Abelardo, Nicanor(bSan Miguel, Bulacan,7 Feb 1893;dManila,21 March 1934).Filipinocomposer,conductorandteacher. As a child he had violin lessons from his father, and in 1901 he wrote his first composition,Ang unang buko(The First Fruit), a waltz. He was sent to study at the Liceo de Manila and he learnt to play the piano, but at the same time he had to take various jobs to support himself and his family. In 1916 he entered the Conservatory of the University of the Philippines, and in the next year he composed a march,U. P. Beloved, which won first prize in an open competition. He studied with Victoriano Carreon (singing), Jos Silos (bandurria), Bonifacio Abdon (violin) and Jos Estella (piano); he received a teachers certificate at the conservatory in 1921, and in 1923 he pursued postgraduate studies there.The piano concerto, which he wrote for these later courses, was the first concerto written by a Filipino. From the same period areNasaan ka irog(Where are you, Beloved?) andMutya ng Pasig(Muse of Pasig River), examples of his work in developing thekundiman(love-song) into an art song form. Even before graduating he had begun to teach at the University of the Philippines, encouraged by his teachers Guy Harrison and Robert Schofield. But in 1925 he came into controversy with the conservatory director, Alexander Lippay, when he took charge of the Santa Ana cabaret orchestra. Among the awards he received in the following years were two first prizes at the Philippine Carnival Contest of 1931. In that year he went to the USA under a fellowship from the University of the Philippines, and in 1932 he took the MM at the Chicago Musical College. These were his most productive years, which saw the composition of several important works, among them the polytonal suitePanoramasand the concert overtureCinderella, with which he won the La Violette Scholarship. He returned to the Philippines in 1932 and rejoined the university staff. At his sudden death he left incomplete a symphony and an opera,Florante at Laura. His contribution to Philippine music lies not only in his abundant and profound output (he wrote over 150 works), but also in his work as a brilliant teacher of theory and composition. He published a number of treatises and scholarly essays.WORKS(selective list)Orch: Academic Ov., 1921; Mountain Suite, 1921; Pf Conc., b, 1923; Valse lgante, sym. band, 1931; Cinderella, ov., 1931; Sinfonietta, 1931; Sym., unfinished

Chbr and solo inst: Ang unang buko [The First Fruit], waltz, 1901; U.P. Beloved, march, 1917; Cavatina, vn, 1921; Nocturne no.1, pf, 1921; Romanza, vc, 1921; Pf Sonata, C, 1921; Str Qt no.1, F, 1921; Capriccio espaol, vn, 1923; Fantasie-impromptu, pf, 1923; Fifes and Castagnets, fl, pf, 1931; Naughty Nymph, fl, pf, 1931; Panoramas, fl, cel, pf, vn, va, 1931; Sonata, str qt, 1931; Sonata, vn, pf, 1931; A Visayan Caprice, pf trio, 1932

Kundiman: Nasaan ka irog [Where are you, Beloved?], 1923; Kundiman ng Luha, 1924; Magbalik ka Hirang, 1925; Pahimakas, 1925; Bituing marikit, 1926; Mutya ng Pasig [Muse of Pasig River], 1926; Himutok, 1929; Sa iyong kandungan, 1932

Other vocal works: Ave Maria, S, vn, 1921; Ang aking bayan, 1v, pf, 1923; Kung hindi man, 1v, pf trio, 1923; Health Service Hymn, 1924; Canto del viajero (J. Rizal), 1v, pf, 1925; National Heroes Day Hymn, 1928; Salve regina mater, S, Bar, vc, pf, 1932, Misa de Requiem, 1934; Florante at Laura, op, unfinished