Leonel Power facts for kids
Leonel Power (also spelled Lionel, Lyonel) was an important English composer from the early Renaissance period. He lived from about 1380 to 1445. Along with John Dunstaple, he was one of the most famous musicians in England during the 1400s. Power mainly wrote motets (short pieces of sacred music) and parts of the Mass (music for church services). Many of his works are found in the Old Hall Manuscript, a very important collection of old English music.
Life and Career
We don't know much about Leonel Power's life. Records from the 1440s say he was from Kent, England. Experts think he was born between 1370 and 1385. This is based on his music style and his age when he held certain jobs. Some older ideas suggested he was from Ireland, but modern scholars usually don't believe this. There isn't enough proof for it.
The first record we have of Power shows him teaching singers. He taught the choir for Thomas of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Clarence. This duke died in 1421. The next record of Power is from 1423. On May 14, he joined the group of people connected to Christ Church, Canterbury. He almost certainly worked there as the choirmaster. He might have also worked for John of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Bedford. Leonel Power passed away in Canterbury on June 5, 1445. He was buried the next day. We have several notes about his death.
Music and Influence
Leonel Power wrote slightly fewer pieces than Dunstaple. Still, his music was just as important. He is the composer with the most works in the Old Hall Manuscript. This manuscript is one of the few music collections from the early 1400s that survived. Many other old music books were destroyed during that time.
Power was one of the first composers to write different parts of the Ordinary of the Mass that fit together. These parts were meant to be performed one after another. The Old Hall Manuscript has a Mass by Power based on a special church song. This song is called Alma Redemptoris Mater. In his Mass, the song's tune is used in each movement. This was a new and important way to compose music for church services.
Works
Leonel Power wrote many pieces of music. Most of his works were for church services. Here are some of his known compositions:
- Masses
- Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus, for 3 voices (possibly by Dunstaple)
- Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus, for 3 voices (possibly by Dunstaple or Benet)
- Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus, for 3 voices (on Alma redemptoris mater)
- Gloria, Credo, for 4–5 voices
- Gloria, Credo, for 3 voices (on lauds antiphons for St. Thomas of Canterbury)
- Sanctus, Agnus, for 3 voices
- Sanctus, Agnus, for 4 voices
- 2 Kyrie settings, 6 Gloria settings, 3 Credo settings, 5 Sanctus settings, and 3 Agnus settings; some are incomplete or their composer is not certain.
- Other works
- Alma redemptoris mater, 2 versions for 3 voices (possibly by Dunstaple)
- Anima mea liquefacta est (Christus resurgens), for 2 or 3 voices
- Anima mea liquefacta est, for 3 voices
- Ave regina celorum, ave, for 3 voices
- Ave regina celorum, ave, for 4 voices
- Beata progenies, for 3 voices
- Beata viscera, for 3 voices
- Gloriose virginis, for 4 voices
- Ibo michi ad montem, for 3 voices
- Mater ora filium, for 3 voices
- Quam pulchra es, for 3 voices
- Regina celi, for 3 voices
- Salve mater Salvatoris, for 3 voices (possibly by Dunstaple)
- Salve regina, for 3 voices
- Salve regina, for 3 voices
- Salve sancta parens (Virgo prudentissima), for 3 voices
