Alonso Lobo (1555-1617)

Alonso Lobo began his musical education as a chorister at Seville Cathedral under the tutelage of Francisco Guerrero. In 1593 he became maestro de capella at Toledo Cathedral before returning to Seville in 1604 where he remained until his death. Much of Lobo’s fame today rests on his stunning setting of Versa est in luctum. However, the rest of his output deserves equal attention. Compared to his contemporaries, he was not a particularly prolific composer. However, the music which has survived is carefully crafted and his only publication (the Liber primus missarum of 1602) contains some of the finest examples of Renaissance polyphony. He regularly employs canonic techniques and is even consciously archaic in his use of complex contrapuntal devices and polytextuality. Nonetheless, his music is certainly inspired and equal in beauty to other great composers of polyphony in the late 16th century.

I am delighted to have available the 6 Masses and 7 motets Lobo published in 1602 and am grateful to Edward Tambling for his advice during the preparation of these editions.