Ambrosio Cotes facts for kids
Ambrosio Cotes (born around 1550, died 1603) was a Spanish composer from the Renaissance period. He was known for his beautiful church music.
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About Ambrosio Cotes
Ambrosio Cotes was born in Villena, a town in Alicante, Spain, around the year 1550. His family was noble. He studied theology, which is the study of religious beliefs, with a group called the Theatines in Yecla.
In 1573, Cotes became the maestro de capilla (music director) at St. James Church in his hometown. This was a very important job, as he was in charge of all the music for the church.
Later, in 1581, he was chosen to be the music director for the Capilla Real de Granada, which was the Royal Chapel in Granada. He took over from another famous composer, Rodrigo de Ceballos.
Cotes continued to move to important musical positions. In 1596, he became the maestrescuela (another type of music director) at the Cathedral of Valencia. Then, in 1600, he moved to the Cathedral of Seville, taking the place of the well-known composer Francisco Guerrero.
His music was so good that copies of his works were sent and performed even in the New World (the Americas). Ambrosio Cotes passed away in Seville in 1603.
His Music
Sadly, many of Ambrosio Cotes's secular (non-religious) songs, like villancicos and canzonetas, have been lost over time. However, much of his sacred (religious) music has survived.
Today, we have 25 of his polyphonic compositions (music with many voices or parts) preserved in Granada. There is also a mass (a type of church service music) found in the Cathedral of Valencia. Three more motets (short pieces of sacred choral music) are kept in the Colegio del Patriarca.
Some of his known works include:
- Lamentations (three sets of these sad, reflective pieces)
- Officium Defunctorum (music for a funeral service)
- A Mass (a full musical setting for a church service)
- Mortus est Phillipus Rex, for seven voices
- Non in solo pane vivit homo, for four voices
- Visionem quam vidistis, for four voices
- Veni, sponsor Christi, for four voices
- Quomodo sedet sola, for five voices
- Cogitavit Dominus, for four voices
- Prudentes virgines, for four voices (this was a wedding motet from 1599)
- O lux et decus Hispaniae, for six voices
Discography
You can listen to some of Ambrosio Cotes's music on recordings. One album is:
- Opera Varia. Performed by Victoria Musicae, conducted by Gil-Tarrega. Label: La Ma De Guido – LMG 2053.
See also
In Spanish: Ambrosio Cotes para niños
