By Ramoncito Carpio

Bayani Mendoza de Leon(1942 – 2013)

Three K’s for Solo Guitar

Born November 24, 1942 to a family of musicians

Son of Felipe De Leon (National Artist for Music) and Illuminada Mendoza ( Concert Pianist)

Grandson of Ladislao Bonus “Father of the Filipino Opera”Sandugong Panaginip –

first Philippine Opera

Bayani Mendoza de Leon

"Musician of the Year" and "Student Composer of the Year" for his compositions "Hibik sa Karimlan" and "Handog sa Diyos"  during his Junior Highschool Year

Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy (University of Santo Tomas)

News Editor of UST magazine, “The Varsitarian”His short story, "Mga Luha Ni Lela" won a

Palanca award in 1965Distinguished member of the League of Filipino

Composers in 1971He won an international prize in 1976 for his

work ”Bantay-Bata”Fulbright-Hays Scholar (1979)Master of Arts in Composition (University of

California in San Diego, 1982)

2008 Pamana ng Pilipino Presidential Award  (Pres. Arroyo)

2008 Most Outstanding Filipino American Achievers of America

Listed in Grove’s International Dictionary of Music and Musicians.

First Filipino-American composer to write a full-scale symphonic poem, Batong-Buhay for rondalla

Director of 2 dance companies in San Diego

PASACAT Performing Arts Company SAMAHAN Philippine Dance Company

Director of Rondalla Groups:University of the Philippines Alumni and Friends RondallaPaaralang Pilipino Foundation RondallaAlay Philippines Performing Arts RondallaFoundation for Filipino Artists Rondalla

Married to concert pianist Cynthia Guerrero

Two children: Sarighani and Lakasnubay

2nd wife is the poet Rhodora V. Penaranda, Two children, Okir and Amihan

A few months after suffering from a stroke, Bayani died Sept 14, 2013.

KAPILAS NA GITING

(A Measure of Valor)

Premiered in 1976 by Filipino guitarist Agnes Narciso at the Espla Conservatory of Music, Alicante ,Spain

Based on percussive beats of Ifugao songs

Kumintang – an ancient Philippine war chant that later evolved into a love ditty

Uses traditional classical guitar technique

Showcase the tonal and rhythmic agility of the guitar.

KUNDIMANG WALANG TITIK(Kundiman Without

Words)Romance for Solo Guitar

Aims to create a piece written in the style of the Kundiman but with an occasional contemporary touch

Kundiman is a genre of Filipino art songs Lyrics are written in TagalogMinor-major relationship The melody is characterized by a smooth,

flowing and gentle rhythm with dramatic intervals. Kundiman was the traditional means of serenade  in the Philippines.

KUDYAWIT(Song of the Kudyapi)

Coinage of two Filipino words: Kudyapi (plucked lute) and Awit (song)

Binalig = a Maguindanaon term to refer to “modern style” of playingAccording to De Leon, an incessant

barrage of sixteenth notes carved out of two hexagonal scales built largely on minor 2nds and major 3rds

Kudyapi Two stringed lute made of wood, one string for the melody, one for the drone.It is four to six feet long with nine frets made of hardened beeswax

The instrument

is carved out of solid soft wood such as that from the jackfruit tree.only stringed instrument among the Maguindanao people

Andante Cantabile breaks away from the Binalig rhythm ; freer diatonicism in harmonic texture

Syncopations, cascading patterns, short repetitive pulses, interplay between melodic runs and chordal strokes

end