Biography of nicanor abelardo

Nicanor Santa Ana Abelardo was born on the 7th of February, 1893 in San Miguel de Mayumo, Bulacan. He was a composer, pianist and teacher. He was the eldest of eight children born to Valentin Abelardo, a photographer, and Placida Santa Ana, a church singer. His father taught him solfeggio and bandurria when he was five. At six, he could already play the William Tell Overture on the guitar. He composed and dedicated a waltz, "Ang Unang Buko" (First Bud) to his grandmother, at age eight. In 1902, his uncle, Juan Abelardo, a painter, brought him to Manila where he studied in several primary schools. While working for his uncle, he learned to play the piano, and later studied voice under the Italian maestro Enrico Capozzi who refused to be paid for teaching such a talented boy. Upon the recommendation of composer, Francisco Buencamino, he was hired to play at saloons and cabarets at age 13. At barely 15, Abelardo took on a teaching job in barrio schools in San Ildefonso and San Miguel, Bulacan. 

In 1916, he studied at the University of the Philippines Conservatory of Music. While there, he composed the "U.P. Beloved", a school hymn which won first prize in an open musical contest in 1917. In 1918, he was appointed as an assistant instructor in solfeggio and harmony. He became a full-pledged instructor in 1919. He received his teacher's certificate in science and composition in 1923. He then became the head of the composition department the following year. 

Abelardo was a prolific composer of kundiman (art song). He redefined this genre and elevated it to artistic heights through his compositions like "Nasaan Ka Irog?" (1923); "Kundiman ng Luha" (1924), and "Paghanga" (1939). Abelardo also composed music for the sarswela - such as "Kawanggawa" (1918); "Dakilang Punglo" (1926); "Tayo'y Pakasal Na" (1930); "Kapabayaan o Bunga ng Masamang Hilig" (1918); "Sumilang", "Ang Tala ng Unibersidad", "Lucila" (1911); the operetta "Akibat" (1913); "Ang Likha ni P

Nicanor Abelardo is a household name even if he’s no longer with us for nearly a century. He was a Filipino composer known for cundiman (now spelled with a “k”) songs that he wrote before the World War II. His name usually springs up during MAPEH (music, arts, physical education, and health) class. After that, no more… except when you take up music as a college major.

My first encounter with his name was during high school (if I remember correctly, MAPEH still didn’t have an H 😂). Our teacher just brought up names of famous Filipino composers and a list of their well-known works for us to memorize in order to pass quizzes. And that’s it. We didn’t have the privilege of listening to their music to know why those composers were revered for years.

Abelardo was born exactly 129 years ago today (7 February 1893) in San Miguel de Mayumo, Bulacán. It can be said that he inherited his artistry from his mother Plácida who comes from a family of artists (the Henson clan of Guagua, Pampanga), but it was his father Valentín who introduced him to music when he was only five years old. Valentín taught Abelardo how to play the bandurria and the guitar, and even the rudiments of solfège (music education method). He quickly mastered the musical instruments taught to him, thus making him a prodigy all over San Miguel de Mayumo. At age six, he could already play his father’s arrangement of Gioachino Rossini’s Ouverture del Guglielmo Tell (William Tell Overture) on the guitar. He also learned the violin and other string instruments given to him by his father. Then in 1901, when he was only eight years of age, he wrote his first composition titled Ang Unang Buco (literally “The First Coconut”; figuratively, “The First Bloom”) which he dedicated it to his grandmother.

Abelardo started teaching music in schools in his hometown and in nearby San Ildefonso when he was barely 15 years old

Long time manager of Fourplay, Sonny Abelardo, has been involved in music his entire life.  You could say music is in his blood.  In fact, his grandfather, Nicanor Abelardo, Sr. was a musical prodigy, and considered one of the greatest composers in the history of the Philippines.

Nicanor Abelardo, Sr. was born in into a family of artists, and was introduced to music when he was five years old, learning the solfeggio and the banduria.  At the age of 8, he composed his first work entitled “Ang Unang Buko”, which was dedicated to his grandmother.  By the age of 15, Nicanor had begun playing publicly in Manila, and began teaching in local schools.

In 1916, Nicanor began studying at the University of the Philippines Conservatory of Music, and by 1924, was appointed head of the composition department at the Conservatory.  Later, he ran a school for young musicians, where he molded future National Artists Antonino Buenaventura, Alfredo Lozano, and Lucino Sacramento.  Then, in 1933, Nicanor Abelardo received his Master’s from the Chicago Musical College in Chicago, Illinois.

As a composition major at the University of the Philippines, he composed the melody for the university’s official anthem, U.P. Naming Mahal.  The building for the College of Music at the University of the Philippines-Diliman, Abelardo Hall, and the main theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo, are named in his honor.

In the field of composition, he is known for his redefinition of the kundiman, bringing the genre to art-song status.  Among his works were “Nasaan Ka Irog,” “Magbalik Ka Hirang,” and “Himutok.”  Nicanor Abelardo died in 1934 at the age of 41, leaving a collection of more than 140 works, and a family heritage that continues today.

Nicanor Abelardo will be honored as the first composer selected for the Great Filipino Composers Series, an annual concert that will feature the life and works of Filipino co