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João IV of Portugal, also known as João IV the Restorer, was born on March 18, 1604, in Vila Viçosa, Portugal. He was the son of Teodósio II, Duke of Braganza, and Ana de Velasco y Girón, a Spanish noblewoman. João IV was the first monarch of the House of Braganza, which ruled Portugal from 1640 to 1910. João IV was a patron of the arts and a composer of music. He was educated in music and the arts from a young age, and he showed a talent for composition. He was particularly interested in sacred music, and he composed many works for the Catholic Church. João IV's musical education began with his mother, who was a musician and a patron of the arts. She taught him to play the harpsichord and the guitar, and she introduced him to the music of the Spanish Renaissance. João IV also studied music with the Portuguese composer Manuel Rodrigues Coelho, who was the organist at the Royal Chapel in Lisbon. In 1633, João IV became the King of Portugal, and he immediately began to promote the arts and culture in his kingdom. He founded the Royal College of Music in Lisbon, which was the first music conservatory in Portugal. He also established the Royal Chapel, which was a center of musical activity in Lisbon. João IV was a prolific composer, and he wrote many works for the Catholic Church. His compositions include masses, motets, hymns, and other sacred music. He was particularly interested in the music of the Spanish Renaissance, and he incorporated elements of this style into his own compositions. One of João IV's most famous compositions is the Crux Fidelis, which is a hymn that is still sung in churches today. The hymn is based on a medieval Latin poem, and it is a tribute to the cross of Christ. João IV's setting of the hymn is a beautiful example of his skill as a composer, and it is still performed by choirs and orchestras around the world. Another notable work by João IV is the Missa a 8, which is a mass for eight voices. The mass is a complex and intricate work, and it demonstrates João IV's mastery of counterpoint and harmony. The mass is still performed today, and it is considered one of the finest examples of Portuguese sacred music. João IV was also a patron of other composers, and he supported the work of many musicians in his kingdom. He commissioned works from composers such as Manuel Cardoso, Estêvão Lopes Morago, and Duarte Lobo, and he encouraged the development of a distinct Portuguese style of music. João IV's reign was a time of great cultural and artistic achievement in Portugal. He was a patron of the arts and a composer of music, and he helped to establish Portugal as a center of musical activity in Europe. His legacy lives on today in his compositions and in the music of the Portuguese Renaissance.

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