ANTONIO J. MOLINA

. Katherine Frances Valdellon Molina

Abstract

Antonio J. Molina is one of the most respected musicians and composers that this country has ever produced. His exposure to music at an early age laid the foundation for his career as a musician, composer, conductor and music educator, musicologist and writer. He not only mastered playing the violoncello but learned to play various Western and indigenous instruments as well. He was a prolific composer who was not afraid to experiment with new ideas and step out of the traditional to produce some of the most innovative works of his time. He was one of the first composers to combine ethnic/native instruments with Western instruments in his works and infuse Eastern modality with Western harmony. As a pioneer whose musical ideas set a trend for other composers to follow; he completed “the triumvirate of Filipino composers”, together with Nicanor Abelardo and Francsico Santiago, and led the first nationalistic movement in Philippine music (Martinez 343).


DATE OF BIRTH: 26 DECEMBER 1894

DATE OF DEATH: 29 JANURAY 1980

(26 December 1894 – 29 January 1980) was a Filipino composer, conductor and music administrator. He was named a National Artist of the Philippines for his services to music. He was also known as the Claude Debussy of the Philippines due to his use of impressionism in music.

he was a versatile musician, composer, music educator 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. At an early age, he took to playing the violoncello and 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 with introducing such innovations as the whole tone scale, pentatonic scale, exuberance of dominant ninths and eleventh cords, and linear counterpoints. 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.


WORKS

Works:

–Hatinggabi,

-Misa Antoniana Grand Festival Mass

-Ang Batingaw, Kundiman- Kundangan

-String Quartet

-Kung sa Iyong Guni

-Pandangguhan

-Amihan

-Awit ni Maria Clara

-Larawan Nitong Pilipinas

 

 


RECREATED PERFORMANCES 

CONCLUSION

IN CONCLUSION, ANTONIO J. MOLINO IS A CRUCIAL PART OF THE FILIPINO MUSICAL INDUSTRY, PROVIDING MULTIPLE ICONIC WORKS (9) AND HELPED INNOVATE THE INDUSTRY. HIS PRESENCE IN THE FILIPINO INDUSTRY THROUGH HIS DISCIPLES LUCRESIA KASILAG AND FELIPE DE LEON.