Tomás Luis de Victoria (sometimes Italianised as ''da Vittoria''; ) was the most famous Spanish composer of the

Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history The history of Europe is traditionally divided into four time periods: prehistoric Europe (prior to about 800 BC), classical antiquity (800 BC to AD ...

. He stands with

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina ( – 2 February 1594) was an Italian composer of late Renaissance music. The central representative of the Roman School, with Orlande de Lassus and Tomás Luis de Victoria, Palestrina is considered the leading ...

and

Orlande de Lassus Orlande de Lassus ( various other names; probably – 14 June 1594) was a composer of the late Renaissance. The chief representative of the mature polyphonic style in the Franco-Flemish school, Lassus stands with Giovanni Pierluigi da Pale ...

as among the principal composers of the late Renaissance, and was "admired above all for the intensity of some of his motets and of his Offices for the Dead and for Holy Week". His surviving ''oeuvre'', unlike that of his colleagues, is almost exclusively

sacred Sacred describes something that is dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity; is considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion; or inspires awe or reverence among believers. The property is often ascribed to objects ( ...

and polyphonic vocal music, set to Latin texts. As a Catholic priest, as well as an accomplished organist and singer, his career spanned both Spain and Italy. However, he preferred the life of a composer to that of a performer.

Life and career

Victoria was born in Sanchidrián in the

province of Ávila Ávila () is a province of central-western Spain, in the southern part of the autonomous community of Castile and León. It is bordered on the south by the provinces of Toledo and Cáceres, on the west by Salamanca, on the north by Valladolid, an ...

, Castile, around 1548 and died in 1611. Victoria's family can be traced back for generations. Not only are the names of the members in his immediate family known, but even the occupation of his grandfather. Victoria was the seventh of nine children born to Francisco Luis de Victoria and Francisca Suárez de la Concha. His mother was of converso descent.Tejero Robledo, Eduardo, "Tomás Luis de Victoria (Ávila, 1548 – Madrid, 1611) y su linaje converso", pp. 33–70. After his father's death in 1557, his uncle, Juan Luis, became his guardian. He was a choirboy in Ávila Cathedral. Cathedral records state that his uncle, Juan Luis, presented Victoria's Liber Primus to the Church while reminding them that Victoria had been brought up in the Ávila Cathedral. Because he was such an accomplished organist, many believe that he began studying the keyboard at an early age from a teacher in Ávila. Victoria most likely began studying "the classics" at St. Giles's, a boys' school in Ávila. This school was praised by St.Teresa of Avila and other highly regarded people of music. After receiving a grant from

Philip II Philip II may refer to: * Philip II of Macedon (382–336 BC) * Philip II (emperor) (238–249), Roman emperor * Philip II, Prince of Taranto (1329–1374) * Philip II, Duke of Burgundy (1342–1404) * Philip II, Duke of Savoy (1438-1497) * Philip ...

in 1565, Victoria went to

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

and became cantor at the German College founded by St.

Ignatius Loyola Ignatius of Loyola, S.J. (born Íñigo López de Oñaz y Loyola; eu, Ignazio Loiolakoa; es, Ignacio de Loyola; la, Ignatius de Loyola; – 31 July 1556), venerated as Saint Ignatius of Loyola, was a Spanish Catholic priest and theologian, ...

. He may have studied with

Palestrina Palestrina (ancient ''Praeneste''; grc, Πραίνεστος, ''Prainestos'') is a modern Italian city and ''comune'' (municipality) with a population of about 22,000, in Lazio, about east of Rome. It is connected to the latter by the Via Pre ...

around this time, though the evidence is circumstantial; certainly he was influenced by the Italian's style. For some time, beginning in 1573, Victoria held two positions, one being at the German College and the other being at the

Pontifical Roman Seminary , type = Major seminary , established = , founder = Pope Pius IV , parent = Diocese of Rome , religious_affiliation = Catholic Church , rector = Gabriele Fara ...

. He held the positions of chapelmaster and instructor of

plainsong Plainsong or plainchant (calque from the French ''plain-chant''; la, cantus planus) is a body of chants used in the liturgies of the Western Church. When referring to the term plainsong, it is those sacred pieces that are composed in Latin text ...

. In 1571, he was hired at the German College as a teacher and began earning his first steady income. After Palestrina left the

Seminary A seminary, school of theology, theological seminary, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called ''seminarians'') in scripture, theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as clergy ...

