Ramón Pagayon Santos (born 25 February 1941) is a Filipino

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Defi ...

ethnomusicologist Ethnomusicology is the study of music from the cultural and social aspects of the people who make it. It encompasses distinct theoretical and methodical approaches that emphasize cultural, social, material, cognitive, biological, and other dim ...

, and educator known for being the Philippines' foremost living exponent of contemporary Filipino classical music, for work that expounds on "the aesthetic frameworks of Philippine and Southeast Asian artistic traditions," and for finding new uses of indigenous Philippine instruments. A University Professor Emeritus of the composition and theory department at the College of Music of the University of the Philippines Diliman, he was proclaimed National Artist of the Philippines for music in 2014.

Work as ethnomusicologist

In 1976, Santos began doing fieldwork among folk religious groups in Quezon, collecting and documenting their music. He later also did similar fieldwork among the Ibaloi, Mansaka,

Bontoc Bontoc may refer to: * Bontoc, Mountain Province, Philippines * Bontoc, Southern Leyte, Philippines * Bontoc people, an ethnic group from Central Luzon, Philippines * Bontoc language Bontoc (Bontok) (also called Finallig) is the native language ...

Yakan Yakan may refer to: * Yakan people, a community of the Philippines * Yakan language, a language of the Philippines * Cape Yakan, in Russia People with the name * Adly Yakan Pasha (1864–1933), Egyptian politician * Fathi Yakan (1933–2009), Le ...

and Boholano peoples. The Philippines'

National Commission on Culture and the Arts The National Commission for Culture and the Arts of the Philippines ( fil, Pambansang Komisyon para sa Kultura at mga Sining, ceb, Nasodnong Komisyon alang sa Budaya ug mga Arte) is the official government agency for culture in the Philippines. ...

notes that as a result, Santos' compositions beginning in this period in his professional life were characterized by "the translation of indigenous musical systems into modern musical discourse."

Compositions

Some of Santos' compositions include: * ''Rituwal ng Pasasalamat'' * ''Likas-An * ''Badiw as Kapoonan'' * ''Awit ni Pulau'' * ''Daragang Magayon'' * ''Ta-O'' * ''Sandiwaan'' * ''Nagnit Igak G’nan Wagnwag Nila (Alingawngaw ng Kagitingan)'' * ''Kulintang'' * ''Panaghoy''

Recognition

Santos was made a

Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et Lettres The ''Ordre des Arts et des Lettres'' (Order of Arts and Letters) is an order of France established on 2 May 1957 by the Minister of Culture. Its supplementary status to the was confirmed by President Charles de Gaulle in 1963. Its purpose is ...

in 1987. He was one of six people added to the roster of

National Artists 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 Philippin ...

in 2014.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Santos, Ramon 1941 births Chevaliers of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres National Artists of the Philippines University of the Philippines alumni Indiana University alumni University at Buffalo alumni Living people People from Pasig Filipino classical composers Filipino music educators Musicians from Metro Manila

Work as ethnomusicologist

Compositions

Recognition

See also

References