DR.

LUCRECIA
ROCES KASILAG
“Tita King”
“First Lady of Philippine Music”
National Artist in Music in 1989
Distinguished composer and music educator
Former President of the Cultural Center of the Philippines
 DR. LUCRECIA ROCES KASILAG

grew up in Paco, Manila

born in San Fernando, La Union

(August 31, 1918 - August 16, 2008)
Father: Marcial Kasilag Sr.
Mother: Asuncion Roces, a violinist and a music teacher
• Learned to play the bandurria and guitar at an early age
• Every weekend, she and all five of her siblings performed as the “Kasilag
Rondalla” before their mother
DR. LUCRECIA ROCES KASILAG

Academic Achievements:
• Valedictorian, Paco Elementary School (1930)
• Valedictorian, Philippine Women’s University High School (1933)
• Cum Laude, PWU Bachelor of Arts in English
• Music Teacher's Diploma, St. Scholastica's College (1939), student of
Sister Baptista Battig
• Bachelor of Music, Major in Piano at the PWU in 1949
• Master of Music at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York
under a Fulbright Travel Grant (1950)
• received an Eastman School of Music fellowship, and studied theory
under Dr. Allen I. McHose and composition under Dr. Wayne Barlow;
• Doctor of Music from Centro Escolar University (CEU)
 DR. LUCRECIA ROCES KASILAG

Positions Held:
• taught piano and music theory at SSC, and at the University of the
Philippines Conservatory of Music (1946 – 1947)
• Dean of the PWU College of Music and Fine Arts (1953-1977)
• In 1957, she put together the Bayanihan Folk Arts Center, which
undertook research and organized theatrical performances
• Chairperson of the Philippine Society for Music Education in 1971
• Chairperson of the Asian Composer’s League in 1975
• Upon her retirement, she became Dean Emeritus of the PWU College
of Music and Fine Arts (1977)
• Director of the Center for Arts and Humanities of the PWU
• Honorary adviser to the Asian Arts Festival
• Chairperson of the League of Filipino Composers
 DR. LUCRECIA ROCES KASILAG
Accomplishments continued:
• worked closely as music director with colleagues Lucrecia Reyes-Urtula,
Isabel Santos, Jose Lardizabal and Dr. Leticia P. de Guzman
• made Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company one of the premier artistic
and cultural groups in the country (reaped international recognition)
• National Artist for Music in 1989 (lone addition to the roster)
• President of the Cultural Center of the Philippines during the Marcos
years, which music lovers like to describe as the "golden age of CCP" in
terms of world-class presentations
• Special consultant during the Aquino administration
• Other key positions in both national and international music
LUCRESIA KASILAG with Ferdinand
Marcos, Imelda Marcos, pianist Van
organizations: National Music Council of the Philippines, Regional Music
Clibur and England’s prima ballerina Commission of Southeast Asia, and the National Music Competition for
assoluta Dame Margot Fonteyn. Young Artists Foundation
 DR. LUCRECIA ROCES KASILAG

Awards and Honors:

