Bernardo Clavijo del Castillo facts for kids

Bernardo Clavijo del Castillo (born 1545 – died February 1, 1626) was a Spanish musician. He was a composer, organist, and harpsichord player. He also taught music.

Bernardo Clavijo del Castillo worked for King Philip III of Spain. He was the master of the king's chapel and also the organist. He also played the organ at the Royal Chapel in Madrid.

One of his pieces, Tiento de 2° Tono por Jesolreut, is very important. It is the earliest known example of a special type of music called a tiento de falsas.

About His Life

We don't know much about Bernardo Clavijo's early life. People think he was from northern Spain. This is based on what his friends said and where he went to school.

He got married to María Carrión on December 12, 1594. They had three children together. Their children were Antonio (born 1595), Bernardina (born 1598), and Francisco (born 1605). All three children became musicians too. Antonio and Francisco were organists, and Bernardina was a composer and performer.

After María died, he married Ana del Valle on August 3, 1618. They had one daughter named Ana Maria.

Bernardo Clavijo del Castillo passed away in Madrid on February 1, 1626.

His Music Career

Bernardo Clavijo traveled to Italy with the Spanish military. Around December 6, 1569, he started working as a musician in Palermo, Italy. He worked at the R. Chiesa di San Pietro.

Around 1588, he played the organ for the Duke of Alba. This was at the duke's court in Naples.

From 1588 to 1595, he studied at the University of Oñati. He earned both Bachelor's and Master's degrees there. While studying, he also worked as the organist at the Palencia Cathedral from 1589 to 1592.

On April 3, 1593, he got a very important job. He became the head of music at the University of Salamanca. This was one of the most respected music jobs in Spain during that time.

By January 10, 1603, he left Salamanca. He then became the master of chapel and organist for Philip III of Spain. He worked for the king first in Valladolid, which was the capital back then. Later, he moved with the court to Madrid. He took over this job from his brother, Diego del Castillo, and also from Hernando de Cabezón.

In 1619, he became the organist of the Royal Chapel in Madrid. His son, Francisco Clavijo del Castillo, later took over this position. Francisco had worked as his father's assistant first.

His Musical Works

In 1588, Bernardo Clavijo published a book of 19 motets in Rome. Motets are pieces of choral music. His book said these motets were "suitable for instruments as well as voices." There were six motets for four parts, six for five parts, six for six parts, and one for eight parts.

Sadly, many of his works were lost in a fire. A fire at the Royal Palace of Madrid in 1731 destroyed a collection of his music.

However, his book of motets survived. Also, his Organ Tiento (also called Tiento de 2° Tono por Jesolreut) from El Escorial still exists. This tiento is special because it's the earliest known example of a tiento de falsas. This type of music has a section where different parts imitate each other. Then, it has a section with a different style of musical writing called counterpoint.