Fr manuel marimba biography of williams

Through his life’s work, Fr. Manuel P. Maramba, OSB, brought the music of the Catholic Church closer to the hearts of the Filipino faithful.

The Benedictine monk, who died July 13 at 84 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, was a prolific composer who leaves behind a large body of sacred music that includes the Mass, symphonic works, operas, zarzuelas, songs and chants.

“Father Maramba played an important role in the translation of the music text of the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours to Filipino, after extensive research on Filipino culture, values and traditions,” says associate professor Maria Alexandra Chua, Ph.D, of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Conservatory of Music, where Maramba also taught composition and theory.

“He was a child prodigy and musical genius,” adds Chua.

“He was a concert pianist, organist, theorist and composer, an advocate of atonality who also brought in Philippine musical forms and structures into this compos