Antonio Jesus Naguiat Molina Antonio Jesus Naguiat Molina was born on the 26th of December, 1894, in Quiapo,

Manila. He is the son of Juan Molina, a customs inspector during the final years of the Spanish regime, and Simeona
Naguiat. Antonio Molina was married to Pilar Siauingco with whom he had six children - among them are: Rostia, a
pianist; Exequiel (Lito), a jazz artist and journalist; and, Antonio Maria, Jr., a US-based conductor and composer. Antonio
Sr.'s father founded the 22-piece Orquestra Molina, whose members lived and rehearsed in the family residence. At 12,
Antonio Sr. could play the violin. The bandurria, mandolin, guitar, laud, bajo de unas and octavina, and the cello all
followed later. He received his Bachelor's degree in 1909 at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran. Prior to that, he also
went to the Escuela de Catolica de Quiapo, where he began his first formal schooling. In 1919, he enrolled at the
University of the Philippines (UP) Conservatory of Music. His teachers included Nicanor Abelardo and the Conservatory
Director, Robert Schofield. He obtained his teacher's diploma in 1923. From 1922 to 1924, he concertised extensively in
Hanoi and other parts of Indo-China. He also taught at the UP Conservatory of Music and then at the Centro Escolar
University. He functioned both as organizer and conductor of Philippine choral and rondalla music groups wherein he
was also actively involved. He conducted the premiere of the Bach's Christmas Oratorio on the 14th of December, 1947,
the first performance of Mozart's opera, Don Giovanni, and the first television choral concert to be presented in the
Philippines. Molina's first composition, "Matinal" (1912), is preserved in an unpublished volume called Miniaturas, Vol. I.
According to the composer, they are called Miniaturas because they do not seem to have arrived at a category of serious
musical works. They are merely combinations of melody and harmony conceived during a moment of enthusiasm,
passion, or humour, and later written down. They are products of inspiration and instinct, and not of technical studies in
music. He then wrote a set of waltzes, Lamentos de mi Patria (Laments of my Fatherland) in 1913, and "Hatinggabi", his
most famous violin piece (1915). His hundreds of compositions include a sarswela entitled "Ana Maria", done while he
was still in school. His most important orchestral works are Misa Antoniana Grand Festival Mass (1964) and Ang
Batingaw (1972). Among his chamber music compositions are Prelude and Romanz for cello and piano (1928) and
Bontok Rhapsody. Some of his piano works are Malikmata (1939) and We Were Moonlight (1941). His major works are
composed of chamber music, choral, piano, violin, theatre, voice and violoncello music. Many of his works still have not
been published. Antonio Molina received numerous awards such as the Conductor of the Year Award (1953) from the
Music Lovers' Society, the UP Conservatory Alumni Award and the Phi Kappa Beta Award (1972), among others. He was
the first musician to be conferred the National Artist Award (12th June, 1972). Antonio Molina, Sr. died on the 29th of
January, 1980. Reference: (https://filipinokundimans.blogspot.com/2014/02/antonio-jesus-naguiat-molina.html)

Biography:
(26 December 1894 – 29 January 1980) was a Filipino composer, conductor and music administrator. He was
named a National Artist of the Philippines for his services to music. He was also known as the Claude
Debussy of the Philippines due to his use of impressionism in music.
He was a versatile musician, composer, music educator was the last of the musical triumvirate, two of whom
were Nicanor Abelardo and Francisco Santiago, who elevated music beyond the realm of folk music. At an early
age, he took to playing the violoncello and played it so well it did not take long before he was playing as
orchestra soloist for the Manila Grand Opera House. Molina is credited with introducing such innovations as
the whole tone scale, pentatonic scale, exuberance of dominant ninths and eleventh cords, and linear
counterpoints. As a member of the faculty of the UP Conservatory, he had taught many of the country’s leading
musical personalities and educators like Lucresia Kasilag and Felipe de Leon.
Date of death: 29 January 1980
Cause of death: Congestive heart failure

Works:

–Hatinggabi,

-Misa Antoniana Grand Festival Mass

-Ang Batingaw, Kundiman- Kundangan

-Kung sa Iyong Gunita

-Pandangguhan

-Amihan

-Awit ni Maria Clara

-Larawan Nitong Pilipinas

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Molina_(composer)

http://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/culture-profile/national-artists-of-the-
philippines/antonio-j-molina/

The Classical Music of Antonio J. Molina Antonio J. Molina (1894-1980), acknowledged as "dean of
Filipino composers" is in his time. He is a musician, composer and educator. He is one of the
triumvirate in Filipino music together with Nicanor Abelardo and Francisco Santiago, who elevated
Philippine music beyond the realm of folk music. He was a recipient of National Artist of the
Philippines for music category in 1973. He took his lessons in violin and solfeggio to Celestino de
Vera , a member of his father's orchestra at early age an later became a member of the said orchestra.
He obtained his Bachelor of Arts in 1909 at San Juan de Letran. He also studied architectural design,
landscape sketching and decorative freehand drawing in Letran. He took also law to follow the wish of
his father and finish in senior year. He obtained his teacher's diploma in violoncello at University of
the Philippines Conservatory of music in 1923. He was acknowledged as an eminent violoncellist,
composer, conductor, teacher and music administrator after graduation. Antonio Molina was
appointed as faculty member of the UP Conservatory of Music in 1924. During World War II, he
taught music appreciation and choral singing at the St. Luke's Hospital Nursing School and served as
consultant in music education at Bureau of Public Schools. In 1946 after the war, he was the guest
conductor of the Manila Concert Orchesta during its performance at Malacanang Palace. In 1947, he
served as faculty member of University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music. In 1948, he was
assigned as musical director of Centro Escolar University until 1970 which made him dean emeritus
after his retirement. His composition is over 500, with "Hatinggabi", the most popular them is a
serenade for solo violin and piano accompaniment. Other works are (orchestral music) Misa
Antoniana Grand Festival Mass, Ang Batingaw, Kundiman-Kundangan; (chamber music) Hatinggabi,
String Quartet, Kung sa Iyong Gunita, Pandangguhan; (vocal music) Amihan, Awit ni Maria Clara,
Larawan Nitong Pilipinas and among others. He is the recipient of various awards and citations such
as diploma of honor, Manila Music Lovers Society, 1940; "Choral Conductor of the Year", "Music
Researcher of the Year", Music Lovers Society, 1949; Araw ng Maynila Award in music, 1969;
Republic Cultural Heritage Award in 1965 and 1972 and in June 12 1973, the most coveted National
Artist of the Philippines.