AJ Francisco is a Filipino-American composer who blends the styles and concepts of traditional Filipino music with narratives that engage audiences in new perspectives.
Featured Performances
Latest Sheet Music
“Ngayon at Bukas” (Today and Tomorrow) is a choral Kundiman (koohn-deeh-mahn), a type of Filipino art song that is generally characterized by beginning in a minor key and ending in a major key. The text of “Ngayon at Bukas” is pulled from two Tagalog proverbs that reflect on the constant ups and downs that come with life. This piece encourages listeners, when faced with adversity and struggles, to remain positive and hopeful for a better tomorrow rather than dwell in pessimism.
The first proverb cynically comments on life’s experiences:
Ang buhay ng tao’y
Gulong ang kahambing.
Sa ibabaw ngayon,
Bukas, sa ilalim.
While the second proverb provides a more optimistic outlook for facing life’s constant challenges:
Ang panaho’y tambiling
Ang mundo’y baligtarin;
Ang napapailalim
Ay napapaibabaw din.
See below for translations and perusal score with IPA.
You will receive: Choral score in .pdf format, licensed for the number of copies you purchase and for your ensemble/institution. The file will be emailed to the email address you provided in checkout within 24 hours of placing your order. No physical copies will be shipped.
“Sampaguita” (sam-pah-GHEE-tah) is an instrumental Kundiman (koon-dee-mahn), a type of art song from the Philippines that is characterized by romantic, lyrical serenades that often begin in a minor key and end in a major key. This work is inspired by the Sampaguita, the national flower of the Philippines, which grows star-shaped white blossoms. In Filipino culture, it is a symbol of love, devotion, and purity.
This jasmine flower also has significance in Filipino folklore. According to legend, a princess and a warrior had fallen in love; however, the warrior was eventually called to leave for battle. Before they parted ways, they climbed to the top of a hill together overlooking the sea, and the princess promised to wait for his return, uttering the words “Sumpa Kita”, which means “I promise you”. The princess waited on the hill every day for the warrior to return, but he never did. Overwhelmed with grief, the princess passed away from a broken heart. She was buried on top of the same hill, and afterwards, Sampaguita flowers began blooming at the spot where she was buried.
Instrumentation: 2 Bb Clarinets & 1 Bb Bass Clarinet
Duration: 6 min.
You will receive: 1 .zip file containing 1 transposed score in .pdf format, and 3 instrument parts in .pdf format
The Philippines experiences massive flooding each year, with flood control projects created by the Philippine government in the effort to reduce the destructiveness of the floods.
In the recent years, flooding became exceptionally worse in the Philippines, killing and upending the lives of countless Filipinos. In 2025, it was then later discovered that Philippine government officials had been siphoning taxpayer funds from these flood control projects and using the funds for their own personal use. It has been estimated that, since 2010, 1.9 trillion Philippine pesos—equivalent to 33 billion USD—were dedicated to funding preventative flood projects, but more than half of these funds were stolen throughout the years. In response, the people of the Philippines marched and protested against the government’s actions and together called to end corruption in the Philippines—these protests are known as the Trillion Peso Marches.
The piece utilizes the rhythm of a protest chant used during the Trillion Peso Marches:
“Ikulong na yang mga kurakot!”
Lock up those corrupt people!
“One Trillion” sonically represents the destructive power of floods and monsoons and the Philippine people’s generational battle against political corruption. Towards the end of the piece, the ensemble continuously plays the chant rhythm, though they are not rhythmically in sync with each other. But as the piece goes on, the players gradually align until they are all united together, rhythmically chanting with their instruments, “Lock up those corrupt people!” This piece serves as a reminder of the strength and influence communities can possess when all are banded together.
Instrumentation: chamber orchestra (see perusal score below for specifications)
Duration: 7’
This version contains parts for two percussionists. For the version of “One Trillion” with three percussion parts, please click here.
You will receive: 1 .zip file containing 1 conductor’s score in .pdf format, and 14 instrument parts in .pdf format
“Kulintang Vibes” is inspired by the sounds of Kulintang (kooh-lihn-tahng), a traditional Philippine instrument that typically consists of eight gongs that are organized in a row on a wooden pedestal. With how rare it is to encounter the traditional instrument in percussion studios, “Kulintang Vibes” aims to make the sound world of Kulintang more accessible for players by recontextualizing it on the more easily obtainable vibraphone.
Instrumentation: vibraphone
Duration: 5’
You will receive: 1 vibraphone score in .pdf format