Jacob Regnart
Encyclopedia
Jacob Regnart was a Franco-Flemish Renaissance
composer. He spent most of his career in Austria
and Bohemia
, where he wrote both sacred and secular music.
. His first documented appearance is in 1560 as a tenor at the Hofkapelle in Prague
under Habsburg ruler Archduke Maximilian
; Regnart claimed to have worked there since 1557. In 1564 his first works were published; he moved to Vienna and then Italy, where he studied from 1568 to 1570. The first fruits of these studies, Il primo libro delle canzone italiane, would be published in 1574, with many subsequent volumes to follow.
In November 1570 he became an instructor for Maximilian's chapel choir, and upon Maximilian's death, Emperor Rudolf II hired him as a member of his Hofkapelle. It was in the 1570s that his volumes of three-voice Teutsche Lieder (German songs) appeared, printed by the Gerlach
s of Nuremberg
; they sold very well, were reprinted several times, and were arranged in tablature
by several composers. In October 1579, he became vice-Kapellmeister
, succeeding Alard du Gaucquier; the next year, Orlandus Lassus gave his name as a replacement for Antonio Scandello
's position as Kapellmeister in Saxony
, but Regnart did not accept the position, preferring to remain employed under the Habsburgs. However, in 1582, Archduke Ferdinand
asked him to replace Alexander Utendal
as vice-Kapellmeister, and he accepted, moving to Innsbruck
in April 1582. In 1584, Regnart produced music for a comedy
written by the Archduke, though this is now lost. On New Year's Day 1585, Regnart became Kapellmeister, and revamped the court's musical activities to great success, hiring many new Dutch and Italian singers and becoming quite wealthy himself.
In 1588, Regnart published a collection of motet
s which displayed his support for Catholic reform
. In 1590, Regnart and three of his four brothers, all of whom were accomplished musicians, published a joint collection of motets. Ferdinand had planned to make him a noble
for his efforts, but died before he could do so; Archduke Matthias
, his successor, completed the process in 1596. When Ferdinand died, his Hofkapelle was dissolved, and Regnart moved from Innsbruck back to Prague in 1596, where he became vice-Kapellmeister under Monte until his death in 1599.
Regnart's works were regularly anthologized well into the 17th century, and his music was held in high regard by such theorists as Michael Praetorius
and Jacob Burmeister. The first modern edition of his works was completed by Richard Eitner in 1895; a new edition was published by Corpus Mensurabilis Musicae
in the 1970s.
Secular vocal
Instrumental
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...
composer. He spent most of his career in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
, where he wrote both sacred and secular music.
Biography
Regnart was born at DouaiDouai
-Main sights:Douai's ornate Gothic style belfry was begun in 1380, on the site of an earlier tower. The 80 m high structure includes an impressive carillon, consisting of 62 bells spanning 5 octaves. The originals, some dating from 1391 were removed in 1917 during World War I by the occupying...
. His first documented appearance is in 1560 as a tenor at the Hofkapelle in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
under Habsburg ruler Archduke Maximilian
Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor
Maximilian II was king of Bohemia and king of the Romans from 1562, king of Hungary and Croatia from 1563, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation from 1564 until his death...
; Regnart claimed to have worked there since 1557. In 1564 his first works were published; he moved to Vienna and then Italy, where he studied from 1568 to 1570. The first fruits of these studies, Il primo libro delle canzone italiane, would be published in 1574, with many subsequent volumes to follow.
In November 1570 he became an instructor for Maximilian's chapel choir, and upon Maximilian's death, Emperor Rudolf II hired him as a member of his Hofkapelle. It was in the 1570s that his volumes of three-voice Teutsche Lieder (German songs) appeared, printed by the Gerlach
Gerlach
-Personal names:* Carl R. Gerlach, mayor of Overland Park, Kansas* Charles L. Gerlach , U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania* Saint Gerlach, Dutch saint* Gerlach I of Nassau-Wiesbaden , Count of Nassau...
s of Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
; they sold very well, were reprinted several times, and were arranged in tablature
Tablature
Tablature is a form of musical notation indicating instrument fingering rather than musical pitches....
by several composers. In October 1579, he became vice-Kapellmeister
Kapellmeister
Kapellmeister is a German word designating a person in charge of music-making. The word is a compound, consisting of the roots Kapelle and Meister . The words Kapelle and Meister derive from the Latin: capella and magister...
, succeeding Alard du Gaucquier; the next year, Orlandus Lassus gave his name as a replacement for Antonio Scandello
Antonio Scandello
Antonio Scandello was an Italian composer, born in Bergamo. He worked as musician at the court of the Electors of Saxony in Dresden. In 1549 he became court-bandmaster, and in 1568 Kapellmeister...
's position as Kapellmeister in Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
, but Regnart did not accept the position, preferring to remain employed under the Habsburgs. However, in 1582, Archduke Ferdinand
Ferdinand II, Archduke of Austria
Ferdinand II, Archduke of Further Austria was ruler of Further Austria including Tirol.-Life account:...
asked him to replace Alexander Utendal
Alexander Utendal
Alexander Utendal was a Flemish composer.-Life:Utendal was a native of Ghent, nowadays a Belgian city, but at the time part of Flanders and the Netherlands which were part of the Holy Roman Empire. Like many Flemish musicians and composers of his time, he served the Imperial family, the Habsburgs...
as vice-Kapellmeister, and he accepted, moving to Innsbruck
Innsbruck
- Main sights :- Buildings :*Golden Roof*Kaiserliche Hofburg *Hofkirche with the cenotaph of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor*Altes Landhaus...
in April 1582. In 1584, Regnart produced music for a comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
written by the Archduke, though this is now lost. On New Year's Day 1585, Regnart became Kapellmeister, and revamped the court's musical activities to great success, hiring many new Dutch and Italian singers and becoming quite wealthy himself.
