Cultural Syncretism in Filipino Choral Music

Abstract

The music of the Philippines is a complex tapestry woven from the influences of Spanish andAmerican colonialism on the cultural identity of modern Filipino composers and the choral music they write. More than a hybrid creation patching one cultural influence against another, Filipino culture embodies the idea of syncretism, which combines two or more cultures to create another entity. This study begins by providing a brief description of Philippine history and the music practices affected by it. Through the research of Philippine music history, Filipino vocal music has reflected an artistic amalgamation of Asian-Indigenous, Spanish, and American influences. This cultural syncretism is prevalent in Filipino choral music, a tradition spearheaded by the nationally-renowned choral group, the Philippine Madrigal Singers, and the plethora of composers emerging through the choir’s mission of spreading cultural goodwill. This study focuses on the composers’ perspective on creating Filipino music. Five selected Filipino and Filipino-American composers expressed their cultural identity during interviews about their composition style and selected songs they have written. The composers interviewed for this study were Robin Estrada, Frederick Bayani Mabalot, Saunder Choi, Ily Matthew Maniano, and Matthew Lyon Hazzard. They each spoke about their Filipino identity and how they incorporated that awareness into their original music. This study then analyzes the similarities within their compositions about expressions or aspects of Filipino identity. Trends of cultural expression in Filipino choral music include showing reverence for Catholic traditions through the setting of sacred texts, setting secular texts in dual languages, combining musical elements of Asian and Western contemporary styles, and addressing emotional characteristics as a reaction to real-life experiences or events that have occurred in the Philippines. Filipino culture exists in a diaspora expanding across oceans, and composers choosing to write songs that echo their Filipino identity do so by engaging with varied musical cultures to create their art. This shows how syncretic Filipino culture has become.