Mateo Romero (composer) facts for kids
Mateo Romero (born around 1575 – died 1647) was a talented composer from Belgium who became famous in Spain. He wrote Baroque music, which was a popular style of music during his time. He also held an important job as the leader of the royal chapel, which was a group of musicians who played for the Spanish royal family.
Biography
Mateo Romero was born in Liège, Belgium, and his birth name was Mathieu Rosmarin. When he was young, his father passed away. Like many children from the Spanish Netherlands (which is what Belgium was called back then), he was chosen to be a choir boy at the royal court in Madrid, Spain.
From 1586 to 1593, Mateo learned music in Spain from other Belgian musicians, George de la Hèle and Philippe Rogier. In 1594, he changed his name to Romero. By 1598, he became the maestro de capilla (which means "chapel master" or music director) for the Spanish kings, Philip II of Spain and Philip III of Spain. He kept this important job until 1634.
In 1609, Mateo Romero became a priest and served as a private chaplain (a priest who serves a royal family) for King Philip III. He was also a secretary for the Order of the Golden Fleece, which was a very important group of knights.
After King Philip died, Mateo Romero also worked as a chaplain for King John IV of Portugal.
Mateo Romero was one of the most respected composers of his time. People even called him "El Maestro Capitan" (The Master Captain). He worked during a special time when music was changing from the Renaissance style to the Baroque style. Even though he wasn't part of the older polyphonic (many-voiced) music style from the Franco-Flemish school, he helped bring a new Italian music style called stile moderno to Spain.
Works
Sadly, most of Mateo Romero's musical works were kept in the Royal Library in Lisbon, Portugal. They were destroyed in the terrible Lisbon earthquake of 1755.
However, some of his amazing works still exist today!
Masses
- Missa Bonae voluntatis (for 9 voices and B.c., also a 5-voice version)
- Missa Qui Habitat (for 8 voices and B.c.) - based on his own Psalm.
- Missa Un jour l'amant (for 8 voices and B.c.) - a special kind of mass based on a song by Lassus.
- Missa Dolce fiamella (for 5 voices and B.c.)
- Missa Batalla (for 4 voices and B.c.)
- Missa de Requiem de dos Baxos (for 8 voices and B.c.) - also known as Missa "Pro Defunctis."
- Missa Veu que de vostre amour a 8
- Missa Dolce fiamella mia a 5 - based on a madrigal by Giovanni Maria Nanino.
- Missa on the Litany, 5vv (based on his own 8-voice Litany)
- Missa Batalla a 4 - based on Clement Janequin's La Bataille
- Missa Sabbato Sancto a 4
Magnificats, Psalms and Motets
- 3 Magnificat pieces
- 3 Dixit Dominus pieces
- Domine, quando veneris
- Libera me, Domine
- Convertere Domine
- Domine, ne in furore tuo
Secular Works
These are works that were not written for church services.
- 9 villancicos (a type of Spanish song)
- 3 canciones a 3 (songs for 3 voices)
- 5 letrillas a 3 (short poems set to music for 3 voices)
- 2 novenas a 2
- 2 folías
- 15 romances a 3 (songs for 3 voices) with words by famous writers like Lope de Vega and Francisco de Quevedo.
- 1 seguidilla (a Spanish dance and song)
- 11 songs (only the treble voice parts still exist) found in a book called Cancionero de Onteniente, from 1645.
Discography
You can listen to some of Mateo Romero's music on these recordings:
- "Romero - Music At The Spanish Court" by Currende, directed by Erik Van Nevel, released in 1996.
- "Missa pro defunctis - Requiem para Cervantes" by Ensemble Schola Antiqua and La Grande Chapelle, directed by Ángel Recasens.
- "Office Pour l'Ordre de la Toison d'Or" by Choeur de Chambre de Namur, directed by Jean Tubéry, released in 2003.
See also
In Spanish: Mateo Romero para niños