In 1588, Regnart published a collection of 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 which displayed his support for Catholic reform
Counter-Reformation
The Counter-Reformation was the period of Catholic revival beginning with the Council of Trent and ending at the close of the Thirty Years' War, 1648 as a response to the Protestant Reformation.The Counter-Reformation was a comprehensive effort, composed of four major elements:#Ecclesiastical or...
. In 1590, Regnart and three of his four brothers, all of whom were accomplished musicians, published a joint collection of motets. Ferdinand had planned to make him a noble
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
for his efforts, but died before he could do so; Archduke Matthias
Matthias, Holy Roman Emperor
Matthias of Austria was Holy Roman Emperor from 1612, King of Hungary and Croatia from 1608 and King of Bohemia from 1611...
, his successor, completed the process in 1596. When Ferdinand died, his Hofkapelle was dissolved, and Regnart moved from Innsbruck back to Prague in 1596, where he became vice-Kapellmeister under Monte until his death in 1599.
Regnart's works were regularly anthologized well into the 17th century, and his music was held in high regard by such theorists as Michael Praetorius
Michael Praetorius
Michael Praetorius was a German composer, organist, and music theorist. He was one of the most versatile composers of his age, being particularly significant in the development of musical forms based on Protestant hymns, many of which reflect an effort to make better the relationship between...
and Jacob Burmeister. The first modern edition of his works was completed by Richard Eitner in 1895; a new edition was published by Corpus Mensurabilis Musicae
Corpus mensurabilis musicae
The Corpus mensurabilis musicae is a collected print edition of most of the sacred and secular vocal music of the late medieval and Renaissance period in western music history, with an emphasis on the central Franco-Flemish and Italian repertories...
in the 1970s.
Works
Sacred vocal- Sacrae aliquot cantiones, quas moteta vulgus appellat, 5/6 voices (Munich, 1575)
- Aliquot cantiones, vulgo motecta appellatae, ex veteri atque novo testamento collectae, 4 voices (Nuremberg, 1577)
- Mariale, hoc est, Opusculum sacrarum cantionum omnibus Beatissimae Virginis Mariae festivitatibus, 4-8 voices (Innsbruck, 1588)
- Missae sacrae ad imitationem selectissimarum cantionum suavissima harmonia, 5-8 voices (Frankfurt, 1602)
- Continuatio missarum sacrarum, ad imitationem selectissimarum cantionum suavissima harmonia, 4-10 voices (Frankfurt, 1603)
- Corollarium missarum sacrarum ad imitationem selectissimarum cantionum suavissima harmonia compositarum (Frankfurt, 1603)
- Sacrarum cantionum, 4-8, 12 voices (Frankfurt, 1605)
- Canticum Mariae, 5 voices (Dillingen, 1605); lost
- Missarum flores illustrium numquam hactenus visi (Frankfurt, 1611); lost
- Magnificat, ad octo modos musicos compositum cum duplici antiphona, Salve regina, 8 and 10 voices (Frankfurt, 1614); lost
- Numerous other motets, hymns, etc. published. Appearing in manuscript are ~20 masses, many motets, a St. Matthew Passion, ca. 100 hymns, and other miscellanea.
Secular vocal
- Il primo libro delle canzone italiane, 5 voices (Vienna, 1574; rpt. in a German edition)
- Kurtzweilige teutsche Lieder, nach Art der Neapolitanen oder welschen Villanellen, 3 voices (Nuremberg, 1574, 2nd ed. 1578)
- Der ander Theyl kurtzweiliger teutscher Lieder, 3 voices (Nuremberg, 1577)
- Der dritter Theyl schöner kurtzweiliger teutscher Lieder, 3 voices (Nuremberg, 1579)
- Newe kurtzweilige teutsche Lieder, 5 voices (Nuremberg, 1580)
- Il secundo libro delle canzone italiane, 5 voices (Nuremberg, 1581; rpt. in a German edition)
- Teutsche Lieder … in ein Opus zusamendruckt, 3 voices (Munich, 1583)[complete edn of songs, 3vv]
- Tricinia: kurtzweilige teutsche Lieder, 3 voices (Nuremberg, 1584) [complete edn. of songs, 3vv]
- Kurtzweilige teutsche Lieder, 4 voices (Munich, 1591), survives incomplete
- Schoene Comedie: Speculum vitae humanae, auff teutsch ein Spiegel des menschlichen Lebens genandt (music to accompany a play by Archduke Ferdinand), 1584, lost
- 46 other German songs, 2 madrigals, 2 Latin odes, etc.
Instrumental
- 29 intabulationIntabulationIntabulation, from the Italian word intavolatura, refers to an arrangement of a vocal or ensemble piece for keyboard, lute, or other plucked string instrument, written in tablature. It was a common practice in 14th-16th century keyboard and lute music...
s
Recording
- Regnart: Missa super "Oeniades Nymphae" Cinquecento; Hyperion CDA67640
- Regnart: Mariale 1588, Marian Motets for the Innsbruck Court. Weser-Renaissance Bremen, dir. Manfred CordesManfred CordesManfred Cordes is a German conductor of early music, musicologist and teacher. He is currently professor at the Hochschule für Künste Bremen.- Publications :...
CPO 999 507-2 1996