Lucrecia Roces Kasilag (born 31 August 1918) is a Filipino composer.
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Lucrecia Roces Kasilag was born in San Fernando, La Union, Philippines, of parents Marcial Kasilag and Asuncion Roces Kasilag. She grew up in Paco, Manila, and studied at the Philippine Women's University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English. She also studied music at St. Scholastica’s College in Singalong, Manila, with Sister Baptista Battig, graduating with a teaching degree.[1] After completing her studies, Kasilag made an international tour as a concert pianist, but eventually had to give up a performing career due to a congenital weakness in one hand.
From 1946 to 1947, Kasilag taught at the University of the Philippines’ Conservatory of Music and worked as secretary-registrar at Philippines Women's University. During World War II, she took up composition, and on 1 December 1945, she performed her own compositions in a concert at Philippine Women's University. She completed a Bachelor of Music degree in 1949, and then attended the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, studying theory with Allen I. McHose and composition with Wayne Barlow. Kasilag returned to the Philippines, and in 1953 she was appointed Dean of the Philippines Women's University College of Music and Fine Arts.[2]
Kasilag has been instrumental in developing Philippine music and culture. She founded the Bayanihan Folks Arts Center for research and theatrical presentations, and has been closely involved with the Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company.[3]
Kasilag's works include more than 250 compositions including orchestral, chamber, vocal, organ, piano, sacred, dance, operetta, theatre, incidental and electronic music. She often incorporated Philippine folk music and traditional music. Selected works include: