preservation and restoration of philippine art music manuscripts of

Preservation and Restoration of Philippine Art Music Manuscripts of the University of the

Philippines-Diliman College of Music

Asst. Prof. Johann Frederick A. Cabbab and Asst. Prof. Iyra S. Buenrostro

© Copyright of University of the Philippines

Diliman. All rights reserved. 2013

The former library of the Conservatory of Music was built in 1925, nine years after the establishment of the

conservatory.

After World War II, UP transferred its campus from Manila to Diliman, Quezon City, and the library started to

be reorganized in 1954.

Under the administration of President Carlos P. Romulo, the then Conservatory of Music officially became a

college in 1968.

The UP College of Music named its current building after the famous Filipino composer and distinct alumnus of the

Conservatory, Nicanor Abelardo.

(UP College of Music, 2012, para.1-5). © Copyright of University of the Philippines


National Artists for Music

Antonino R. Buenaventura Ernani Joson Cuenco

Jovita Fuentes Jose Maceda

Lucio D. San Pedro Levi Celerio

Felipe Padilla De Leon Lucrecia R. Kasilag Antonio J. Molina

Andrea O. Veneracion

(NCCA, 2011) © Copyright of University of the Philippines


Among the National Artists for Music, seven came from the

Conservatory of Music/UP College of Music:

Antonino R. Buenaventura Jovita Fuentes Jose Maceda

Lucio D. San Pedro Felipe Padilla De Leon

Antonio J. Molina Andrea O. Veneracion



The art music manuscripts of famous composer Abelardo, and National Artists Molina,

Buenaventura, and San Pedro, and other famous composers and alumni were donated by their heirs to the library of the UP College of Music.

Physically, many of these scores are no longer

usable nor recommended for repetitive handling and photo duplication, because the paper folia of

the manuscripts are already yellowing and crumbling.



To address this concern on the preservation and restoration of these Philippine art music

manuscripts of the University of the Philippines-Diliman College of Music, an application to the Source of Solutions (SOS) Grants of the UP

OVCRD was made.

Guidelines and recommended practices fundamental to the preservation of these materials

of heritage have been laid for the librarians and archivists worldwide and these were employed to

guarantee that the proper preservation of representative records was done.



A simple laboratory was set up by the project proponents and the restoration process involves digital imaging of the originals, evaluation and

documentation, deacidification, cleaning, mending, encapsulation and boxing/binding.



Methodology

I. Preliminary Survey

A. Evaluate the materials

1. Nature of materials (provenance, format, volume, etc.)

2. Extent of damage (torn pages, infestation, etc.)

3. Ink solubility

4. Acidity of paper

B. Document the current condition of the materials

C. Determine the necessary preventive or restorative

conservation treatments



Methodology

II. Basic Preservation Actions

A. Refolder

B. Rebox

C. Copy/Duplicate

D. Dust/Clean

E. Humidify/Flatten

F. Remove fasteners and staple wires

G. Segregate

H. Reserve materials for treatment



Methodology

III. Restorative Conservation Treatments

A. Surface cleaning

1. Non-aqueous

2. Aqueous

B. Deacidification

C. Paper Strengthening

D. Mending, strengthening and support 1.Mending of tears

2.Lining and sizing

3.Polyester film encapsulation



Materials Cost

Filmoplast P Php 998/roll

Filmoplast P90 Php 998/roll

Acid-free adhesive tape Php 1, 575/roll

Burnishing bone Php 1, 330

Melinex roll Php 27, 160/ roll

Japanese Tissue paper Php 336

Methyl cellulose adhesive powder Php 2, 065/kilo

Art gum eraser Php 140

Archival deacidifying mist Php 4, 340

Acid-free folders (Legal Size) Php 161





1. Nature of materials

(provenance, format,

volume, etc.)

2. Extent of damage (torn

pages, infestation, etc.)

3. Ink solubility

4. Acidity of paper

B. Document the current

condition of the

materials

C. Determine the necessary

preventive or restorative

conservation treatments





1. Nature of materials

(provenance, format,

volume, etc.)

