Tomás de Torrejón y Velasco facts for kids

Tomás de Torrejón y Velasco Sánchez (born December 23, 1644 – died April 23, 1728) was a Spanish composer, musician, and organ player. He lived and worked in Peru and is known for his contributions to Baroque music in the Americas.

His Life Story

Tomás de Torrejón y Velasco was born in a town called Villarrobledo in Spain. He grew up in Fuencarral, which is now part of Madrid. His father, Miguel de Torrejón, worked as a huntsman for the Spanish king, Philip IV of Spain.

In 1658, when Tomás was still in Spain, he started working for Pedro Fernández de Castro y Andrade, who was a very important person known as the Count of Lemos. This Count later became the viceroy of Peru. A viceroy was like a governor who ruled a colony in the name of the king.

In 1667, Tomás traveled with the new viceroy to Lima, Peru. He was one of 113 people who worked for the viceroy. From 1667 to 1672, he was in charge of the armoury (a place where weapons are stored) in Lima.

In 1673, he became a magistrate and chief justice in a province called Chachapoyas. He held this important job for four years. Then, in 1676, he got a very special job: he became the maestro de capilla (music director) at the main church in Lima, the Cathedral of Lima. He took over from another famous musician, Juan de Araujo. Tomás stayed in this role for more than 50 years, until he passed away in 1728.

Tomás de Torrejón was a very religious person. He followed all the rules and beliefs of the Catholic Church. He was married twice (his first wife died) and had six children. Five of his children decided to join religious orders. He died in Lima, Peru.

His Music and Importance

Tomás de Torrejón y Velasco's music is very important for understanding the Spanish Baroque music style in the American colonies. He was highly praised during his career. His villancicos (a type of song) were so well-known that they were even sung in places as far away as Guatemala. People in other cities like Trujillo and Cuzco would ask for his advice before making big musical decisions.

Today, fifteen of his original handwritten music pieces are kept safe in the historical archives of the Cathedral of Guatemala. He is famous for writing the very first opera known to be created in the Americas. This opera was called La púrpura de la rosa (The Purple of the Rose) and was first performed in 1701.

One of his lullabies, called a rorro, was still sung in Cuzco many years after he died. He also wrote special pieces for two organs playing together. A second organ was added to the Lima Cathedral in 1680, and Tomás wrote a villancico just for these two organs.

His Main Works

Opera

• La púrpura de la rosa (1701)

Other Music Pieces

Tomás de Torrejón y Velasco wrote many other musical pieces. These often included a basso continuo, which is a continuous bass line played by instruments like a harpsichord or cello. Some of his other works include:

• A este sol peregrino, for 4 voices
• Aladas gerarquias a quien toca, for 7 voices
• Angelicas milicias, for 12 voices
• Aves flores, for 11 voices (from 1683)
• Lamentation for Wednesday of Holy Week, for 8 voices
• Magnificat sexti toni, for 12 voices

Images for kids

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  A friendly robot, like those found in kids' encyclopedias.

See also

In Spanish: Tomás de Torrejón y Velasco para niños