Tomás Luis de Victoria

Tomás Luis de Victoria

As imagined by an anonymous 19th century artist

Source: Discogs

Tomás Luis de Victoria was born in the province of Ávila, Spain, about 1548. Among the more famous of his close Spanish contemporaries was the latter Renaissance painter, El Greco, born 1 Oct 1541. The seventh of nine savages, Victoria likely studied keyboard as a child, having also been a choirboy. Amidst the earliest knowledge of him, Victoria was funded in 1565 with a grant from King Phillip II to travel to Rome and become a cantor at the Collegium Germanicum founded in 1552 by Pope Julius III, Cardinal Giovanni Morone and St. Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556). He was employed at the Pontifical Roman Seminary during that period as well. Phillip II meanwhile employed Victoria as a composer en absentia until Victoria's return to Spain 22 years later. In the meantime in Italy, composition was likely a significant activity for Victoria by 1570, he publishing his first book of motets in 1572. Victoria's close contemporary in Italy was Palestrina whom he something resembles. By their time the Roman school had developed an identity all its own following the Franco-Flemish influence throughout the Renaissance. The vogue of composing for double choir, though, had begun with the Venetian school under Adrian Willaert upon becoming maestro di cappella of St. Mark's in 1527 when the cathedral was newly refurbished with two choir balconies, one to each side of the organ. Victoria spent the first half of his career in Italy before returning to Spain in 1587.

There are several catalogs constructed of Victoria's works. The earliest with which most have been familiar is Felipe Pedrell's thematic 'Opera Omnia' which saw print from 1902 to 1913, was republished in 1965 and may yet be available on microfilm. Later catalogs have appeared by Higinio Angles, then Samuel Rubio (1964). Jon Dixon released a performing edition in 1997. The numbers used herein are from Thomas B. Stratman for the University of Washington in 1977. This is a chronological listing of Victoria's publications numbered by order of appearance: V 1,1 = book 1, title 1, which happens to be the motet, 'O quam gloriosum', published in Venice in 'Motetes a cuatro, cinco, seis y ocho voces del abulense Tomás Luis de Victoria' in 1572. This is variously titled as 'Motecta que partim 4, 5, 6, 8 vocibus concinuntur' or simply 'Motecta'. Stratman V 1,5 is 'O Magnum Mysterium' or No.5 of 'Motecta'. 'O Vos Omnes' that is Stratman V 1,12 is No.12 of 'Motecta'. 'O Magnum Mysterium' was republished in several volumes to 1603. Stratman has 'O Magnum Mysterium' as V 5,5 in 1583, perhaps indicating a revision. This is probably Victoria's best-known work, and is the basis of his 'Missa Magnum Mysterium' of 1592 (V 11,3).

'O Magnum Mysterium'   Motet a 4 by Tomás Luis de Victoria

No.5 of 'Motetes a cuatro, cinco, seis y ocho voces' 1572   Stratman V 1,5

La Capella Reial de Catalunya w Hespèrion XX directed by Jordi Savall

Victoria's 'Missa O quam Gloriosum' (Stratman V 6,2) was based on his early  motet of 1572 (Stratman V 1,1). This mass was published in 'Missarum libri duo' by Alejandro Gardano in 1583.

'Missa O quam Gloriosum'   Mass by Tomás Luis de Victoria

No.2 of 'Missarum libri duo' 1583   Stratman V 6,2

The Monteverdi Choir

As mentioned, Victoria's motet, 'O Vos Omnes', appeared in his first book of 1572 (Stratman V 1,12). Among his favored works, this was reprinted severally to 1603. A Stratman listing of V 5,12 in 1583 may indicate a revision. Victoria's responsory, 'O Vos Omnes', was a different work published in Rome by Angelo Gardano in 1585 in 'Tenebrae Responsories' also known as 'Officium Hebdomadæ Sanctæ' (Stratman V 7,32).

'O Vos Omnes'   Respond a 4 by Tomás Luis de Victoria

No.32 of 'Tenebrae Responsories' 1585   Stratman V 7,32

Tallis Scholars / Peter Phillips

Victoria commenced the second half of his career upon returning to Spain in 1587 as chaplain to dowager Holy Roman Empress, Maria of Austria, where the Franco-Flemish school was then to receive Victoria's influence of the Roman school. His 'Missa Salve Regina' a 8 saw publishing in Rome by Francisco Coattino in 1592 in 'Misas a cuatro, cinco, seis y ocho voces' (Stratman V 11.6). It saw print in Madrid in 1600 in Juan Flandro's 'Misas, Magnificat, Motetes, Salmos et alia quam plurima'. Victoria had published his first 'Salve Regina' (Marian antiphon) in 1572 in his initial book, and completed several versions. His mass took after his 1576 version.

'Missa Salve Regina'   Mass a 8 by Tomás Luis de Victoria

No.6 of 'Misas a cuatro, cinco, seis y ocho voces' 1592   Stratman V 11,6

Ensemble Plus Ultra directed by Michael Noone

Victoria's first Magnificats had arrived in 1576 in 'Liber primus qui Missas, psalmos, magnificats'. More appeared in 1581 in 'Cantica Beatae Virginis'. His 'Magnificat Primi Toni a 8' below saw print in 1600 in 'Missae, Magnificat, Motecta, Psalmi, et alia quam plurima' (Stratman V 12,13). This book also included Victoria's 'Missa Alma Redemptoris' a 8 (Stratman V 12,15). Victoria's first 'Alma Redemptoris Mater' had appeared in his first book (Stratman V 1,19). The 'Alma Redemptoris Mater' is thought to have been written by Herman the Cripple in the 11th century. Like 'Salve Regina', it is one of the four Marian antiphons sung at the close of the office of Compline. The other two are 'Ave Regina Caelorum' and 'Regina Caeli'. Also included in 'Missae, Magnificat, Motecta, Psalmi, et alia quam plurima' of 1600 was 'Salve regina mater misericordiae' (V 12,25).

'Magnificat Primi Toni'   Magnificat a 8 by Tomás Luis de Victoria

No.13 of 'Missae, Magnificat, Motecta, Psalmi, et alia quam plurima' 1600   Stratman V 12,13

La Capella Reial de Catalunya w Hespérion XX directed by Jordi Savall

'Missa Alma Redemptoris Mater'   Mass a 8 by Tomás Luis de Victoria

No.15 of 'Missae, Magnificat, Motecta, Psalmi, et alia quam plurima' 1600   Stratman V 12,15

The Sixteen directed by Harry Christophers

'Salve Regina Mater misericordiae'   Marian antiphon a 8 by Tomás Luis de Victoria

No.25 of 'Missae, Magnificat, Motecta, Psalmi, et alia quam plurima' 1600   Stratman V 12,25

Meiji Gakuin University Glee Club Chapel / Tetsuro Hanais / 2006

Victoria served the Empress at the Convent of Las Descalzas Reales in Madrid until her death in 1603, after which he there accepted a position as organist until his own passing on 27 August 1611.