Mutya Ng Pasig by Nicanor Abelardo - Piano/Voice Music Sheet

Hi! As requested, here's the music sheet for Nicanor Abelardo's beautiful composition, Mutya Ng Pasig. As you can see, it is an ancient copy I have here, nevertheless, enjoy the music!:)

To download, please click on the images below. Or, you may choose to access it from my Google Drive link.

For music interpretation ideas, find out how I learnt the piece here.

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Mutya Ng Pasig - Lyrics with English meaning *

Tried my best to give the literal English translation. This song is written in very poetic Tagalog, and I know there can be a more poetic English translation. But my purpose here is for non-Tagalog-speaking readers and learners to understand the closest meaning as much as possible.

Here's a video courtesy of Mr Alfredo Villanueva. Click here to watch on youtube.

Music by Nicanor Abelardo
Words by Deogracias A. Rosario

Kung gabing ang buwan sa langit ay nakadungaw,
When at night the moon in the sky looks over,
Tila ginigising ng habagat sa kanyang pagtulog sa tubig.
As if the South wind awakens it as it sleeps on the water.
Ang isang larawang puti at busilak,
A vision of immaculate (pure) whiteness,
Na lugay ang buhok, na animoy agos
With hair let loose like flowing water,                       
Ito ang Mutya* ng Pasig*,
This is the Jewel of Pasig,
Ito ang Mutya ng Pasig.
This is the Jewel of Pasig.

Sa kaniyang pagsiklot sa maputing bula,
As she moves in the white foam of bubbles,
Kasabay ang awit, kasabay ang tula.
with a song, with poetry.

Dati akong paraluman*,
I was once a muse,
Sa kaharian ng pag-ibig,
In the kingdom of love,
Ang pag-ibig nang mamatay,
When love died, 
Naglaho rin ang kaharian.
The kingdom vanished.
Ang lakas ko ay nalipat,
My strength was put (transferred) into,
Sa puso't dibdib ng lahat,
The hearts of all,
 Kung nais ninyong ako'y mabuhay,
If you wish me to live,
Pag-ibig ko'y inyong ibigay.
Give (my) love*  (Share my love).

Kung nais ninyong ako'y mabuhay,
If you wish me to live, 
Pag-ibig ko'y inyong ibigay!
Give (my) love*  (Share my love).

* (Mutya: jewel, pearl, beloved) 
* (Paraluman: muse, fairy)
* Share the love (Love one another)
*Pasig - a place (now a city) in the Philippines; it also has a river called the Pasig river wherein I presume the Mutya ng Pasig emerges from in a "white foam of bubbles", as mentioned in the song lyrics above


Mutya Ng Pasig - Piano Accompaniment (Personal Story & Learning Tips) 
About the Composer - Nicanor Abelardo 

Rodolfo Soldevilla Cornejo

Rodolfo S. Cornejo, a composer, pianist and conductor, was born on the 15th of May, 1909, in Manila. His parents are Miguel Cornejo, Sr. and Crisanta Soldevilla. In 1949, he married Nieves Guerrero, a lyric soprano. The couple had five children. 

Rodolfo Cornejo started piano lessons with Gelacio Reyes at age six. At age eight, he had his first recital, and he became the organist of the Pasay Catholic Church. He wrote his first composition, Glissando Waltz, at age 10. He also wrote and published a military march, Salute, at age 13. At 16, twenty-six of his works had been listed by the United Publishing Co.. While he was finishing his high school, he was already enrolled at the University of the Philippines (UP) Conservatory of Music. 

At the UP Conservatory, he studied under Dr. Francisco Santiago, Nicanor Abelardo and Alexander Lippay. Barely three years after completing his high school, he obtained his teacher's diplomas in piano, science and composition. He taught for a year at UP, then left for the United States. He acquired a bachelor's degree in piano and theory at the Chicago Musical College of Roosevelt University in 1932. He won the Wesley Le Violette scholarship in composition, went on to complete his master's degree in 1933. He studied with Rudolf Ganz and Glenn Dillard Gunn. 

In 1934, he returned to the Philippines, founded and directed the Manila Conservatory of Music. He again left for the US in 1939 to pursue doctorate studies in composition. He earned his doctorate degree in 1947 at the Neotarian College in Kansas City, USA. In his US sojourns, Cornejo was a soloist with various orchestras, such as the New York City Symphony Orchestra, National Orchestra Association, and many others. During World War II, he played at concerts for the Allied Armed Forces. In 1941, he became researcher and official composer of the Philippine government-in-exile. In 1945, the Chicago Musical College awarded him an honorary doctorate in music. 

In the Philippines, he became director of the Cosmopolitan Colleges Conservatory of Music from 1948 to 1949. He also concertized. He wrote scores for twenty-seven films during his 10 years as musical director of Sampaguita Pictures. He is founding member of the League of Filipino Composers.

He wrote over 300 compositions. These ranged from classical to pop. His major works include The Season - Song Cycle (1932), A La Juventud Filipina (1935), Philippine Symphony No. 1 (1939), No.2 (1942),  and No. 3 (1947) all for piano solo; Oriental Fantasy (1944) and Philippine Fantasy with Marimba Solo (1962). He wrote music for the ballets Ibong Adarna (1970) and Baile de Ayer (1974). His cantata Christ the Redeemer for soloists, narrator, mixed chorus and orchestra, premiered at the Philamlife Auditorium in 1977. He also wrote a musical A Glimpse of Philippine Life and Culture, which premiered at the Seattle Opera House in 1978. He is listed in the International Who's Who in Music. 

Rodolfo Cornejo died in Manila on the 11th of August, 1991.