Luis de Narváez
Encyclopedia
Luis de Narváez was a Spanish
composer
and vihuelist
. Highly regarded during his lifetime, Narváez is known today for Los seys libros del delphín, a collection of polyphonic music for the vihuela which includes the earliest known variation sets
. He is also notable for being the earliest composer for vihuela to adapt the contemporary Italian
style of lute
music.
and the earliest surviving references to him indicate that as early as 1526 he was a member of the household of Francisco de los Cobos y Molina
, a well-known and very successful patron of the arts who was the secretary of State and comendador for the kingdom of Castile
under Charles V
. Narváez lived in Valladolid
with his patron until the latter's death in 1547. It was during this period that the composer published Los seys libros del delphín (Valladolid, 1538), a large collection of music.
By 1548 Narváez was employed as musician of the royal chapel, where he also taught music to choristers. His colleagues there included the famous keyboard composer Antonio de Cabezón
. Narváez and Cabezón were both employed as musicians for Felipe, Regent of Spain (later Philip II of Spain
), and accompanied him on his many journeys. The last reference to Narváez is from one such journey: during the winter of 1549 he resided in the Low Countries
.
Narváez was very highly regarded during his lifetime, particularly for his vihuela playing; he was reported to be able to improvise four parts over another four at sight. His son Andrés also became an accomplished vihuelist.
sheet.
The first two volumes contain fourteen polyphonic fantasias, modelled after Italian pieces of the same kind. They are characterized by smooth, competent imitative writing in two and three voices. Occasionally Narváez resorts to using short motifs with identical left hand fingerings, probably reflecting the techniques he used for improvisation. The music reflects the influence of Francesco da Milano
, whose works Narváez collected. The third volume of the collection is dedicated exclusively to intabulation
s of works by other composers: selections from masses
by Josquin des Prez
, the famous song Mille Regretz
by the same composer (subtitled "La canción del Emperador", probably suggesting that it was Charles V's favorite song), and two songs by Nicolas Gombert
and one by Jean Richafort
. The second of the two songs is wrongly attributed to Gombert, it is a work of Jean Courtois. The intabulations are of high quality, but without any particular distinguishing features.
Volumes four to six have mixed content. The most important pieces are Narváez's six diferencias, or variations
, the earliest known examples of the form. Narváez's models include both sacred (volume 4 only) and secular melodies, and the music stands out by virtue of a very wide palette of techniques. Apart from melodic variations, there are also two sets on ostinato
harmonies: Guardame las vacas and Conde claros, both in volume six. The remaining music comprises villancicos, romances, and a Baxa de contrapunto.
With the exception of two motets, no other music by Narváez survives, although he must have composed a substantial amount of vocal music.
A new transcription for guitar, edited by Stefan Nesyba, contains all of the solo works by Narváez: http://www.editionhh.co.uk/
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
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and vihuelist
Vihuela
Vihuela is a name given to two different guitar-like string instruments: one from 15th and 16th century Spain, usually with 12 paired strings, and the other, the Mexican vihuela, from 19th century Mexico with five strings and typically played in Mariachi bands.-History:The vihuela, as it was known...
. Highly regarded during his lifetime, Narváez is known today for Los seys libros del delphín, a collection of polyphonic music for the vihuela which includes the earliest known variation sets
Variation (music)
In music, variation is a formal technique where material is repeated in an altered form. The changes may involve harmony, melody, counterpoint, rhythm, timbre, orchestration or any combination of these.-Variation form:...
. He is also notable for being the earliest composer for vihuela to adapt the contemporary Italian
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...
style of lute
Lute
Lute can refer generally to any plucked string instrument with a neck and a deep round back, or more specifically to an instrument from the family of European lutes....
music.
Life
The exact date or even year of Narváez's birth is unknown. He was born in GranadaGranada
Granada is a city and the capital of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence of three rivers, the Beiro, the Darro and the Genil. It sits at an elevation of 738 metres above sea...
and the earliest surviving references to him indicate that as early as 1526 he was a member of the household of Francisco de los Cobos y Molina
Francisco de los Cobos y Molina
Francisco de los Cobos y Molina was the secretary of State and Comendador for the kingdom of Castile under the rule of the Emperor Charles I of Spain.-Biographical data:...
, a well-known and very successful patron of the arts who was the secretary of State and comendador for the kingdom of Castile
Crown of Castile
The Crown of Castile was a medieval and modern state in the Iberian Peninsula that formed in 1230 as a result of the third and definitive union of the crowns and parliaments of the kingdoms of Castile and León upon the accession of the then King Ferdinand III of Castile to the vacant Leonese throne...
under Charles V
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
. Narváez lived in Valladolid
Valladolid
Valladolid is a historic city and municipality in north-central Spain, situated at the confluence of the Pisuerga and Esgueva rivers, and located within three wine-making regions: Ribera del Duero, Rueda and Cigales...
with his patron until the latter's death in 1547. It was during this period that the composer published Los seys libros del delphín (Valladolid, 1538), a large collection of music.
