Nicanor Santa Ana Abelardo (February 7, 1893 – March 21, 1934) was a Filipino composer known for his kundiman songs.

This led his uncle to enroll him into private voice lessons under Enrico Capozzi, who was so impressed by Nicanor's abilities that he refused to accept any fee whatsoever.

In 1916, Abelardo entered the newly-established University of the Philippines Conservatory of Music, taking courses under Guy F. Harrison and Robert Schofield.

The Conservatory instantly noticed his musical ability and by 1918, he was appointed assistant instructor in solfeggio and harmony.

He took lessons in piano under Jose Estella, violin under Bonifacio Abdon, and voice under Victorino Carrion.

In 1924 he became head of the composition department of the conservatory, and at night taught private music lessons to some prominent families.

In one instance in 1923 he directed the Jazz Band at the Manila Hotel with himself at the piano, or he picked such instruments as he pleased.

This greatly amused the people, but he did not stay long because he had lost control of his drinking, and became hospitalized for a month because of it.

Another instance occurred while he was rehearsing the Santa Ana Cabaret Orchestra; the manager found him in a corner drunk with a bottle of booze at one hand, which led him to be dismissed from the job.

During this time he was influenced by the musical innovations of the Second Viennese School, Hindemith, and other post-romantic composers of Europe.

In barely a month he fully absorbed the new musical style he was exposed to, as evident in his Violin Sonata which he had written in 3 weeks after he started studying there.

The boarding house was nicknamed "The Little Conservatory" because he would teach the students there at night, among them the composers Lucino Sacramento and the future National Artist Antonino Buenaventura.

His final large complete work, Requiem, was written in 1934 in memory of the composer Marcelo Adonay.

", and "Bituing Marikit" proved to be popular among the Filipino people, and his compositions are regularly played in concerts in the Philippines.

[4] The main theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the building housing the College of Music in UP Diliman (Abelardo Hall) were named in his honor and memory.

Many of Abelardo's songs and kundimans were recorded during his lifetime by his friends and colleagues, such as Jose Mossesgeld Santiago and Jovita Fuentes.