, Victoria took over the position of maestro. Victoria was ordained a priest in 1574 by bishop

Thomas Goldwell Thomas Goldwell (15013 April 1585) was an English Catholic clergyman, Bishop of Saint Asaph, the last of those Catholic bishops who had refused to accept the English Reformation. Life Thomas Goldwell was the son of William Goldwell of Great ...

. Before this he was made a

deacon A deacon is a member of the diaconate, an office in Christian churches that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions. Major Christian churches, such as the Catholic Chur ...

, but did not serve long in that capacity as typically deacons became priests soon after. In 1575, Victoria was appointed Maestro di Capella at S. Apollinare. Church officials would often ask Victoria for his opinion on appointments to cathedral positions because of his fame and knowledge. He was faithful to his position as convent organist even after his professional debut as an organist. He did not stay in

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

, however. In 1587 Philip II honoured Victoria's desire to return to his native Spain, naming him chaplain to his sister, the

Dowager A dowager is a widow or widower who holds a title or property—a " dower"—derived from her or his deceased spouse. As an adjective, ''dowager'' usually appears in association with monarchical and aristocratic titles. In popular usage, the noun ...

Empress María, daughter of

Charles V Charles V may refer to: * Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (1500–1558) * Charles V of Naples (1661–1700), better known as Charles II of Spain * Charles V of France (1338–1380), called the Wise * Charles V, Duke of Lorraine (1643–1690) * Infa ...

, who had been living in retirement with her daughter Princess Margarita at the Monasterio de las Descalzas de St. Clara at Madrid from 1581. In 1591, Victoria became a godfather to his brother Juan Luis's daughter, Isabel de Victoria. Victoria worked for 24 years at Descalzas Reales, serving for 17 years as chaplain to the Empress until her death, and then as convent organist. Victoria was also being paid much more at the Descalzas Reales than he would have earned as a cathedral chapelmaster, receiving an annual income from absentee benefices from 1587–1611. When the Empress Maria died in 1603, she willed three chaplaincies in the convent, with one going to Victoria. According to Victoria, he never accepted any extra pay for being a chapelmaster, and became the organist rather than the chapelmaster. Such was the esteem in which he was held that his contract allowed him frequent travel away from the convent. He was able to visit Rome in 1593 for two years, attending Palestrina's funeral in 1594. He died in 1611 in the chaplain's residence and was buried at the convent, although his tomb has yet to be identified.

Music

Missa alma redemptoris (Luis de Victoria)

Victoria is the most significant composer of the Counter-Reformation in Spain, and one of the best-regarded composers of

sacred music Religious music (also sacred music) is a type of music that is performed or composed for religious use or through religious influence. It may overlap with ritual music, which is music, sacred or not, performed or composed for or as ritual. Relig ...

in the

late Renaissance Mannerism, which may also be known as Late Renaissance, is a style in European art that emerged in the later years of the Italian High Renaissance around 1520, spreading by about 1530 and lasting until about the end of the 16th century in Italy ...

, a genre to which he devoted himself exclusively. Victoria's music reflected his personality, expressing the passion of Spanish mysticism and religion. Victoria was praised by Padre Martini for his melodic phrases and his joyful inventions. His works have undergone a revival in the 20th century, with numerous recent recordings. Many commentators hear in his music a mystical intensity and direct emotional appeal, qualities considered by some to be lacking in the arguably more rhythmically and harmonically placid music of Palestrina. There are quite a few differences in their compositional styles, such as treatment of melody and quarter-note dissonances. Victoria was a master at overlapping and dividing choirs with multiple parts with a gradual decreasing of rhythmic distance throughout. Not only does Victoria incorporate intricate parts for the voices, but the organ is almost treated like a soloist in many of his choral pieces. Victoria did not originate the development of psalm settings or antiphons for two choirs, but he continued and increased the popularity of such repertoire. Victoria republished works that had appeared previously, and incorporated revisions into each reissue. Victoria published his first book of motets in 1572. In 1585 he wrote his ''Officium Hebdomadae Sanctae'', a collection which included 37 pieces that are part of the

Holy Week Holy Week ( la, Hebdomada Sancta or , ; grc, Ἁγία καὶ Μεγάλη Ἑβδομάς, translit=Hagia kai Megale Hebdomas, lit=Holy and Great Week) is the most sacred week in the liturgical year in Christianity. In Eastern Churches, w ...

celebrations in the

Catholic liturgy In the Catholic Church, liturgy is divine worship, the proclamation of the Gospel, and active charity. Catholic liturgies are broadly categorized as the Latin liturgical rites of the Latin Church and the Eastern Catholic liturgies of the Eas ...

