Francisco Feliciano
By Aaron John L. Meriel
Life and Education
Francisco F. Feliciano, avant garde composer and conductor for band and chorus, was born on February 19, 1942 in Morong, Rizal. His first exposure to music was with the Morriz Band, a brass ensemble established and owned by his father, Maximiano Feliciano. He started his music career in the high school band where he had played the cymbals and the clarinet.
Feliciano obtained his Teacher’s Diploma in Composition and Conducting at the Conservatory of Music, University of the Philippines (UP) in 1964, and a Bachelor of Music degree major in Composition in 1967. Subsequent degrees include a Master in Music Composition from the University of the Philippines, a Diploma in Music Composition from the Hochschule der Kunst in Berlin, Germany, and a Master of Musical Arts and Doctorate in Music Composition from Yale University School of Music, USA. He studied composition with Jacob Druckman, Isang Yun, H.W. Zimmerman and Krystof Penderecki.
Accomplishments and Compositions
"La Loba Negra" (1984)
"Pamugun" (2002)
Asian Institute for Liturgy and Music in Quezon City
Feliciano composed hundreds of liturgical pieces, mass settings, hymns, and songs for worship. He founded the Asian Institute for Liturgy and Music (AILM) in Quezon City, a school for church musicians, and supervised the publication of a new Asian hymnal containing mostly works of Asian composers. He was conferred the title of National Artist for Music in 2014. He died on September 19, 2014.
Among his other large works are Transfiguration and Missa Mysterium for orchestra and large chorus. He has composed several prize winning works such as Pokpok Alimpako, (a favorite piece of choirs in international choral competitions), Salimbayan, Umiinog, and Walang Tinag (Perpetuum I mobile) which was premiered at the ISCM Festival in New York City, USA. His latest choral works,Pamugúnand Restless, have been performed by Filipino choirs in various choral festivals in Europe. In 1977, he was given a John D. Rockefeller III Award in Music Composition.
Feliciano became the choir conductor and instructor in music fundamentals at St. Andrews Seminary in Quezon City. He became an instructor at the UP Conservatory of Music and conducted the UP Symphony Orchestra. He was the musical director of the movie Ang Bukas ay Atin and provided orchestration for a number of musical productions including My Fair Lady and various Philippine productions. Feliciano composed more than 30 major works, including the musical dramas Sikhay sa Kabila ng Paalam, Ashen Wings, and the monumental three-act opera La Loba Negra (1984). He also wrote music for the orchestra such as Prelude and Toccata(1973), Fragments(1976), Life of Wartime Filipino Hero Jose Abad Santos, and the ballet Yerma (1982).
Personal Opinion
Francisco Feliciano was a great composer. He was able to accomplish so much where in he was able to build a school for church musicians in Quezon City. His musical style revolved around liturgy music and the concept of including "Asian" or "Filipinism". He largely incorporated the theme of "worship" in his compositions which resulted into most of his works being used for liturgy and worship purposes.
Source: DepEd Learner's Material