2. Extent of damage (torn

pages, infestation, etc.)

3. Ink solubility

4. Acidity of paper

B. Document the current

condition of the materials

C. Determine the

necessary preventive

or restorative

conservation

treatments



II. Basic Preservation Actions

A. Refolder

B. Rebox

C. Copy/Duplicate

D. Dust/Clean

E. Humidify/Flatten

F. Remove fasteners and staple wires

G. Segregate

H. Reserve materials for treatment



III. Restorative Conservation

Treatments

A. Surface cleaning

1. Non-aqueous

2. Aqueous

B. Deacidification


D. Mending, strengthening and

support 1.Mending of tears

2.Lining and sizing




Decision Table Guide for Identifying Correct

Restorative Treatments

Rules

Conditions Paper Acidity acidic basic acidic basic

Ink Blotting yes yes no no

Actions Non-Aqueous Dry Surface Cleaning

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Aqueous Surface Cleaning

✓ ✓

Non-Aqueous De-acidification

✓

Aqueous De-acidification ✓



Decision Table Guide for Identifying Correct

Restorative Treatments

Rules

Conditions Paper Acidity acidic basic acidic basic

Ink Blotting yes yes no no

Actions Non-Aqueous Dry Surface Cleaning

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Aqueous Surface Cleaning

✓ ✓

Non-Aqueous De-acidification

✓

Aqueous De-acidification

✓




Treatments

A. Surface cleaning

1. Non-aqueous

2. Aqueous

B. Deacidification


D. Mending, strengthening

and support 1.Mending of tears

2.Lining and sizing





Treatments

A. Surface cleaning

1. Non-aqueous

2. Aqueous

B. Deacidification


D. Mending, strengthening

and support 1.Mending of tears

2.Lining and sizing

3.Polyester film

encapsulation



Proponents: Dr. Jose Buenconsejo

Asst. Prof. Iyra Buenrostro Asst. Prof. Johann Frederick A. Cabbab

College of Music:

Ms. Josie Baradas, URA Ms. Florinda Santos, Head Librarian, College of Music Library

School of Library and Information Studies:

Ms. Roxanne Canaveral Ms. Darl Valerie Corral-Piquero

Ms. Roscelle Cruz Ms. CJ Domingo

Mr. Levin Matriano Ms. PJ Resoso

Mr. Manuel Schuldes Mr. Adrian Tolentino © Copyright of University of the Philippines


This is an ongoing project, and the proponents are hoping that the grant and resources available will be able to sustain the restoration project until the end. It is the main goal of this project to relive and capture the remains of the Filipino classical music, so that this music era, genre and forms will forever live. This tangible collection of music heritage has high cultural, historical and symbolic value—a real asset of the university and the country. Possible Collaborations with other archivists on processes and materials / supplies used.



Works consulted: About the UP College of Music. (2012). The University of the Philippines College of Music. Retrieved April 22, 2013, from http://music.upd.edu.ph/Administration%20of%20the%20College.html Bañas, R.C. (1924). The music and theater of the Filipino people. Manila: The Author Bañas, R.C. (1933). A historical sketch of the Conservatory of Music. Unpublished manuscript. Cabigao, S.S. (2013). UPCM struggles to save rare, time-worn Philippine music manuscripts. U.P. News, 34(3), 8. Epistola, E.V. (1996). Nicanor Abelardo: the man and the artist. Manila: Rex Bookstore. Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Development, UP Diliman. (June 2011). Source of Solutions Grants (Special Grants): General Guidelines. [memo/guidelines]. University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City. Organizational awards: the National Artists of the Philippines. (2011). National Commission for Culture and the Arts. Retrieved April 22, 2013, from http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about-ncca/org-awards/org-awards-national-artist-list.php Republic Act No. 10066, National Heritage Act of 2009. Samson, H. F. (1976). Contemporary Filipino composers: biographical interviews. Quezon City: Manlapaz Publishing Company. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). (1998). Memory of the World. Retrieved April 22, 2013, from http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.phpURL_ID=1538&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html



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