Manuel Correia (composer) facts for kids
Frei Manuel Correia (born around 1600, died 1653) was a talented Portuguese Baroque composer. He wrote music during a time when music was very grand and dramatic, usually between the years 1600 and 1750.
Early Life and Musical Start
Manuel Correia was born in Lisbon, which is the capital city of Portugal. His father was a musician who played instruments in the duke's special music group, called a capela, in Vila Viçosa.
When Manuel was about 16 years old, in 1616, he followed in his father's footsteps. He joined the same musical group as a singer. This was the start of his musical journey.
Moving to Spain and Later Career
Manuel Correia learned a lot about music from a famous teacher named Filipe de Magalhães. After his studies, he moved to Madrid, the capital city of Spain.
He didn't stay in Madrid for long. He was offered important jobs that took him to different cathedrals. First, he worked at the cathedral in Sigüenza. Later, he moved to Saragossa, another city in Spain. He stayed in Saragossa for the rest of his life, until he passed away in 1653.
His Music
Manuel Correia wrote many different kinds of music. Some of his most important works include:
- Motets: These are pieces of music for a choir, often with religious words.
- Tonos humanos: These were popular Spanish songs from his time, usually about everyday life or love.
- Villancicos: These were also popular songs, often sung during holidays like Christmas, and could be religious or about everyday topics.
Many of his songs can be found in a special songbook called El libro de tonos humanos, which was published in 1655. You can also find some of his music in the cathedral of Valladolid in Spain.