• Doctor of Music, Honoris Causa from the Centro Escolar University,
1975
• Doctor of Law, Honoris Causa from the Philippine Women's University,
1980
• Doctor of Fine Arts, Honoris Causa from the St. John's University in New
York, 1981
• The Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL) Awardee for Culture and the Arts, 1989
• Avicenna award from the USSR
• Dama de La Orden Alfonso X el Sabio from the Spanish government
• Japan’s Third Class of the Order of the Precious Crown
• France’s Commandeur dans l’Ordre de Arts et des Lettres
 DR. LUCRECIA ROCES KASILAG:
COMPOSITIONS
has composed more than 250 works covering most genres including
orchestra, chamber, organ, piano, vocal, sacred, operetta, dance,
theatre, electronic and incidental music:
• “Love Songs” • “The Message,” for voice
• “Legend of the Sarimanok” • “Love Songs,” a song cycle for
• “Ang Pamana” soprano and piano
• “Philippine Scenes” • “Paru-paro at Uod” from Jose
• “Her Son” Rizal’s “Pamana ng Lahi”
• “Jose” • also arranged for duet, or for
• “Sisa” voice and string quartet, and for
• “Awit ng mga Awit Psalms” “Dularawan,” a song-dance
• “Fantaisie on a 4-Note Theme” drama which was first
• “East Meets Jazz Ethnika” performed at the inauguration Dularawan (Excerpts)
• “For You” for voice of the CCP in 1969 From the album: Pagdiriwang
1979
DR. LUCRECIA ROCES KASILAG:
COMPOSITIONS
• Having been exposed to the European classical music
tradition in her studies, Kasilag drew interest to the exotic
elements of Philippine traditional music and combined the
two
• She collected and made studies of native instruments, as
well as other Asian music during her travels
• Her concept of east-west fusion became the main basis for
her numerous works, where she combined timbres of
native and western instruments, and scales of different
musical systems, therefore making her music distinctive
• such as the Divertissement for Piano and Orchestra, the
prize-winning "Toccata for Percussions and Winds,
Divertissement and Concertante," and the scores of the
"Filiasiana," "Misang Pilipino" and "De Profundis"
 DR. LUCRECIA ROCES KASILAG:
COMPOSITIONS
• Kasilag's compositional style embodied Classic and Romantic style during the 1940s
• However, from the 1950s, her style was more experimental and incorporated twentieth-century
techniques in standard forms. . . .
• April Morning (Fantasie Tone-Poem) was composed and completed by May 6, 1941. This composition is
based on a poem by a Filipina poet, Angela Manalang-Gloria (1907 - 1994)
DR. LUCRECIA ROCES KASILAG:
COMPOSITIONS
• Theme and Variations (based on a Filipino Folk Tune kundiman 'Walay
Angay') April 17, 1950: use of Filipino folk songs . . . shows Kasilag's highly
imaginative skill in converting a simple melody into various forms
challenging the listener's ear with fresh material by which to perceive an old
one
• was composed during Kasilag's years at Eastman, she incorporated new
compositional techniques, like multi-meter and quartal and quintal
harmonies, into her compositions
• Other techniques: rhythmic patterns including triplets, dotted rhythms of
particular figures and placing accents on weak parts of the measure
• Elegy on Mt. Pinatubo (September 16, 1991), Kasilag graphically essays a
poignant lamentation over the catastrophic tragedy wrought by the volcano,
Mt. Pinatubo
• This composition is programmatic and evokes a clear depiction of the
eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991. Kasilag demonstrates it well by use of
trills, major and minor seventh tremolos, scalar passages in parallel octaves
and ninths, glissandi, extreme upper and lower registers, and quartal
harmonies (lacking the third for an open sound)
 DR. LUCRECIA ROCES KASILAG:
COMPOSITIONS

Carmencita LOZADA, violin ~ Francisco FELICIANO conducting the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra
KASILAG Violin Concerto, LK 241 BUENAVENTURA Violin Concerto in E Minor "Lakambini" MARCO POLO
(1986)
DR. LUCRECIA ROCES KASILAG:
COMPOSITIONS

From the Album: Authentic Philippines

January 1, 1999
 DR. LUCRECIA ROCES KASILAG:
COMPOSITIONS

Lucrecia Kasilag - Violin Concerto (1/3) - Moderato

Carmencita Lozada: violin
Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra
Francisco Feliciano: conductor
Manila-Nov. 1983
Premiere performance and recording
Composed specially for Carmencita Lozada
DR. LUCRECIA ROCES KASILAG:
COMPOSITIONS

Lucrecia Kasilag - Concerto-(2/3)-Adiago

Carmencita Lozada: violin
Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra
Francisco Feliciano: conductor
Manila-Nov. 1983
Premiere performance and recording
Composed specially for Carmencita Lozada
DR. LUCRECIA ROCES KASILAG:
COMPOSITIONS

Lucrecia Kasilag - Concerto-(3/3)-Allegro

Carmencita Lozada: violin
Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra
Francisco Feliciano: conductor
Manila-Nov. 1983
Premiere performance and recording
Composed specially for Carmencita Lozada
DR. LUCRECIA ROCES KASILAG:
COMPOSITIONS

Lucrecia Kasilag(left) – Sonata for Violin and Organ

Composed for Carmencita Lozada (right): violin
Hans Trummer: organ
10th Bamboo Organ Festival - 1985
Allegretto-Andante-Allegro
 DR. LUCRECIA ROCES KASILAG:
OTHER COMPOSITIONS

National Music Competitions for Young Artists, Commissioned Works for

Youth Choir 1975-1978
(A Project of the First Lady, Imelda Romualdez Marcos, undertaken
annually by the Cultural Center of the Philippines)
Paperback – 1979
by Chairman Lucrecia R. Kasilag (Preface)
DR. LUCRECIA ROCES KASILAG:
OTHER COMPOSITIONS

National Music Competitions for Young Artists Commissioned Works for

Children's Choir 1973-1978
(A Project of the First Lady, Imelda Romualdez Marcos, undertaken
annually by the Cultural Center of the Philippines)
Paperback – 1979
by Lucrecia R. Kasilag (composer) (Author), Lucio D. San Pedro (composer)
(Author), Ramon Pagayon Santos (composer) (Author), Chairman Lucecia
R. Kasilag (Preface)
 DR. LUCRECIA ROCES KASILAG:
OTHER COMPOSITIONS
Excerpt from the book:

Lucrecia Roces Kasilag: My Story

(Autobiography)
Philippine Women's University, 2000
158 pages
 DR. LUCRECIA ROCES KASILAG:
AND OTHERS