, including the eighteen motets of the '' Tenebrae Responsories''. Two influences in Victoria's life were

Giovanni Maria Nanino Giovanni Maria Nanino (also Nanini; 1543 or 1544 – 11 March 1607) was an Italian composer and teacher of the late Renaissance. He was a member of the Roman School of composers, and was the most influential music teacher in Rome in the late 16 ...

and

Luca Marenzio Luca Marenzio (also Marentio; October 18, 1553 or 1554 – August 22, 1599) was an Italian composer and singer of the late Renaissance. He was one of the most renowned composers of madrigals, and wrote some of the most famous examples of the fo ...

, whom Victoria admired for their work in madrigals rather than church music. It has been speculated that Victoria took lessons from Escobedo at an early age before moving to Rome. Victoria claimed that he composed his most creative works under his patron Otto, Cardinal von Truchsess. However, Stevenson does not believe that he learned everything about music under Cardinal Truchsess's patronage. During the years that Victoria was devoted to Philip II of Spain, he expressed exhaustion from his compositional work. Most of the compositions that Victoria wrote that were dedicated to Cardinal

Michele Bonelli Carlo Michele Bonelli, Cardinal Alessandrino (25 November 1541– 28 March 1598) was an Italian senior papal diplomat with a distinguished career that spanned two decades from 1571. Biography Born in Bosco Marengo, he was the son of Marco ...

, Philip II of Spain, or

Pope Gregory XIII Pope Gregory XIII ( la, Gregorius XIII; it, Gregorio XIII; 7 January 1502 – 10 April 1585), born Ugo Boncompagni, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 13 May 1572 to his death in April 1585. He is best known for ...

were not compensated properly. Stylistically, his music shuns the elaborate counterpoint of many of his contemporaries, preferring simple line and

homophonic In music, homophony (;, Greek: ὁμόφωνος, ''homóphōnos'', from ὁμός, ''homós'', "same" and φωνή, ''phōnē'', "sound, tone") is a texture in which a primary part is supported by one or more additional strands that flesh ...

textures, yet seeking rhythmic variety and sometimes including intense and surprising contrasts. His melodic writing and use of dissonance is more free than that of Palestrina; occasionally he uses intervals which are prohibited in the strict application of 16th century counterpoint, such as ascending major sixths, or even occasional diminished fourths (for example, a melodic diminished fourth occurs in a passage representing grief in his motet ''Sancta Maria, occurred''). Victoria sometimes uses dramatic

word-painting Word painting, also known as tone painting or text painting, is the musical technique of composing music that reflects the literal meaning of a song's lyrics or story elements in programmatic music. Historical development Tone painting of words ...

, of a kind usually found only in

madrigals A madrigal is a form of secular vocal music most typical of the Renaissance (15th–16th c.) and early Baroque (1600–1750) periods, although revisited by some later European composers. The polyphonic madrigal is unaccompanied, and the number ...

. Some of his sacred music uses instruments (a practice which is not uncommon in Spanish sacred music of the 16th century), and he also wrote

polychoral An antiphon (Greek ἀντίφωνον, ἀντί "opposite" and φωνή "voice") is a short chant in Christian ritual, sung as a refrain. The texts of antiphons are the Psalms. Their form was favored by St Ambrose and they feature prominently ...

works for more than one spatially separated group of singers, in the style of the composers of the Venetian school who were working at St. Mark's in

Venice Venice ( ; it, Venezia ; vec, Venesia or ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 bridges. The isla ...

. His most famous work, and his masterpiece, '' Officium Defunctorum'', is a Requiem Mass for the Empress Maria.