By 1548 Narváez was employed as musician of the royal chapel, where he also taught music to choristers. His colleagues there included the famous keyboard composer Antonio de Cabezón
Antonio de Cabezón
Antonio de Cabezón was a Spanish Renaissance composer and organist. Blind from childhood, he quickly rose to prominence as performer and was eventually employed by the royal family...
. Narváez and Cabezón were both employed as musicians for Felipe, Regent of Spain (later Philip II of Spain
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
), and accompanied him on his many journeys. The last reference to Narváez is from one such journey: during the winter of 1549 he resided in the Low Countries
Low Countries
The Low Countries are the historical lands around the low-lying delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse rivers, including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany....
.
Narváez was very highly regarded during his lifetime, particularly for his vihuela playing; he was reported to be able to improvise four parts over another four at sight. His son Andrés also became an accomplished vihuelist.
Works
Narváez's most important surviving music is contained in Los seys libros del delphín (Valladolid, 1538), a six-volume collection of music for vihuela. The collection begins with a preface, in which the composer dedicates the work to his patron Francisco de los Cobos. A short text on notation follows (Narváez uses a slightly modified version of Italian lute tablature), then the table of contents and an errataErratum
An erratum or corrigendum is a correction of a book. An erratum is most commonly issued shortly after its original text is published. Patches to security issues in a computer program are also sometimes called errata. As a general rule, publishers issue an erratum for a production error An erratum...
sheet.
The first two volumes contain fourteen polyphonic fantasias, modelled after Italian pieces of the same kind. They are characterized by smooth, competent imitative writing in two and three voices. Occasionally Narváez resorts to using short motifs with identical left hand fingerings, probably reflecting the techniques he used for improvisation. The music reflects the influence of Francesco da Milano
Francesco Canova da Milano
Francesco Canova da Milano was an Italian lutenist and composer. He was born in Monza, near Milan, and worked for the papal court for almost all of his career. Francesco was heralded throughout Europe as the foremost lute composer of his time...
, whose works Narváez collected. The third volume of the collection is dedicated exclusively to intabulation
Intabulation
Intabulation, 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 of works by other composers: selections from masses
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...
by Josquin des Prez
Josquin Des Prez
Josquin des Prez [Josquin Lebloitte dit Desprez] , often referred to simply as Josquin, was a Franco-Flemish composer of the Renaissance...
, the famous song Mille Regretz
Mille Regretz
Mille Regretz is a French chanson which in its 4 part setting is usually credited to Josquin des Prez. Josquin's version is in the Phrygian mode...
by the same composer (subtitled "La canción del Emperador", probably suggesting that it was Charles V's favorite song), and two songs by Nicolas Gombert
Nicolas Gombert
Nicolas Gombert was a Franco-Flemish composer of the Renaissance. He was one of the most famous and influential composers between Josquin des Prez and Palestrina, and best represents the fully developed, complex polyphonic style of this period in music history.-Life:Details of his early life are...
and one by Jean Richafort
Jean Richafort
Jean Richafort was a Franco-Flemish composer of the Renaissance.He was probably born in Hainaut, and his native language appears to have been French. He may have studied with Josquin des Prez, though the evidence for this is circumstantial. Richafort served as choir master at St. Rombold...
. The second of the two songs is wrongly attributed to Gombert, it is a work of Jean Courtois. The intabulations are of high quality, but without any particular distinguishing features.
Volumes four to six have mixed content. The most important pieces are Narváez's six diferencias, or variations
Variation (music)
In music, variation is a formal technique where material is repeated in an altered form. The changes may involve harmony, melody, counterpoint, rhythm, timbre, orchestration or any combination of these.-Variation form:...
, the earliest known examples of the form. Narváez's models include both sacred (volume 4 only) and secular melodies, and the music stands out by virtue of a very wide palette of techniques. Apart from melodic variations, there are also two sets on ostinato
Ostinato
In music, an ostinato is a motif or phrase, which is persistently repeated in the same musical voice. An ostinato is always a succession of equal sounds, wherein each note always has the same weight or stress. The repeating idea may be a rhythmic pattern, part of a tune, or a complete melody in...
harmonies: Guardame las vacas and Conde claros, both in volume six. The remaining music comprises villancicos, romances, and a Baxa de contrapunto.
