. Furthermore, he is considered to be the most popular and influential of the composers during the height of classical Filipino music, a period between 1860 and the end of World War II.

literature

• Ernesto V. Epistola: Nicanor Abelardo, the Man and the Artist: A Biography [Nicanor Abelardo, the Man and the Artist]. Rex Bookstore, Manila 1996, ISBN 971-23-2062-6 . (English)
• Ramon Pagayon Santos: Tunugan: Four essays on Filipino music, UP Press, 2005, ISBN 971-542-488-0 . (English)
• Carlos Quirino: Who's Who in Philippine history . Tahanan Books, Makati City 1995.
• Nicanor Tiongson (Ed.): CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art. Vol. 6: Philippine music. Cultural Center of the Philippines, Manila 1994.
• Mabuhay Singers Sing Kundiman . Villar MLS 5308.
• Alfredo M. German: Ang Buhay at Musika ni Maestro Abelardo. Bulacan Cultural Arts and Historical Foundation, 1993.

Recordings

• The Songs Of Nicanor Abelardo. Mariqueño Music, LLC
• Conching Rosal-Immortal Kundiman Of The Philippines , Villar MLP 5039. With Kundiman Ng Luha. Mutya Ng Pasig. Bituin Marikit. Himutok
• Bituing Marikit. Elsa Oria, vocals. Teofilo Alemania, escort. Bitin BIT - 101; B side
• Paglingon: Return Of The Native. Jacqui Magno, vocals. Bookmark Audio XXX. With Bituing Marikit, Nasaan Ka Irog ?, Pahiwatig and Mutya Ng Pasig

Web links

• Nicanor Abelardo at HIMIG , The Filipino Music Collection of the Filipinas Heritage Library [ Filipino Music Collection of the Filipino Heritage Library ]
• Nasaan Ka, irog? ; Digitized from the University of Rochester, Eastman School of Music, Sibley Music Library
• Nicanor Abelardo in the Internet Movie Database (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t} Nicanor Abelardo. Himig collection of the Filipinas Heritage Library, 2009, accessed April 7, 2017 . 
2. ↑ ^{a b c d e f g h i} Short Biography of Filipino composer, Nicanor Abelardo. In: The Filipino Kundiman. November 29, 2013, accessed April 7, 2017 . 
3. ↑ NICANOR S. ABELARDO, A FILIPINO GENIUS IN MUSIC. November 5, 2007. Retrieved May 25, 2018 (American English). 
4. ↑ ^{a b c d e f g h i j} Galang Goco II, Abelardo: The Development of Philippine Piano Literature . Berlin 2010 (English, tu-berlin.de [PDF]).
5. ↑ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m} Joseph B Ortiguera: Nicanor Abelardo, Violin Sonata . Tuscaloosa, Alabama 2014 (English, ua.edu [PDF]).
6. ^ ^{A b c} Ernesto V. Epistola: Nicanor Abelardo, the Man and the Artist: A Biography . Rex Bookstore, 1996, ISBN 971-23-2062-6 (English).
7. ↑ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l} Nicanor Abelardo - Cavatina | Pop Culture | Entertainment. Retrieved October 11, 2017 . 
8. ^ Nicanor Abelardo . In: Nicanor Tiongson (ed.): CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art, . 6 Philippinian Music. Cultural Center of the Philippines, Manila, 1994, Manila 1994 (English).
9. ↑ ^{a b c d} Ramon Pagayon Santos: Nicanor Abelardo: Filipino Classicism in the Art of Music . In: Tunugan: Four Essays on Filipino Music . The University of the Philippines Press, Quezon City 2005, ISBN 971-542-488-0 (English, google.de [accessed August 20, 2017]).
10. ^ ^{A b c} The Abelardo Musical Legacy: Honoring Nicanor Abelardo «Fourplay. Retrieved April 7, 2017 . 
11. ↑ Renato Lucas: Renato Lucas The Spirit of Harana revised copy . ( academia.edu [accessed October 12, 2017]).
12. ↑ ^{a b} Manila Symphony's Brilliant Pianist will perform tonight . In: Honolulu Star Bulletin . Honolulu, Hawaii August 23, 1948, p. 16 (English, newspapers.com ).
13. ↑ Carmencita Lozada, violin: heritage recordings. Series 1. Series 1. 2004, accessed October 11, 2017 . 
14. ↑ Lorna Fe P. Lopez, Romulo J. Pangan, McDonald d Beldia: The Dynamic Teeners of the 21st Century . tape 2 . Rex Bookstore, Inc, Manila 2005, ISBN 971-23-4046-5 , pp. 70 (English).
15. ↑ TANGHALANG NICANOR ABELARDO (Main Theater) | Cultural Center of the Philippines. (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on March 14, 2017 ; Retrieved April 7, 2017 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.