Works

The number of voices are included in parentheses

Masses

* Alma redemptoris mater (8) * Ascendens Christus (5) * Ave maris stella (4) * Ave regina coelorum (8) * De Beata Maria Virgine (5) * Dum complerentur (6) * Gaudeamus (6) * Laetatus sum (12) * O magnum mysterium (4) * O quam gloriosum (4) * Pro defunctis (4) * Pro defunctis (6) * Pro Victoria (9) * Quam pulchra sunt (4) * Quarti toni (4) * Salve regina (8) * Simile est regnum coelorum (4) * Surge propera (5) * Trahe me post te (5) * Vidi speciosam (6) Spurious * Dominicalis (4) * Pange lingua (4) Magnificat (each sets just the odd verses polyphonically, or just the even verses, a few set all) Odd / Even * primi toni (4) * secondi toni (4) * terti toni (4) * quarti toni (4) * quinti toni (4) * sexti toni (4) * septime toni (4) * octavi toni (4) Both * primi toni (8) * sexti toni (12)

Lamentations

* Cogitavit Dominus (4) * Ego vir videns (5) * Et egressus est (4) * Incipit lamentation Jeremiae (4) * Incipit oratio Jeremiae (6) * Manum suam (5) * Matribus suis dixerunt (4) * Misericordiae Domini (4) * Quomodo obscuratum (4)

Motets

Four voices * Beati inmaculatin * Benedicam Dominum * Date ei de fructu * Doctor bonus amicus Dei Andreas * Domine non sum dignus * Duo seraphim clamabant * Ecce sacerdos magnus * Ego sum panis vivus * Estote fortes in bello * Gaudent in coelis animae Sanctorum * Hic vir despiciens mundum * Iste sanctus pro lege * Magi viderunt stellam * Ne timeas, Maria * O decus apostolicum * O doctor optime * O magnum mysterium * O quam gloriosum est regnum * O quam metuendus * O regnum coeli * O sacrum convivium * O vos omnes * Pueri Hebraeorum * Quam pulchri sunt grassus tui * Sancta Maria, succurre miseris * Senex puerum portabet * Veni, sponsa Christi * Vere languores nostros Five voices * Ascendens Christus in altum * Cum beatus Ignatius * Descendit angelus Domini * Dum complerentur dies Pentecostes * Ecce Dominus veniet * Gaude, Maria virgo * O lux et decus Hispaniae * Resplenduit facies ejus Six Voices * Ardens est cor meum * Beata es Virgo Maria * Benedicta sit Sancta Trinitas * Congratulamini mihi * Nigra sum * O Domine Jesu Christe * O sacrum convivium * Quem vidistis, pastores * Surrexit Pastor Bonus * Trahe me post te * Tu es Petrus * Vadam, et circumibo civitatem * Vidi speciosam * Versa est in luctum Eight voices * Ave Maria * Domine in virtute tua * O Ildephonse * Vidi speciosam

Canticles

* Benedictus Dominus * Nunc dimittis (4) * Nunc dimittis (5)

Hymns

(All 4 voices except Tantum ergo, 5) * Ad caenam agni provide * Ad preces nostras * Aurea luce et decore * Ave maris stella (even verses) * Ave maris stella (odd verses) * Christe redemptor omnium I * Christe redemptor omnium II * Conditor alme siderum * Decus egregie Paule * Deus tuorum militum * Exultet caelum laudibus * Hostis Herodes impie * Huius obtentu Deus * Iste confessor * Jesu corona virginum * Jesu nostra redemptio * Lauda mater Ecclisia * Lucis creator optime * O lux beata Trinitas * Pange lingua I * Pange lingua II * Quicumque Christum queritis * Quodcumque vinclis (also Petrus beatus catenarum) * Rex gloriose martyrum * Salvete flores martyrum * Sanctorum meritis * Tantum ergo sacramentum * Te Deum laudamus * Te lucis ante terminum * Tibi Christe splendor patris * Tristes errant apostoli * Urbs beata Jerusalem * Veni creator spiritus * Vexilla Regis prodeunt I * Vexilla Regis prodeunt II

Magnificats

(odd or even verses, 4 voices) * Primi toni (4) * Secondi toni (4) * Terti toni (4) * Quarti toni (4) * Quinti toni (4) * Sexti toni (4) * Septime toni (4) * Octavi toni (4) Both * Primi toni (8 voices) * Sexti toni (12 voices)

Lamentations

Maundy Thursday * Incipit lamentation Jeremiae (4) * Et egressus est (4) * Manum suam (5) Good Friday * Cogitavit Domino's (4) * Matribus suis dixerunt (4) * Ego vir videns (5)

Holy Saturday Holy Saturday ( la, Sabbatum Sanctum), also known as Great and Holy Saturday (also Holy and Great Saturday), the Great Sabbath, Hallelujah Saturday (in Portugal and Brazil), Saturday of the Glory, Sabado de Gloria, and Black Saturday or Easter ...

