Musical tapestry: selected piano solo works by Lucrecia Kasilag

Lucrecia Roces Kasilag (1918-2008) was a Filipino¹ composer, pianist, ethnomusicologist, and educator. She was named National Artist of the Philippines², the highest national Philippine recognition for artists who have made significant contributions to Philippine culture and society. While her solo piano works demonstrate high artistic and technical characteristics, they remain underrepresented in Western literature and global music curricula. This DMA Thesis Recording Project examines 15 solo works by Kasilag, including a performance recording of all fifteen works. One of Kasilag’s compositional traits includes the amalgamation of Eastern musical elements such as harmony and texture, with Western elements such as form, structure, and compositional techniques, forming unique musical tapestries of sound orchestration. By obtaining Kasilag’s handwritten scores from Philippine libraries, the researcher was able to conduct a thorough study of Kasilag’s works, compositional style, and her legacy in Philippine music. The general purpose of this thesis and recording is to expand the scholarship within Philippine Piano Literature and present underrepresented music to international audiences. Ultimately, this study affirms a cultural identity that transcends the individual composer, highlighting the Philippines and Southeast Asia as vital contributors to global art music traditions.

1 "Filipino" refers to people from the Philippines — citizens of the Republic of the Philippines, regardless of ethnic background.

2 Philippines is a nation in Southeast Asia comprising over 7,000 islands between the South China Sea and Pacific Ocean.