Reliving the Filipino classical music heritage: Preservation and restoration of Philippine art music manuscripts of the University of the Philippines-Diliman College of Music

This paper presents an overview of the classical era of music in the Philippines and the pre-war art music manuscript collection of the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Music that needs immediate preservation and restoration. The music scores included in this collection were created by renowned Filipino composers and National Artists for Music. It also discusses the initiatives done by the university and concerned faculty members and students to prolong the life and usability of these music scores, as they are still always being played in concert halls. This kind of archival music manuscripts restoration project is the first in the university since the UP College of Music Library does not have its own conservation facility. 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.