Alonso Lobo
Encyclopedia
Alonso Lobo was a Spanish
composer of the late Renaissance
. Although not as famous as Tomás Luís de Victoria
, he was highly regarded at the time, and Victoria himself considered him to be his equal.
Lobo was born in Osuna
, and after being a choirboy at the cathedral in Seville
, he received a degree at the University of Osuna
, and took a position as a canon at a church in Osuna sometime before 1591. In that year, the Seville Cathedral appointed him as assistant to Francisco Guerrero, and he later became maestro de capilla during Guerrero's leave of absence. In 1593, Toledo Cathedral
hired him as maestro de capilla; he remained there until 1604, when he returned to Seville.
Lobo's music combines the smooth contrapuntal
technique of Palestrina
with the sombre intensity of Victoria. Some of his music also uses polychoral techniques, which were common in Italy
around 1600, though Lobo never used more than two choirs (contemporary choral music of the Venetian school often used many more — the Gabrieli
s often wrote for as many choirs as there were choir-lofts at St Mark's Basilica
). Lobo was influential far beyond the borders of his native Spain: in Portugal
, and as far away as Mexico
, for the next hundred years or more he was considered to be one of the finest Spanish composers.
His works include mass
es and motet
s, three Passion settings, Lamentation
s, psalms and hymns, as well as a Miserere
for 12 voices (which has since become lost). His best-known work, Versa est in luctum was written on the death of Philip II. No secular or instrumental music by Lobo is known to survive today.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
composer of the late Renaissance
Renaissance music
Renaissance music is European music written during the Renaissance. Defining the beginning of the musical era is difficult, given that its defining characteristics were adopted only gradually; musicologists have placed its beginnings from as early as 1300 to as late as the 1470s.Literally meaning...
. Although not as famous as Tomás Luís de Victoria
Tomás Luis de Victoria
Tomás Luis de Victoria, sometimes Italianised as da Vittoria , was the most famous composer of the 16th century in Spain, and one of the most important composers of the Counter-Reformation, along with Giovanni da Palestrina and Orlando di Lasso. Victoria was not only a composer, but also an...
, he was highly regarded at the time, and Victoria himself considered him to be his equal.
Lobo was born in Osuna
Osuna
Osuna is a town and municipality in the province of Seville, southern Spain, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. , it has a population of c...
, and after being a choirboy at the cathedral in Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
, he received a degree at the University of Osuna
University of Osuna
The University of Osuna , officially the Colegio-Universidad de la Purísima Concepción en Osuna was a university in Osuna, Kingdom of Seville, Spain from 1548 until 1824. Spain granted the university building the status of a monument in 2004...
, and took a position as a canon at a church in Osuna sometime before 1591. In that year, the Seville Cathedral appointed him as assistant to Francisco Guerrero, and he later became maestro de capilla during Guerrero's leave of absence. In 1593, Toledo Cathedral
Cathedral of Toledo
The Primate Cathedral of Saint Mary of Toledo is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Toledo, Spain, seat of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Toledo....
hired him as maestro de capilla; he remained there until 1604, when he returned to Seville.
Lobo's music combines the smooth contrapuntal
Counterpoint
In music, counterpoint is the relationship between two or more voices that are independent in contour and rhythm and are harmonically interdependent . It has been most commonly identified in classical music, developing strongly during the Renaissance and in much of the common practice period,...
technique of Palestrina
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina was an Italian Renaissance composer of sacred music and the best-known 16th-century representative of the Roman School of musical composition...
with the sombre intensity of Victoria. Some of his music also uses polychoral techniques, which were common in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
around 1600, though Lobo never used more than two choirs (contemporary choral music of the Venetian school often used many more — the Gabrieli
Giovanni Gabrieli
Giovanni Gabrieli was an Italian composer and organist. He was one of the most influential musicians of his time, and represents the culmination of the style of the Venetian School, at the time of the shift from Renaissance to Baroque idioms.-Biography:Gabrieli was born in Venice...
s often wrote for as many choirs as there were choir-lofts at St Mark's Basilica
St Mark's Basilica
The Patriarchal Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mark is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Venice, northern Italy. It is the most famous of the city's churches and one of the best known examples of Byzantine architecture...
). Lobo was influential far beyond the borders of his native Spain: in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, and as far away as Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, for the next hundred years or more he was considered to be one of the finest Spanish composers.
His works include mass
Mass (music)
The Mass, a form of sacred musical composition, is a choral composition that sets the invariable portions of the Eucharistic liturgy to music...
es and motet
Motet
In classical music, motet is a word that is applied to a number of highly varied choral musical compositions.-Etymology:The name comes either from the Latin movere, or a Latinized version of Old French mot, "word" or "verbal utterance." The Medieval Latin for "motet" is motectum, and the Italian...
s, three Passion settings, Lamentation
Lamentations (music)
The Lamentations of Jeremiah the Prophet have been set by various composers.-England:Thomas Tallis made two famous sets of the Lamentations. Scored for five voices , they show a sophisticated use of imitation, and are noted for their expressiveness. The settings are of the first two lessons for...
s, psalms and hymns, as well as a Miserere
Miserere
Miserere may refer to:* Psalm 51, and its musical settings:** Miserere ** Miserere ** Miserere * Miserere by Zucchero* Plaza Miserere, a plaza in Buenos Aires...
for 12 voices (which has since become lost). His best-known work, Versa est in luctum was written on the death of Philip II. No secular or instrumental music by Lobo is known to survive today.
Recordings
- Missa Simile est regnum caelorum, Missa O rex gloriae and Lamentations, Choir of King's College London directed by David Trendell on Sanctuary Gaudeamus
- Vivo ego, dicit Dominus recorded by Musicaficta Ensemble, directed by Andrea Angelini
- Versa est in luctum & Lamentationes Ieremiae Prophetae, on the disc Santiago a Cappella, The Monteverdi ChoirMonteverdi ChoirThe Monteverdi Choir was founded in 1964 by Sir John Eliot Gardiner for a performance of the Monteverdi Vespers in King's College Chapel, Cambridge. A specialist Baroque ensemble, the Choir has become famous for its stylistic conviction and extensive repertoire, encompassing music from the early...
, directed by John Eliot GardinerJohn Eliot GardinerSir John Eliot Gardiner CBE FKC is an English conductor. He founded the Monteverdi Choir , the English Baroque Soloists and the Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique...
on Universal Classics - Versa est in luctum & Lamentations & Libera Me, on the disc The Golden Age, Siglo de oro, released 2008 by The King's Singers on Signum Records
- Versa est in luctum & Libera me, Domine, on the disc Mortuus est Philippus Rex, Choir of Westminster Cathedral, London, directed by James O'Donnell (Hyperion CDA67046)
- Versa est in luctum, on the disc Morales - Requiem, music for Philip II, Gabrieli Consort, directed by Paul McCreesh (ARCHIV produktion, 457 597-2)
- Versa est in luctum, with the Victoria Requiem, The Tallis Scholars, directed by Peter Phillips (Gimell, CDGIM 012)
- Missa Maria Magdalene, with the motet Maria Magdalene by Guerrero, The Tallis Scholars, directed by Peter Phillips (Gimell, CDGIM 031)
- Versa est in luctum, on the disc Sing Joyfully, The Hogan Ensemble, directed by Simon Hogan on Convivium Records, 2010.