The document discusses liturgical music in the Philippines. It begins by providing background on Christianity in the Philippines and noting that music is an important part of religious celebrations. It then defines liturgy for Catholics as involving rituals like mass that celebrate Jesus' life and sacrifice. Liturgical music evolved from Latin hymns and chants introduced by Spanish colonizers to incorporate local languages and instruments. Key parts of mass like the Holy, Holy and Lamb of God became community songs. The oldest church in the Philippines, San Agustin in Manila, continues liturgical traditions.

1. MUSIC OF THE
LOWLANDS OF LUZON
Music for Liturgy and Devotional Music
By: BRENDA E. CACHERO

2. • In Asia, the Philippines is the only Christian nation, in which
majority of the population are Roman Catholics and the
remaining part of population belong to various Christian and
Protestant denominations. Obviously, that is the result of more
than 300 years of Spanish colonization in our country. Our
deep faith in God is very much seen in our culture and
tradition. Music, for example, can be heard in all religious
celebrations throughout the country.
• Today’s module will focus on the music that is used in liturgical
celebrations, that is Liturgical music. But before we explore the
music, let us first know what liturgy is.

3. LITURGY
• According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, a
Liturgy is a fixed set of ceremonies that are used
during public worship in a religion. Every religion
or sect has its own rites for praising God. These
may be in a form of bible sharing, testimonies,
singing, dancing, and chanting. Our discussion will
dwell more on the Roman Catholic religion’s
liturgy, since majority of our country’s population
are baptized in this religion.

4. LITURGY
• For the Catholics, liturgy is about God’s saving work
present in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, and
the highlight of these three is the celebration of the
Holy Mass wherein the priest is the main celebrant. The
Holy Mass is the highest form of liturgy with which the
body and blood of Christ is the center of the whole
celebration. Liturgy is a ritual prayer of a community
and each member takes part in the celebration. And this
is where Liturgical Music comes in.

5. LITURGY
• The first type of liturgical music that Filipinos learned from the Spaniards
was in Latin. During the Liturgy, they sang Gregorian Chants, hymns and
all forms of sacred music in Latin. Gradually, aside from singing,
Spaniards taught the natives to play musical instruments like guitar, violin,
flute and the organ. Later on, the music in different churches blossomed -
in 1857, a boys’ choir was formed in Sto. Domingo Dominican convent
and later a pipe organ was installed. In 1601, the first orchestra was
formed in the Augustinian convent in Guadalupe, in 1643, the Manila
Orchestra was organized by a priest, between 1816 - 1824, the famous
Bamboo Organ was built. In 1870, Marcelo Adonay, the first native
Filipino to compose a mass, led an orchestra which was formed at San
Agustine Church in Intramuros.

6. LITURGY
• Because the natives wanted a liturgy that they
can understand aside from the Latin liturgical
celebrations in churches, extra liturgical services
outside the churches evolved. The
Panuluyan,Pabasa, Salubong and other forms
of devotions were sang in Spanish and in their
native tongue

7. LITURGY
• In 1903, Pope Pius X encouraged the participation of the
congregation in the celebration of the Liturgy. This led to the use
of local language in Churches, like what we have today. The
community is also encouraged to have an active participation in
every liturgical celebration, either by singing, responses or gestures.
There are specific persons who play an important role in the
liturgy. They are called music ministers. They have the
responsibility of ensuring that the music is appropriate to the
liturgy. But what are the criteria for choosing music? According to
the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (CSL, 1963), one of the key
documents of Vatican II, the basic criteria for sacred music are:

8. LITURGY
1. Sacred music will be more holy, the more closely it is bound to the
liturgical rite
2. The active participation of the faithful in singing is of great value
3. Gregorian chant has pride of place, but other music is admitted as
long as it is in accordance with the spirit of the liturgical service;
4. Texts must always be consistent with Catholic teaching, and be
drawn chiefly from scriptural and liturgical sources

9. During the celebration of a Holy Mass, there are certain parts that
need to be sung by the community. The following are parts of the
Holy Mass with which the community must sing. The most important
parts are marked with (*) and are normally sung at every mass
celebration.
i. Introductory Rites
Gathering Song
Lord Have Mercy
Gloria
ii. Liturgy of the Word
Responsorial Psalm
Gospel Acclamation

10. • iii. Liturgy of the Eucharist
• Holy, Holy
• Memorial Acclamation
• Great Amen (at the conclusion of ” through him,
with him, in him...”)
• Lord’s Prayer and concluding doxology
• Lamb of God
• Communion Procession
• Hymn of praise after Communion
• Other elements - Other times when the choir or people
sing include the processions.
• i. Presentation of the Gifts

11. • iii. Liturgy of the Eucharist
• Holy, Holy
• Memorial Acclamation
• Great Amen (at the conclusion of ” through him,
with him, in him...”)
• Lord’s Prayer and concluding doxology
• Lamb of God
• Communion Procession
• Hymn of praise after Communion
• Other elements - Other times when the choir or people
sing include the processions.
• i. Presentation of the Gifts

12. THE MASS
• Mass is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is commonly called in
the Catholic Church, Western Rite Orthodox churches and many Old
Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran churches, as well as some Methodist churches. Apart from
"Eucharist" others are the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic
assembly (synaxis)", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy
Sacrifice", the "Holy and Divine Liturgy" and "Holy Communion". In these denominations,
the term Mass often refers to the entire church service in general. Some Protestants employ
terms such as Divine Service or service of worship, rather than the word Mass, although other
Protestants, such as Anglicans and Lutherans, use the word. For the celebration of the
Eucharist in Eastern churches, including those in full communion with the Holy See, other
terms such as the Divine Liturgy, the Qurbono Qadishoor Holy Qurbana and the Badarak are
normal.

13. SAN AGUSTIN CHURCH
San Agustin Church is the oldest church in the
Philippines which was completed in 1607. It is located inside
the historic walled city of Intramuros in Manila. This
edifice is the oldest church currently standing in the
Philippines and no other surviving building in the country
has been claimed to pre-date San Agustin Church.

14. SAN AGUSTIN CHURCH

15. Thank you for listening!!