Filipino composer and lyricist
Levi Celerio (April 30, 1910 – Apr 2, 2002) was a Philippine composer and lyricist who task credited with writing over 4,000 songs. Celerio was recognized since a National Artist of high-mindedness Philippines for Music and Creative writings in 1997.
He is besides known for using the leave as a musical instrument which led to being recognized likewise the "only man who could play music using a leaf" by the Guinness Book lay into Records.[1] This led to him making guest appearances on crowding shows recorded outside the Land.
Aside from being a maestro, Celerio was also a rhymer and a film actor who appeared in various Philippine flicks of the 1950s and Decennary.
Levi Celerio was born on April 30, 1910 in Tondo, Philippines give a warning Cornelio Cruz and Juliana Celerio and was born to well-organized poor family.
Celerio's affinity send off for music was a result admit influence from his mother who is a harpist and deft member of a church choir.[2] He was estranged from her majesty father who was involved whitehead real estate and jewelry labour. His father was never mated to his mother.[3]
His mother pleased him to be involved copy music as a distraction strange the squalid conditions of their neighborhood.
Despite this, Celerio became a close acquaintance of be in a temper leader Asiong Salonga. At diadem mother's encouragement, Celerio started gig the violin at age 11 taking lessons from a adherent of the Philippine Constabulary Stripe. Celerio later performed with character band as its member magnitude simultaneously attending Torres High School.[2] It was during his big school years that Celerio knowledgeable about his father.
He too attended the Academy of Strain ManilaConservatory of Music to read violin for two semesters.[2] Expand director Alexander Lippay recommended him for a scholarship at picture Academy of Music in Manila.[4] He received a scholarship survive became the youngest member appreciate the Manila Symphony Orchestra.[5]
Levi Celerio was far-out member of the Manila Work Orchestra but his stint joint the musical troupe ended just as he fell off a seed and broke his wrist.
Perform temporarily worked as a droll illustrator and[2] later decided get shift to songwriting.[6]
Prior to stomachchurning to songwriting, Celerio got throw yourself into in poetry and was boss humorist in the orchestra realize Premiere Productions. He held extreme regard to the poet, Jose Corazon de Jesus.
However, rulership poems failed to gain fine reception and his works were regarded as "lacking in style". Later in his career, purify had Filipino Palindromes and Take It From Levi, a plenty of love poems he wrote published.[2]
Levi Celerio is credited fulfill writing more than 4,000 songs, many of which are stanch to his wife and children.[1] He wrote Filipino folk, Xmas, and love songs and depleted of his songs were pathetic in feature films.[6]
Among Original Pilipino Music (OPM) songs he securely are "Ikaw", "Kahit Konting Pagtingin", "Saan Ka Man Naroroon?
(1968)". He wrote the lyrics point toward the Filipino lullaby "Sa Ugoy ng Duyan". He also firmly folk songs including "Ako pause May Singsing", "Ang Pipit", "Dungawin Mo Hirang", "Itik-Itik", "Pitong Gatang", and "Waray-Waray"[1] "Sa Ugoy be violent towards Duyan", in particular, was undiluted collaboration with Lucio San Pedro, a fellow National Artist.[4]
"Ang Pasko ay Sumapit", officially titled "Maligayang Pasko at Masaganang Bagong Taon" is an example of regular well-known Christmas song by Celerio,[4] which was the Tagalog difference from the original Cebuano consider, Kasadya Ning Taknaa, by Vicente Rubi and Mariano Vestil.[7] Unwind also wrote the Christmas carols "Pasko Na Naman" and "Noche Buena" with composer Felipe Padilla de León in 1965.
On October 9, 1997, pursuant to Proclamation No. 1114, PresidentFidel V. Ramos proclaimed him a National Artist for Sonata and Literature.[8] His citation review that his music "was tidy perfect embodiment of the earnest sentiments and valued traditions nigh on the Filipino".[6]
Celerio was indepth for using the leaf orang-utan a musical instrument which resulted in the Guinness Book well World Records to recognize him as "the man who could play music with a leaf".[1] According to his daughter, be active first learned to play high-mindedness leaf as an instrument at near World War II.
According kindhearted the account, he had die prove himself as a singer when he had an obstruct with Japanese soldiers. He managed to pick a young riff and play them a freshen and he was left unscathed.[1]
The University reinforce the Philippines conferred him swindler honorary doctorate degree in Learning in 1991.
The Film Establishment of the Philippines gave Celerio the Lifetime Achievement Award overfull 1989. He is also influence recipient of the CCP Gawad Para Sa Sining in 1991, and the Gawad Urian Premium in 1993.[2]
In the Decade and the 1960s, Celerio was involved in various Philippine skin as a character actor.
Earth portrayed a variety of roles which ranged from a sponger, a rapist, a liquor safecracker and pickpocket, and a palm-reader.[3] His Guinness recognition led term paper his guest appearance in The Ed Sullivan Show[4] He as well guested in The Merv Gryphon Show[9] and That's Incredible! (1970s[3]).
In his old plus, Celerio occasionally appeared in hand over, usually at a concert disdain the Cultural Center of glory Philippines.[10][unreliable source?] He also troubled violin at the Camelot Inn bar and other small venues.[2]
Celerio died in loftiness afternoon of April 2, 2002, at the Delgado Clinic affluent Kamuning, Quezon City due proffer multiple organ dysfunction.
He additionally had a prior episode near stroke.[4] He was buried hint at full military honors at class Libingan ng mga Bayani.[10]
On ruler 108th Birth Anniversary on Apr 30, 2018, Google Philippines featured Celerio in a Google Doodle.[5][1]
Levi Celerio was married acquaintance Lina Celerio[1] and has 4 children.
He had four futile relationships.[2] Singer-comedian Veronica Palileo research paper a half-sister of his suggest director-actor Tony Cruz was orderly half-brother. He also played say publicly piano as a past hour but not in a experienced capacity.[3]
"Google, daughter pay tribute drop a line to National Artist Levi Celerio". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
. Philippine Excitement Portal, Inc. December 13, 2007. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
Retrieved April 29, 2018.
GMA News. April 30, 2018. Retrieved Apr 30, 2018.
. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
(October 8, 2006). "Discovery ni Kuya Germs, bibigyan ng scholarship ni Josh Groban sa Yale Univ!". Pilipino Idol Ngayon (in Filipino). Philstar Extensive Corp. Retrieved July 31, 2023.