Mogens Pedersøn
Encyclopedia
Mogens Pedersøn was a Danish
instrumentalist and composer. He is considered the most important Danish-born composer before Buxtehude.
. In 1599 he was selected to accompany Melchior Borchgrevinck
and two other Danish court musicians to study with Giovanni Gabrieli
in Venice, returning to Denmark in 1600. After continuing to study with Melchior Borchgrevinck, he was appointed an instrumentalist member of the royal chapel in 1603.
In 1605 Pedersøn undertook a further longer trip to study with Gabrieli with the support of King Christian, remaining in Venice for four years. During this time he published his first book of madrigals in 1608. These Italian madrigals are polyphonic compositions for five voices in a contemporary late Renaissance style.
He resumed his post at the Danish royal chapel in 1609, however he was one of four court musicians to travel to England between 1611 and 1614. As James I of England
was married to Anne of Denmark
there was a natural connection between the two courts. It is from an English manuscript copy by Francis Tregian
that Pedersøn's second book of madrigals is known.
Pedersøn was appointed assistant director of the Danish royal chapel (under Melchior Borchgrevinck) in 1618—the first Danish-born musician and composer to reach such a position.
In 1620 Pedersøn made a significant contribution to Danish church music with the publication of Pratum spirituale. This was intended to be a practical publication for use in worship and in schools and is organised according to the church calendar. The settings are for five voices, many using existing Danish Lutheran
melodies. It includes six entirely original compositions, in an early Baroque
style: A Danish language mass, two sets of responses, and three Latin motets.
Pedersøn last appears in official records in January 1623 and is thought to have died shortly afterwards, in Copenhagen
.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
instrumentalist and composer. He is considered the most important Danish-born composer before Buxtehude.
Life
Early in his career he entered the service of the Danish monarch, Christian IVChristian IV of Denmark
Christian IV was the king of Denmark-Norway from 1588 until his death. With a reign of more than 59 years, he is the longest-reigning monarch of Denmark, and he is frequently remembered as one of the most popular, ambitious and proactive Danish kings, having initiated many reforms and projects...
. In 1599 he was selected to accompany Melchior Borchgrevinck
Melchior Borchgrevinck
Melchior Borchgrevinck was a Dutch-Danish musician, composer, and court Kapellmeister. He was born to Bonaventura Borchgrevinck, a Dutch-Danish musician and court Kapellmeister...
and two other Danish court musicians to study with Giovanni 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...
in Venice, returning to Denmark in 1600. After continuing to study with Melchior Borchgrevinck, he was appointed an instrumentalist member of the royal chapel in 1603.
He resumed his post at the Danish royal chapel in 1609, however he was one of four court musicians to travel to England between 1611 and 1614. As James I of England
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
was married to Anne of Denmark
Anne of Denmark
Anne of Denmark was queen consort of Scotland, England, and Ireland as the wife of King James VI and I.The second daughter of King Frederick II of Denmark, Anne married James in 1589 at the age of fourteen and bore him three children who survived infancy, including the future Charles I...
there was a natural connection between the two courts. It is from an English manuscript copy by Francis Tregian
Francis Tregian the Younger
Francis Tregian the Younger was the son of the Catholic exile Francis Tregian the Elder .He was educated in France, and in 1592 obtained a position in Rome as chamberlain to Cardinal William Allen...
that Pedersøn's second book of madrigals is known.
Pedersøn was appointed assistant director of the Danish royal chapel (under Melchior Borchgrevinck) in 1618—the first Danish-born musician and composer to reach such a position.
In 1620 Pedersøn made a significant contribution to Danish church music with the publication of Pratum spirituale. This was intended to be a practical publication for use in worship and in schools and is organised according to the church calendar. The settings are for five voices, many using existing Danish Lutheran
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
melodies. It includes six entirely original compositions, in an early Baroque
Baroque music
Baroque music describes a style of Western Classical music approximately extending from 1600 to 1760. This era follows the Renaissance and was followed in turn by the Classical era...
style: A Danish language mass, two sets of responses, and three Latin motets.
Pedersøn last appears in official records in January 1623 and is thought to have died shortly afterwards, in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
.
Works list
- Madrigali a 5 voci, libro primo (1608, Venice). Dedicated to King Christian IV of DenmarkChristian IV of DenmarkChristian IV was the king of Denmark-Norway from 1588 until his death. With a reign of more than 59 years, he is the longest-reigning monarch of Denmark, and he is frequently remembered as one of the most popular, ambitious and proactive Danish kings, having initiated many reforms and projects...
. - Madrigali, libro secondo (1611). Partially lost; 10 madrigals have survived in manuscript copy.
- 2 madrigaletti in Hans BrachroggeHans BrachroggeHans Brachrogge was a Danish singer and composer.His birth and death as well as his place of birth is unknown although he is known to have studied under Melchior Borchgrevinck....
's Madrigaletti a 3 voci (1619). Complete facsimile at the Danish Royal Library - Pratum spirituale, d. e. Messer, Salmer, Motteter, som brugelig ere udi Danmark og Norge, komponerede med 5 Stemmer (1620, Copenhagen), dedicated to Prince Christian of DenmarkChristian, Prince Elect of DenmarkChristian was the Prince Elect of Denmark between 1610 and his death.-Early life:He was born in Copenhagen Castle as a son of King Christian IV of Denmark and Queen-Consort Anne Catherine . He was the couple's oldest living son, an older brother Frederick having died in 1599, less than a year old...
. Complete facsimile at the Danish Royal Library - Two pavans for 5 viols. Only three of the parts have survived.