With the exception of two motets, no other music by Narváez survives, although he must have composed a substantial amount of vocal music.
List of works
The following is a list of pieces found in Los seys libros del delphín, following the original order. Roman numerals in parentheses are not original and are provided for convenience only.- Volume 1
- Fantasia (I) del primer tono por gesolreut
- Fantasia (II) del segundo tono
- Fantasia (III) del tercer tono
- Fantasia (IV) del quarto tono
- Fantasia (V) del quinto tono de consonancia
- Fantasia (VI) del sesto tono sobre fa ut mi re
- Fantasia (VII) del setimo tono sobre ut re mi fa mi
- Fantasia (VIII) del octavo tono
- Volume 2: Ay en el fantasias por algunos tonos que no son tan dificultosas de tañer como las del primer libro
- Fantasia (IX) del primer tono
- Fantasia (X) del quarto tono
- Fantasia (XI) del quinto tono
- Fantasia (XII) del quinto tono
- Fantasia (XIII) del primer tono
- Fantasia (XIV) del primer tono
- Volume 3: Ay en el obras compuestas de Josquin y canciones Francesas de diversos autores
- Sanctus de la misa de Ercules dux de josquin—Ossanna de la misma missa ("Sanctus" and "Osanna" from JosquinJosquin Des PrezJosquin des Prez [Josquin Lebloitte dit Desprez] , often referred to simply as Josquin, was a Franco-Flemish composer of the Renaissance...
's Missa Hercules Dux FerrariaeMissa Hercules Dux FerrariaeThe Missa Hercules dux Ferrariae is a setting of the Ordinary of the Mass composed by Josquin des Prez, and dedicated to Ercole d'Este I, Duke of Ferrara...
) - Sanctus de josquin de la misa de faissan regres—Ossanna de la misma missa ("Sanctus" and "Osanna" from Josquin's Missa Faisant regretz)
- Cum sancto spiritu de la missa de la fuga de josquin (from Josquin's Missa Sine nomine)
- Mille regres. La canción del Emperador del quarto tono de Jusquin (Josquin's chanson Mille RegretzMille RegretzMille Regretz is a French chanson which in its 4 part setting is usually credited to Josquin des Prez. Josquin's version is in the Phrygian mode...
) - Cancion de Nicolas Gombert del quinto tono (Nicolas GombertNicolas GombertNicolas Gombert was a Franco-Flemish composer of the Renaissance. He was one of the most famous and influential composers between Josquin des Prez and Palestrina, and best represents the fully developed, complex polyphonic style of this period in music history.-Life:Details of his early life are...
's chanson Jamais je n'eus tant de soulas) - Otra cancion del primer tono (not by Gombert as is stated in Narváez book, but in reality by Jean Courtois: chanson Si par souffrir )
- Je veulx laysser melancolie (Jean RichafortJean RichafortJean Richafort was a Franco-Flemish composer of the Renaissance.He was probably born in Hainaut, and his native language appears to have been French. He may have studied with Josquin des Prez, though the evidence for this is circumstantial. Richafort served as choir master at St. Rombold...
's chanson)
- Sanctus de la misa de Ercules dux de josquin—Ossanna de la misma missa ("Sanctus" and "Osanna" from Josquin
- Volume 4: y en el diferencias de contrapuntos sobre el igno de nuestra Señora O gloriosa domina, y de Pange lingua y Sacris solenniis
- O gloriosa domina (6 diferencias)
- Sacris solenniis (5 diferencias)
- Volume 5: Ay en el romances y villancicos para tañer y cantar y contrapunctos sobre algunos villancicos
- Ya se asienta el rey Ramiro
- Paseavase el rey Moro
- Si tantos halcones (3 diferencias)
- Y la mi cinta dorada (6 diferencias)
- La bella mal maridada
- Con que la lavare
- Ay arde coraçon
- Volume 6: Ay en el veynte y dos diferencias de Conde claros para discantar y siete diferencias de guardame las vacas, y una baxa de contrapunto
- Conde claros (22 diferencias)
- Guardame las vacas (7 diferencias)
- Baxa de contrapunto
Media
Editions
- With the resurrection of the lost arts of vihuela-making and -playing in the 20th century, Emilio PujolEmilio PujolEmili Pujol Vilarrubí was a composer and the leading twentieth century musicologist and classical guitar teacher.- Biography :...
edited the volume on Narváez (1945) for the authoritative series Monumentos de la música española (Monuments of Spanish Music).
A new transcription for guitar, edited by Stefan Nesyba, contains all of the solo works by Narváez: http://www.editionhh.co.uk/
External links
- http://home.scarlet.be/lutacabel/pub/art12_03.html