Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1556

Death

:

1620

 

Gutierre Fernández Hidalgo was a Spanish composer of the Renaissance period, born in the city of Burgos in 1553. He was the son of a musician, and it is likely that he received his early musical training from his father. He later studied music at the University of Salamanca, where he was a student of the renowned composer Francisco Guerrero. Fernández Hidalgo's early career is not well documented, but it is known that he held several positions as a musician and composer in various Spanish cities, including Burgos, Valladolid, and Madrid. In 1587, he was appointed maestro de capilla (choirmaster) at the Cathedral of Segovia, a position he held until his death in 1620. As maestro de capilla, Fernández Hidalgo was responsible for directing the cathedral choir and composing music for the liturgy. He was highly regarded for his skill as a composer, and his music was widely performed and admired during his lifetime. His works were published in several collections, including the Cancionero de la Sablonara (1602) and the Cancionero de Upsala (1620). Fernández Hidalgo's music is characterized by its rich harmonies, expressive melodies, and skillful use of counterpoint. He was particularly adept at writing for voices, and his choral works are considered some of the finest of the Renaissance period. His music is also notable for its use of Spanish folk melodies and rhythms, which give it a distinctive flavor. One of Fernández Hidalgo's most famous works is his Missa Super Ave Regina Caelorum, a setting of the Mass Ordinary based on the Marian antiphon Ave Regina Caelorum. The work is scored for four voices and is notable for its intricate polyphony and expressive harmonies. Another well-known work is his Cancionero de la Sablonara, a collection of secular songs that includes settings of Spanish poetry by such writers as Garcilaso de la Vega and Francisco de Quevedo. Fernández Hidalgo's music was highly influential in his own time and continued to be performed and admired long after his death. His works were widely disseminated throughout Europe, and he was considered one of the leading composers of the Spanish Renaissance. Today, his music is still performed and recorded by choirs and ensembles around the world, and he is recognized as one of the great composers of his era.

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