Felipe Padilla de León (May 1, 1912 – December 5, 1992) was a Filipino classical music composer, conductor, and scholar. He was known for composing different sonatas, marches and concertos that reflect the Filipino identity. De Leon was also recognized as a composer who experienced different regime change throughout the course of his lifetime. From the Commonwealth period up to the presidency of

Ferdinand Marcos Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Sr. ( , , ; September 11, 1917 – September 28, 1989) was a Filipino politician, lawyer, dictator, and kleptocrat who was the 10th president of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He ruled under martial ...

, his music became a representation of Filipino ideals and aspirations throughout the ages of Philippine history.

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 The carabao ( es, Carabao; tgl, Kalabaw; ceb, Kabaw; ilo, Nuang) is a domestic swamp-type water buffalo (''Bubalus bubalis'') native to the Philippines. Carabaos were introduced to Guam from the Spanish Philippines in the 17th century. They ...

herder,

carriage A carriage is a private four-wheeled vehicle for people and is most commonly horse-drawn. Second-hand private carriages were common public transport, the equivalent of modern cars used as taxis. Carriage suspensions are by leather strapping ...

driver, and vendor of various items. In 1927, he took up Fine Arts at the

University of the Philippines The University of the Philippines (UP; fil, Pamantasan ng Pilipinas Unibersidad ng Pilipinas) is a state university system in the Philippines. It is the country's national university, as mandated by Republic Act No. 9500 (UP Charter of 20 ...

, but he had to abandon his studies to make a living. He played the

trombone The trombone (german: Posaune, Italian, French: ''trombone'') is a musical instrument in the brass family. As with all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player's vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate ...

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 The Juilliard School ( ) is a Private university, private performing arts music school, conservatory in New York City. Established in 1905, the school trains about 850 undergraduate and graduate students in dance, drama, and music. It is widely ...

in New York, U.S. De Leon married pianist Iluminada Mendoza with whom he had six children, including Bayani, a prominent composer, and Felipe Jr., a writer.

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 The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...

. 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 Cultural homogenization is an aspect of cultural globalization, listed as one of its main characteristics, and refers to the reduction in cultural diversity through the popularization and diffusion of a wide array of cultural symbols—not only ...

and

Americanization Americanization or Americanisation (see spelling differences) is the influence of American culture and business on other countries outside the United States of America, including their media, cuisine, business practices, popular culture, te ...

of Filipinos during those period. Being affected by the said movement, De Leon, along with his fellow composer

Lucio San Pedro Lucio Diestro San Pedro, Sr. (February 11, 1913 – March 31, 2002) was a Filipino composer and teacher who was proclaimed a National Artist of the Philippines for Music in 1991. Today, he is remembered for his contribution to the development o ...

, continued the nationalist tradition of Antonio Molina,

Francisco Santiago Francisco Santiago Santiago (January 29, 1889 – September 28, 1947) was a Filipino musician, sometimes called ''The Father of Kundiman Art Song''. Life Santiago was born in Santa Maria, Bulacan, Philippines, to musically minded peasant ...

, 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.

Japanese Occupation

During the outbreak of

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

, De Leon was forced to compose national music for the invading Japanese. His song, "Payapang Daigdig" was also composed during this time period right after the destruction of Manila. 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.

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 The Order of National Artists of the Philippines ( Filipino: ''Orden ng mga Pambansang Alagad ng Sining ng Pilipinas'') is an order bestowed by the Philippines on Filipinos who have made significant contributions to the development of Philipp ...

(1997)

Selected worksTiongson, Nicanor (Ed.). (1994). ''CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art'' (Vol. 6: Philippine music). Manila: Cultural Center of the Philippines.

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 * 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

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Leon, Felipe Padilla de 1912 births 1992 deaths National Artists of the Philippines Filipino classical composers Musicians from Nueva Ecija University of the Philippines alumni Juilliard School alumni Filipino conductors (music)