José Maceda (1917–2004) was a Filipino ethnomusicologist, composer, and pianist known for his extensive research on the traditional music of the Philippines and Southeast Asia. He studied piano and music composition in Paris and later earned a Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Paris (Sorbonne), where his academic focus shifted toward the systematic study of indigenous musical traditions.
Maceda served as a professor at the University of the Philippines College of Music and was instrumental in establishing ethnomusicology as a formal discipline in the country. His fieldwork involved recording and analyzing the music of various ethnic groups across the Philippines, including the use of bamboo instruments, gong ensembles, and vocal traditions. One of his notable contributions was the documentation and analysis of the concept of "sonic mass" in indigenous performances, emphasizing collective participation and spatial distribution of sound.
He received numerous accolades, including being named National Artist of the Philippines for Music in 1997. His archival recordings have been recognized by UNESCO and are preserved as part of the Memory of the World Register, underscoring their cultural and historical significance.
José Maceda's scholarly publications include studies on the musical structures of Southeast Asian cultures and the methodologies for researching non-Western music. His work remains foundational in the field of Asian ethnomusicology.