Heber Bartolome
Encyclopedia
Heber Gonzalez Bartolome (born on November 4, 1948) is a Filipino
folk and folk rock
singer, songwriter, composer, poet, guitarist, bandurria
player, bluesman, and painter. His music was influenced by the “stylistic tradition” of Philippine
folk and religious melodies. He was the founder of Banyuhay, a "protest band" that carried the trademark sound of the kubing
, a native musical instrument in the Philippines. His compositions were described as a “unique synthesis of rock and blues, and Philippine ethnic rhythms”. Bartolome’s song “Nena” became a hit in 1977. His “Tayo’y Mga Pinoy” (We’re Filipinos) was a finalist during the 1978 first Metro Manila Popular Music Festival
.
in Nueva Ecija
, Philippines to Deogracias Bartolome and Angelina Gonzalez. Deogracias Bartolome was a pastor and violin and guitar maker, and a rondalla
band leader while Angelina Gonzalez was a singer in the zarzuela
. During his school days, Heber Bartolome was a member of the ROTC Band and the University of the Philippines Concert Chorus. Bartolome started his professional career in music in folk houses during the late 1960s. In 1973, Bartolome obtained the degree in Fine Arts from the University of the Philippines
. He was a professor of Filipino Literature at the De La Salle University
from 1981 to 1984. As a musician, he held performances throughout the Philippines. Abroad, he staged concerts in Australia
and Europe
. In 1993, he launched “Mga Awit ni Heber” (Heber’s Songs), a collection of Bartolome's greatest songs. Apart from being a musician, Bartolome also exhibited artworks and was an active lobbyist for the rights of Filipino composers. He was the founder of the UP Astrology Society back in 1974 which also went nationwide.
written by Rene O. Villanueva. Bartolome was a former member and trustee of the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, Inc.
(FILSCAP), an organization in the Philippines responsible for collecting royalties for its members after holding public performances and for songs used on television and radio broadcast, movies and the like FILSCAP's responsibility of royalty collecting extends to members of foreign affiliates such as the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers
(Ascap), Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI), Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong
(CASH), and more than fifty other organizations.
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
folk and folk rock
Pinoy rock
Pinoy rock, or Filipino rock, is the brand of rock music produced in the Philippines or by Filipinos. It has become as diverse as the rock music genre itself, and bands adopting this style are now further classified under more specific genres or combinations of genres like alternative rock,...
singer, songwriter, composer, poet, guitarist, bandurria
Bandurria
The bandurria is a plectrum chordophone from Spain, similar to the cittern and the mandolin, primarily used in Spanish folk music.Prior to the 18th century, the bandurria had with a round back, similar or related to the mandore. It had become a flat-backed instrument by the 18th century, with five...
player, bluesman, and painter. His music was influenced by the “stylistic tradition” of Philippine
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
folk and religious melodies. He was the founder of Banyuhay, a "protest band" that carried the trademark sound of the kubing
Kubing
The kubing is a type of Philippine jaw harp from bamboo found among the Maguindanaon and other Muslim and non-Muslim tribes in the Philippines and Indonesia. It is also called kobing , kolibau , aru-ding ), aroding , kulaing , karombi , yori...
, a native musical instrument in the Philippines. His compositions were described as a “unique synthesis of rock and blues, and Philippine ethnic rhythms”. Bartolome’s song “Nena” became a hit in 1977. His “Tayo’y Mga Pinoy” (We’re Filipinos) was a finalist during the 1978 first Metro Manila Popular Music Festival
Metro Manila Popular Music Festival
The Metro Manila Popular Music Festival is a songwriting competition launched by the Popular Music Foundation of the Philippines in 1977. Its objective was to promote the advancement of Filipino music, and its chief proponents were Teodoro Valencia and Imee Marcos...
.
Biography
Bartolome was born in Cabanatuan CityCabanatuan City
The City of Cabanatuan is a first class, urban city in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. It is considered the commercial, industrial and educational hub of the province. According to the latest census, it has a population of 259,267 people in 45,424 households which makes it the largest...
in Nueva Ecija
Nueva Ecija
Nueva Ecija is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is Palayan City...
, Philippines to Deogracias Bartolome and Angelina Gonzalez. Deogracias Bartolome was a pastor and violin and guitar maker, and a rondalla
Rondalla
The rondalla is an ensemble of stringed instruments played with the plectrum or pick and generally known as plectrum instruments. It originated in Medieval Spain, especially in Catalunya, Aragon, Murcia, and Valencia...
band leader while Angelina Gonzalez was a singer in the zarzuela
Zarzuela
Zarzuela is a Spanish lyric-dramatic genre that alternates between spoken and sung scenes, the latter incorporating operatic and popular song, as well as dance...
. During his school days, Heber Bartolome was a member of the ROTC Band and the University of the Philippines Concert Chorus. Bartolome started his professional career in music in folk houses during the late 1960s. In 1973, Bartolome obtained the degree in Fine Arts from the University of the Philippines
University of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
. He was a professor of Filipino Literature at the De La Salle University
De La Salle University
De La Salle University is a private Lasallian university in Malate, Manila, Philippines. It was founded in 1911 by De La Salle Brothers as the De La Salle College in Paco, Manila with Blimond Pierre serving as its first director...
from 1981 to 1984. As a musician, he held performances throughout the Philippines. Abroad, he staged concerts in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. In 1993, he launched “Mga Awit ni Heber” (Heber’s Songs), a collection of Bartolome's greatest songs. Apart from being a musician, Bartolome also exhibited artworks and was an active lobbyist for the rights of Filipino composers. He was the founder of the UP Astrology Society back in 1974 which also went nationwide.
Career in music
Bartolome’s famous songs include “Pasahero” or ‘passenger’ (1977), “Almusal” or ‘breakfast’, “Inutil na Gising” or ‘an awake fool’ (1985), and “Karaniwang Tao” or ‘ordinary person’ (1985). He was the songwriter of the tune for Bulwagang Gantimpala’s “Ibong Adarna”, a 1989 musical drama with a librettoLibretto
A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...
written by Rene O. Villanueva. Bartolome was a former member and trustee of the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, Inc.
Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, Inc.
The Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, Inc. , is an collecting society in the Philippines. It undertakes collective rights management for public performances and use of songs in television and radio broadcast and movies...
(FILSCAP), an organization in the Philippines responsible for collecting royalties for its members after holding public performances and for songs used on television and radio broadcast, movies and the like FILSCAP's responsibility of royalty collecting extends to members of foreign affiliates such as the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers
American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers is an American not-for-profit performance-rights organization that protects its members' musical copyrights by monitoring public performances of their music, whether via a broadcast or live performance, and compensating them...
(Ascap), Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI), Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong
Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong
The Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong Ltd. is a copyright society in Hong Kong which aims to administer and enforce collectively the rights of composers and authors of musical works subsisting under the copyright law of Hong Kong SAR. Its motto is: "Protect Copyright - Let Creativity...
(CASH), and more than fifty other organizations.
External links
- Official website
- Heber Bartolome at facebook.com