National Artist for Music Lucrecia Kasilag at

the Virac airport in 1992 with Pablo
Tariman, Estrella Placides and pianist Zenas
Reyes Lozada.
DR. LUCRECIA ROCES KASILAG:
AS FEATURED ARTIST

LUCRECIA R KASILAG AN ARTIST FOR THE WORLD

Paperback – 1985
by DE LA TORRE V (Author)
 DR. LUCRECIA ROCES KASILAG:
CONCLUSION

• Biographical research on Kasilag has revealed her to be a well-

known, successful pianist and composer of the twentieth
century
• She has to her credit over 250 works of many genres. She has
earned the respect of her Philippine countrymen and
colleagues as well as educators abroad
• Kasilag's use of Filipino folk songs as thematic material and
indigenous structural elements as the main melodic motif,
had introduced a new perspective and technique in the study
of indigenous music in the Philippines
 REFERENCES:
• Himig: The Filipio Music Collection of FHL. Lucrecia R. Kasilag. http://www.himig.com.ph/features/32-lucrecia-r-kasilag;
http://www.himig.com.ph/people/23-lucrecia-roces-kasilag?composer=true; http://www.himig.com.ph/albums/389-
pagdiriwang/songs/4620-dularawan-excerpts.
• Tariman, P.A. The Philippine Daily Inquirer. Lucrecia Kasilag, grand dame of RP music, dies at 90.
http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view/20080817-155206/Lucrecia-Kasilag-grand-dame-of-RP-music-
dies-at-90.
• National Commission for Culture and the Arts. THE NATIONAL ARTISTS OF THE PHILIPPINES: Lucrecia R. Kasilag.
http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about-ncca/org-awards/music/lucrecia_kasilag.php.
• Filipino American Artists Network. A Homage for Lucrecia Kasilag, First Lady of Philippine Music.
http://www.filamartists.com/2008/08/19/a-homage-for-lucrecia-kasilag/.
• Salido, C.B. The Piano Compositional Style of Lucrecia Roces Kasilag. http://www.oovrag.com/essays/essay2004b-4.shtml.
http://www.amazon.com/Piano-Compositional-Style-Lucrecia-
Kasilag/dp/3639245636/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1427990175&sr=1-2-catcorr&keywords=lucrecia+kasilag.
• Bayanihan: The Philippine National Folk Dance Company. Dr. Lucrecia R. Kasilag: President and Music Director, Bayanihan.
http://www.bayanihannationaldanceco.ph/kasilag.html.
• Yan, C. B. Lucrecia Kasilag: First Lady of Philippine Music.
http://www.globalpinoy.com/gp.topics.v1/viewtopic.php?postid=4d22ca80b77ec&channelName=4d22ca80b77ec.
 REFERENCES:
• Carmencita Lozada: Kasilag / Buenaventura: Violin Concertos Lp. http://www.amazon.com/Carmencita-Lozada-Kasilag-
Buenaventura-Concertos/dp/B00HJI2HUM.
• Lucrecia Kasilag-Violin Concerto-(1/3)-Moderato. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkD4QwDlf4s.
• Lucrecia Kasilag-Violin Concerto-(2/3)-Adiago. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGJem06x4bE.
• Lucrecia Kasilag-Violin Concerto-(3/3)-Allegro. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI70ibkC0Jo.
• Lucrecia Kasilag-Sonata for Violin and Organ (Composed for Carmencita Lozada).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktyoiHEMTIA.
• De la Torre, Visitacion R. (1985). Lucrecia R. Kasilag: an Artist for the World.
• Felipe, Vilma R. Santiago- (1998). A Gem of a Person, A Jewel of an Artist. In The National Artists of the Philippines (pp. 209–217).
Pasig City: Anvil Publishing.
• Tariman, Pablo. (2008, August 17). Lucrecia Kasilag, grand dame of RP music, dies at 90”. Philippine Daily Inquirer.
• Tiongson, Nicanor (Ed.). (1994). CCP encyclopedia of Philippine art (Vol. 6: Philippine music). Manila: Cultural Center of the
Philippines.
• National Music Competitions for Young Artists, Commissioned Works for Youth Choir 1975-1978.
http://www.amazon.com/Competitions-Commissioned-1975-1978-undertaken-
Philippines/dp/B002RGRNCI/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1427990745&sr=1-1.
• National Music Competitions for Young Artists Commissioned Works for Children's Choir 1973-1978.
http://www.amazon.com/Competitions-Commissioned-Childrens-undertaken-
Philippines/dp/B002RGLPDG/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1427990745&sr=1-2.
 DR. LUCRECIA
ROCES KASILAG
“Tita King”
“First Lady of Philippine Music”
National Artist in Music in 1989
Distinguished composer and music educator
Former President of the Cultural Center of the Philippines