Julián Felipe Day 2024: History and 5 Traditional Filipino Music and Dancing Styles

Julián Felipe Day 2024: Every year on January 28, people celebrate Julian Felipe Day in honor of the revolutionary and musician Julián Reyes Felipe. He was born in what is now Cavite City, in Cavite Nuevo. He was a committed music educator and composer who was appointed as Director of the National Band of the First Philippine Republic by then-President Emilio Aguinaldo. Known as “Master” by his students. For his elementary schooling, he attended public schools in Binondo, Manila, and Cavite. He showed considerable musical skill when he was a youngster. In addition to learning how to play the organ and piano, he eventually joined St. Peter’s Parish Church as an organist. Felipe had the opportunity to hone his musical skills as an organist.

Julián Felipe Day History

On January 28, people celebrate the birth anniversary of Julian R. Felipe, the man who wrote the song “Lupang Hinirang,” the national anthem. He was born in Cavite City in 1861 to Justo Felipe and Victoria Reyes. He attended public schools in Binondo and Cavite for his elementary and secondary education. As a child, he was employed as an organist at St. Peter’s Parish Church by a Recollect priest. “Aurora,” “Amorita Danza,” “Early Morning Danza,” “Cintas y Flores,” “Motete al Santisimo,” “Motet to the Most Holy,” and “Reina de Cavite” are among his masterpieces. In 1895, he was granted membership in the Sta. Cecilia Musical Society and a silver medal for his compositions. He fought alongside the “13 Martyrs of Cavite” (or ‘Trece Martires’) against the Spanish conquerors in 1896.

Following his release, he joined the forces of General Emilio Aguinaldo. Director of the National Band, he was also tasked with writing a new march for the declaration of independence by Aguinaldo. It was performed for the first time on June 12, 1898, by the Banda San Francisco de Malabon, a Cavite marching band. It was chosen as the national anthem of the First Philippine Republic. At the declaration of Philippine Independence, it was played when the Philippine flag was raised.

On September 6, 1938, the National Assembly adopted Felipe’s composition as the country’s anthem. The first section of Spain’s “Marcha Real,” which is still heard when the anthem is played, the second section of “La Marcha Rebelde,” or “The Rebel March,” which became the anthem’s official music in 1898, and the lyrics, which were based on a poem named “Filipinas” written by Jose Palma in 1878, served as the inspiration for the Philippine national anthem.

Felipe passed away on October 2, 1944, while residing in Manila. On September 1, 1994, the Philippines Congress proclaimed January 28 Julian Felipe Day. Julian Felipe Day honors the composer for his contributions to Philippine music with speeches, songs, and violin performances.

Summary Of Julián Felipe Day

Find out about his past.

You can celebrate this day by studying about this amazing man or the history of the Philippines that he penned, in honor of him and his accomplishments to his nation.

Check out his music

Numerous of Felipe’s compositions are available in stores and on the internet. The greatest approach to enjoy his music is to listen to each song in its original context, which will let you hear the instruments he utilized and comprehend the inspiration behind his choice of notes or rhythms. If you have an opportunity to go see live music on this day, do so; it will be even more impactful than listening from home.

Consider writing your original music.

Have a peek over his catalog and see what sparks your creativity. You might even try modifying the instruments or rhythms in one of his songs to make it your own.

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Five Traditional Filipino Music and Dancing Styles You Should Be Aware of

• The Rondalla is a musical group that plays guitars in addition to mandolins, which are instruments from the Iberian tradition.
• The Cariñosa is a folk dance from the Philippines that comes from the María Clara suite. In this dance, a pair uses fans and handkerchiefs as instruments while dancing to music and lyrics in Spanish.
• In the Tinikling, one or more dancers step over and between bamboo poles in time to avoid being clipped while the others slap and beat the ground in unison.
• The Sagayan is a style of war dance in which artists recite the story of the fights and triumphs of the folk hero Bantugan while brandishing swords and shields.
• The Kundiman is a kind of folk music from the Philippines that dates back to the Spanish era. It is based on a triple meter rhythm that originated in the Tagalog region before colonization.

Why It’s Important To Julián Felipe Day

It values his ability and sense of nationalism.

Felipe was a real patriot and a gifted artist. In addition to taking part in the rebellion against his conquerors, he also composed songs that the Filipino people still find courageous and patriotic.

He motivates us.

A modern-day hero is Julian Felipe. He is a guy who has devoted his life to serving his nation, and he has taught us the value of channeling our skills and efforts into improving the lives of others. He encourages us to contribute to our family, our nation, and ourselves.

Julián Felipe imparted wisdom on harmony and beauty.

He demonstrated to us the positive social effects of music and its capacity to significantly influence our lives. Similar to music, people can be unique, exquisite, graceful, magnificent, gritty, and forceful.

JULIAN FELIPE DAY DATES