National Artist for Music Francisco Feliciano passes away

Seventy-three-year-old Dr. Francisco F. Feliciano passed away after losing a lengthy battle with cancer on Friday, September 19.

He is considered one of the Philippines' most important composers and was one of Asia's leading composers in liturgical music.

 

Feliciano was declared National Artist for Music in June earlier this year, alongside ethnomusicologist and fellow composer Ramon Santos. He was commissioned to write the opera "Amy," a historical war account set in Leyte province, at the time he was bestowed the award.  

 

Born on February 19, 1941, Feliciano obtained his degree in Music Composition from the Hochschule der Kuenste in Berlin, Germany, his Masters in Music Composition from the University of the Philippines; and his Master of Musical Arts and Doctorate in Musical Arts, Composition at Yale University School of Music. Among his esteemed teachers numbered conductors Arthur Weisberg and Martin Behrmann, and composers IsangYun, Jacob Druckman, Krystof Penderecki, and H.W. Zimmerman.

 

Feliciano went on to compose more than 30 major musical dramas and operatic works and over hundreds of worship songs. 

 

He first exploded into the Manila spotlight with the opera “La Loba Negra.” Other prize-winning works include “Pokpok Alimpako,” the ballet “Yerma,” “Sikhay Sa Kabila ng Paalam (Beyond the Farewell),” “Jose Abad Santos,” and “Ashen Wings.”

 

His work has been performed at choral festivals in Europe and the United States. He was given the John D. Rockefeller Award for Music Composition in 1977.

 

For some years, Feliciano was also a conductor of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. He was president and founder of the Samba-Likhaan Foundation: The Asian School of Music, Worship, and the Arts, an organization devoted to promoting Asian worship music. 

 

He leaves behind his wife Rebecca Feliciano and two children, Julette and J.J.

 

His body will lie at the Holy Angels Memorial in Morong, Rizal, until Sunday, after which his remains will be brought to Loyola Commonwealth for a wake until Tuesday. 
 

The necrological service is slated for Sept. 24 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. 

 

He will be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani cemetery. —Vida Cruz/KG, GMA News

Photo from sambalikhaan.org