Felipe de Leon

Felipe Padilla De Leon, composer, conductor, and scholar, Filipinized western music forms, a feat aspired for by Filipino composers who preceded him. The prodigious body of De Leon's musical compositions, notably the sonatas, marches and concertos have become the full expression of the sentiments and aspirations of the Filipino in times of strife and of peace, making him the epitome of a people's musician. He is the recipient of various awards and distinctions: Republic Cultural Heritage Award, Doctor of Humanities from UP, Rizal Pro-Patria Award, Presidential Award of Merit, Patnubay ng Kalinangan Award, among others. De Leon graduated from the Conservatory of Music, University of the Philippines, with a degree in Conducting. He lectured extensively on Philippine music in the Philippines, the United States, Canada, and Japan. He was music columnist of The Manila Times and Taliba, as well as other vernacular weeklies. De Leon's orchestral music include Mariang Makiling Overture (1939), Roca Encantada, symphonic legend (1950), Maynila Overture (1976), Orchesterstuk (1981); choral music like Payapang Daigdig, Ako'y Pilipino, Lupang Tinubuan, Ama Namin; and songs Bulaklak, Alitaptap, Mutya ng Lahi. De Leon was proclaimed National Artist for Music in 1997. He died on December 2, 1992.