Renaissance Composer
Thomás Luis de Victoria
Background
Victoria was sent by King Philip II of Spain in 1565 to get ready for the German College in Rome. He studied with Giovanni da Palestrina, and eventually became director of music at the Roman Seminary. From 1578 to 1585 he assisted Philip Neri as chaplain of San Girolamo della Carità. In 1578 he Maria, widow of the Holy Roman emperor Maximilian II, and became her chaplain. In 1584 she entered the convent of the Descalzas Reales in Madrid, where Victoria became priest and organist. He settled in Madrid in 1594.
In 1569, he became an organist and singer in the Spanish chapel of Santa Maria de Monserrat.
In 1572, he wrote his first book of motets in Venice.
Victoria wrote spiritual songs such as O Magnum Mysterium, Vere Languores, and Ne times Maria. Cardinal Otto von Truchess of Augsburg was his patron, in Rome.
The isms best linked to Victoria would probably be Secularism and idealism, because he was such a spiritual composer.
O Magnum Mysterium
This atmospheric four-part (SATB) Christmas motet 'O magnum mysterium' was first published in 1572.
This piece of music is found in choir books all over the world, it's actually in the back of one of our choir songs.
This piece is so significant because it was very obviously one of Victoria's favorites and he later based a Mass on it. The piece was unique because it was an SATB- Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Bass.
To me, this piece is about the beautiful mystery of the birth of Jesus. Everyone should see the new-born Lord. Virgin Mary is blessed for having Christ.
The most closely linked ism is probably Idealism because this was the eternal order. I find this piece so interesting because it's written in Latin, I also remembered that this piece was in the back of our choir song, and wanted to learn what it said (I didn't know that Victoria had composed this when I chose him, so I was also extremely pleased with my decision).
Works Cited
"O Magnum Mysterium - Tomas Luis De Victoria." Musicalion.com -. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2015.
"Tomás Luis De Victoria." Biography. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2015.
"Tomás Luis De Victoria: O Magnum Mysterium – The Choir of Somerville College, Oxford." Saturday Chorale. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2015.
"Tomás Luis De Victoria (1548-1611): O Magnum Mysterium." Saturday Chorale. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2015.
"Quotes by Tomas Luis De Victoria." @ Like Success. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2015.