– Tomás Luis de Victoria (1548-1611)
Unquestionably the most famous composer of the Spanish Renaissance, Tomás
Luis de Victoria was born in Ávila, his earliest musical training as a boy chorister at
Ávila Cathedral. In 1565 (after his voice had changed), Victoria received a grant from
Philip II to attend the German College in Rome to continue his studies, particularly
in singing. The revered Italian composer Palestrina was maestro di cappella at the
nearby Seminario Romano and – though we don’t know whether Victoria studied
with him – it is most probable that the two composers knew each other. After
completing his training, Victoria held a variety of overlapping musical positions
in Rome: singer, organist, teacher and composer (he was even ordained a priest
in 1575). He returned to Spain in 1587 as chaplain and music master to Dowager
Empress Maria at the Convent of the Barefoot Nuns of St. Clare in Madrid, serving
the Dowager for 17 years, until her death, and remaining at the convent until his
own death in 1611. Victoria’s many compositions, comprised exclusively of sacred
works, brought him a great deal of fame during his lifetime – due in no small part to
his ability to publish lavish volumes of his music in Venice.
Victoria’s setting of Ave maris stella was published in 1581 in his Hymni totius anni,
a collection of hymns and psalm settings to be used throughout the church year.
The verses here are performed in alternatim, that is, alternating between chant
and polyphony. This was an especially popular device in medieval polyphony, and
it was used well into the 17th century. In cases of smaller churches, where perhaps
between chant verses. Victoria sets these “versets” for the choir, presumably for his
professional choir at the Convent of the Barefoot Nuns. The chant tune is used as
buried in the texture. While Victoria’s masterful polyphony creates a stark contrast to
the unison chant, it also enhances it during the choral verses, all to inspire a mood
of intense devotion.
Ave, maris stella, Hail, star of the sea,
Dei Mater alma, loving Mother of God,
Atque semper Virgo, but always a virgin,
Felix caeli porta. joyous gate of heaven.
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