* Misericordiae Domini (4) * Quomodo obscuratum (4) * Incipit oratio Jeremiae (6) Lesson * Taedet animam meam Litany * de beata Virgine

Passions

* St. Matthew * St. John

Psalms

(Number, voices, ode, verses * Nisi Dominus (126, 8) * Super flumina Babylonis (136, 8) * Dixit Dominus (109, 8) * Laudate pueri Dominum (112, 8) * Laudate Dominum omnes gentes (116, 8) * Laudate sum (121, 12) * Ecce nunc benedicite (135, 8) * Dixit Dominus (109, 4, I, odd) * Confitebor tibi Domine (110, 4, 4, odd) * Beatus vir (111, 4, 8, even) * Laudate pueri Dominum (112, 4, 6, even) * Lauda Jerusalem (147, 4, 7, odd) * Confitebor tibi Domine (110, 4, 4, even) * Beatus vir (111, 4, 8, odd) * Nisi Dominus (126, 4, 8, odd) * Credidi (115, 4, 6, odd)

Tenebrae Responsories

Thursday Matins * Amicus meus * Judas mercator pessimus * Unus ex discipulis meis Thursday Lauds * Eram quasi agnus * Una hora * Seniores populi Friday Matins * Tamquam ad latronem * Tenebrae factae sunt * Animam meam dilectam Friday Lauds * Tradiderunt me * Jesum tradidit impius * Caligaverunt oculi mei Saturday Matins * Recessit pastor noster * O vos omnes * Ecce quomodo moritur Justus Saturday Lauds * Astiterunt reges terrae * Aestimatus sum * Sepulto Domino

Sequences

* Lauda Sion salvatorem (8) * Victimae Paschali (8) * Veni Sancte Spiritus (8)

Selected recordings

The following are recordings of music by Tomás Luis de Victoria. As in all of his music, the texts are in

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

and drawn from the Roman Catholic Liturgy. * Victoria, ''Tenebrae Responsories''. Pro Cantione Antiqua: Deutsche Harmonia Mundi CD GD77056 * Victoria, ''Et Jesum. Motets, antífonas y partes de miss''. Carlos Mena, Juan Carlos Rivera: CD Harmonia Mundi Iberica 987042 * Victoria, ''Officium Defunctorum''. Musica Ficta, Raúl Mallavibarrena: Enchiriadis CD EN 2006 * Victoria, ''Sacred Works''. Ensemble Plus Ultra: DGG Archiv CD DDD 0289 477 9747 0 AM 10 * Victoria, ''Tenebrae Responsories''. The

Tallis Scholars The Tallis Scholars is a British professional early music vocal ensemble normally consisting of two singers per part, with a core group of ten singers. They specialise in performing ''a cappella'' sacred vocal music. History The group was formed ...

: GIMELL. CDGIM 022 * Victoria, ''Lamentations of Jeremiah''. The Tallis Scholars: GIMELL. CDGIM 043 * Victoria, Gesualdo, Palestrina, White, ''Lamentations''. Nordic Voices: CHANDOS CHACONNE. CHAN 0763 * Victoria, ''Misas y Motetes''. Ars Combinatoria, Canco López: Musaris. Mars 03-21161/16. Select recordings of music by Victoria are discussed in an article published in March 2011 by ''Gramophone''Tomás Luis de Victoria – a 400th-anniversary profile
by Edward Breen, Gramophone online, March 2011

Notes

References

Books * * * Journal and encyclopedia articles * * * * *

External links

* * * *
Victoria dedicated website
in Spanish and English

by the Umeå Academic Choir {{DEFAULTSORT:Victoria, Tomas Luis de 1548 births 1611 deaths People from the Province of Ávila Spanish classical composers Spanish male classical composers Musicians from Castile and León Renaissance composers 16th-century composers Spanish Roman Catholic priests Oratorians

Life and career

Music

Works

Masses

Lamentations

Motets

Canticles

Hymns

Magnificats

Lamentations

Passions

Psalms

Tenebrae Responsories

Sequences

Selected recordings

Notes

References

Further reading

External links