Rodrigo de Ceballos facts for kids

Rodrigo de Ceballos (born around 1525, died around 1581) was an important Spanish composer. He created many musical works during the time known as the Renaissance.

He was born in Aracena, a town in Huelva, Spain. In 1556, he became a priest in Seville. Ceballos was a very talented musician. He became a maestro di cappella (which means music director or choirmaster) in several important places. In 1554, he was the music director in Málaga. Then, in 1556, he moved to the cathedral in Córdoba. From 1561 until he passed away in 1581, he worked at the Royal Chapel of Granada.

Rodrigo de Ceballos was part of the "Andalusian school" of composers. This group included other famous musicians like Francisco Guerrero and Cristobal de Morales. It was Francisco Guerrero, along with Pedro Fernández de Castilleja, who helped Ceballos become a priest. Sometimes, people confuse Rodrigo de Ceballos's music with that of another composer named Francisco de Ceballos. That Francisco was a music director at Burgos Cathedral from 1535 until 1571. Rodrigo de Ceballos's many musical pieces are still kept in cathedrals and monasteries across Spain and Latin America.

What Music Did Rodrigo de Ceballos Write?

We know of 79 musical pieces by Rodrigo de Ceballos that still exist today. He wrote many different kinds of music:

• 39 motets: These are usually short, sacred choral pieces.
• 3 masses: These are longer musical settings of parts of a church service.
• 8 psalms for Vespers: Psalms are sacred songs, and Vespers is an evening church service.
• 6 hymns: These are songs of praise, often for religious purposes.
• 8 settings of the Magnificat: This is a famous Christian hymn, often sung during Vespers.
• 1 setting of Compline: This is a short church service held before bedtime.
• 7 secular pieces: These were not for church, but for other occasions.

Recordings of His Music

You can listen to some of Rodrigo de Ceballos's music on these recordings:

• Rodrigo de Ceballos – Lamentaciones by Ensemble Gilles Binchois, led by Dominique Vellard.
• Anthologies (collections of music by different composers):
  • Song of Songs by Stile Antico (early music vocal ensemble)
  • Canticum Canticorum: Spanish polyphonic settings from the Song of Songs by Orchestra of the Renaissance, led by Richard Cheetham (conductor) and Michael Noone.
  • El siglo de Oro: Spanish Sacred Music of the Renaissance by London Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble and Pro Cantione Antiqua, led by Bruno Turner.
  • Medieval & Renaissance Gardens In Music by Orlando Consort.

See also

In Spanish: Rodrigo de Ceballos para niños