Geert van Turnhout (French: ''Gérard de Turnhout''; c. 1520 – 15 September 1580) was a Flemish composer, who became master of the

Flemish chapel (capilla flamenca) The Flemish chapel (Spanish: capilla flamenca) was one of two choirs employed by Philip II of Spain, the other being the Spanish chapel (or capilla española). Deriving from the ''Grand Chapelle'' of Philip I of Castile, the choir served under va ...

in Spain. He was born in

Turnhout Turnhout () is a Belgium, Belgian Municipalities in Belgium, municipality and city located in the Flemish Region, Flemish Provinces of Belgium, province of Antwerp (province), Antwerp. The municipality comprises only the city of Turnhout proper. ...

. He had a younger brother, also a composer, Jan van Turnhout. Turnhout was employed first at

Antwerp Antwerp (; ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of Antwerp Province, and the third-largest city in Belgium by area at , after ...

, then at the Church of St Gummarus,

Lier, Belgium Lier (; ) is a municipality located in the Belgium, Belgian province of Antwerp (province), Antwerp. It is composed of the city of Lier proper and the village of Koningshooikt. The city centre is surrounded by the river ''Nete'', around which it g ...

, (''maître de chapelle'' 1559), then in 1562 back to the

Cathedral of Our Lady (Antwerp) The Cathedral of Our Lady () is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Antwerp, Belgium. Today's seat of the Diocese of Antwerp started in 1352 and, although the first stage of construction was ended in 1521, has never been 'completed'. It was constructe ...

where he was made ''maître de chant'' in 1563. His motets (many of which have been lost) included at least two for Saint Cecilia, probably reflecting the importance of the celebration of Cecilia's Day in the cathedral of Antwerp. On 2 May 1571

Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba Fernando Álvarez de Toledo y Pimentel, 3rd Duke of Alba (29 October 150711 December 1582), known as the Grand Duke of Alba (, ) in Spain and Portugal and as the Iron Duke () or shortly 'Alva' in the Netherlands, was a Spaniards, Spanish noblema ...

engaged Turnhout as maestro de capilla of the Capilla Flamenca

Philip II of Spain Philip II (21 May 152713 September 1598), sometimes known in Spain as Philip the Prudent (), was King of Spain from 1556, King of Portugal from 1580, and King of Naples and List of Sicilian monarchs, Sicily from 1554 until his death in 1598. He ...

in Madrid to succeed Jean de Bonmarché. Turnhout arrived in Madrid with a group of singers from the Low Countries. He remained there until his death, when he was succeeded by George de La Hèle.

Works

* Missa ‘O Maria vernans rosa’ a 5 1570 * ''Sacrarum ac aliarum cantonum a 3'' (Leuven, 1569): 20 motets, 20 chansonsL.J. Wagner: Preface to Sacred and Secular Songs for Three Voices, RRMR, ix (1970) Dedicated to Adrian Dyck, notary of Antwerp, it includes a dedicatory motet to Phillip II. * 3 motets, 10 chansons, 2 voices, 1571 * 4 Dutch songs, 4–5 voices 1572 * 5 French sacred songs, 3 voices, in 1577

Discography

* chanson: ''En regardant'' on ''Musicians of the Chapelle de Bourgogne'' dir. Bernardin Van Eeckhout, L'Oiseau-Lyre OL 50 104 (LP, mono) * ''Jerusalem luge'' and 2 chansons: ''Craint' et espoir. Dueil, double dueil'' on ''Leal Amour: Flemish Composers at the Court of Philip II'' Turnhout, Hèle, Rogier, Gombert, Payen, Manchicourt, Egidius Kwartet Etcetera 1218 * 2 chansons: ''Je prens en gré la dure mort. Jouÿsance vous donneray'' on ''

Philippe Rogier Philippe Rogier (c. 1561 – 29 February 1596) was a Franco-Flemish composer of the Renaissance, active at the Habsburg court of Philip II in Spain. He was one of the last members of the Franco-Flemish school, in the closing days of the Renaissa ...

en Spanje'' Capella Sancti Michaelis & Currende Consort dir. Erik Van Nevel Eufoda 1161 (1993).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Turnhout, Geert 1520 births 1580 deaths Belgian classical composers Belgian male classical composers Flemish composers 16th-century Franco-Flemish composers People from Turnhout Renaissance composers