Role

:

Composer

Country

:

Portugal

Birth

:

1555

Death

:

ca. 1635

Period

:

Baroque

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Keyboard

 

Manuel Rodrigues Coelho was a prominent Portuguese composer and organist of the Baroque era. He was born in Lisbon in 1555, and little is known about his early life and education. However, it is believed that he received his musical training at the Lisbon Cathedral, where he later served as the organist. Coelho's career as a composer and performer began in the late 16th century, and he quickly gained a reputation as one of the most talented musicians of his time. He was appointed as the organist of the Royal Chapel in Lisbon in 1599, a position he held until his death in 1635. Coelho's music is characterized by its rich harmonies, intricate counterpoint, and virtuosic keyboard writing. His compositions include a variety of sacred and secular works, including masses, motets, hymns, and instrumental pieces. He is best known for his organ music, which is considered some of the finest of the Baroque era. One of Coelho's most famous works is his "Flores de Música," a collection of organ pieces published in 1620. The collection includes 21 pieces, each named after a different flower. The pieces are written in a variety of styles, including toccatas, fantasias, and canzonas, and showcase Coelho's mastery of the organ. Another notable work by Coelho is his "Mass for the Feast of the Assumption," which was composed in 1616. The mass is written for four voices and includes a variety of choral and instrumental sections. The work is notable for its use of chromaticism and its intricate counterpoint. Coelho's music was highly regarded during his lifetime, and he was considered one of the leading composers of his time. His influence can be seen in the work of later Portuguese composers, such as Carlos Seixas and João de Sousa Carvalho. Despite his success as a composer and performer, Coelho's personal life was marked by tragedy. He lost his wife and two children to the plague in 1619, and his own health began to decline in the years that followed. He died in Lisbon in 1635, at the age of 80. Today, Coelho's music is still performed and studied by musicians and scholars around the world. His contributions to the development of Baroque music in Portugal are widely recognized, and his legacy continues to inspire new generations of composers and performers.

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