Biography (read more)
Alonso Mudarra was a Spanish composer and vihuelist of the Renaissance, born around 1510 and raised in Guadalajara. He likely travelled to Italy in 1529 in the retinue of the Duke of the Infantado before returning to Spain, where he became a priest and, from 1546, canon of Seville Cathedral, directing its musical life until his death on 1 April 1580. In 1546 he published Tres libros de música en cifras para vihuela, which contains fantasias, variations, pavanes, and songs for vihuela as well as the earliest surviving printed music for the four-course guitar. Alonso Mudarra left his considerable fortune to the poor of Seville.
Alonso Mudarra’s Tres libros de música en cifras para vihuela is celebrated for its harmonic daring and expressive range, particularly the famous Fantasia X, which imitates the harp playing of the Italian virtuoso Ludovico. As the composer of the earliest known music for the four-course guitar, he stands at the origin of the guitar’s written repertoire, and his blend of Spanish, Italian, and Latin song settings broadened the vihuela’s expressive and stylistic scope.
Sources:
Repertoire
Fantasía X (“que contrahaze la harpa en la manera de Ludovico”)1546
Performed by Francisco Parralejo Masa, Andrea Scalia – Early Music
Claros y frescos ríos1546 (Tres libros, Libro Tercero)
Performed by Belarmo, Fumio Kagoshima
Triste estaba el rey David1546
Performed by Belarmo
Pavana de Alexandre1546
Performed by Early Music Radio -Satoshilute-
Fantasia que contrahaze la harpa en la manera de Luduvico— Evangelina Mascardi
Performed by Evangelina Mascardi
Narration X (6) : “Folly’s Claims to be Admitted to the Council of the Goddesses / Music:…— Jordi Savall
Performed by Jordi Savall
Rezitation X (6) : “Warum der Torheit der Titel der höchsten Göttin unter den Gottheiten…— Jordi Savall
Performed by Jordi Savall
Recitado X (6) : “Títulos de la Locura Para Figurar Entre las Diosas” / Música: Romanesca…— Jordi Savall
Performed by Jordi Savall
Recitat X (6) : “Sobre els títols amb què la Follia figura entre les deesses” / Música:…— Jordi Savall
Performed by Jordi Savall
Narrazione X (6) : “Del diritto che ha la Follia di essere considerata come una dea” / Musica:…— Jordi Savall
Performed by Jordi Savall
Narration X (6) : “Des titres qu’a la Folie à figurer parmi les déesses” / Musique: Romanesca— Jordi Savall
Performed by Jordi Savall
Gesproken tekst X (6) : “De aanspraken van de Zotheid om te midden van de godinnen plaats te…— Jordi Savall
Performed by Jordi Savall
Tres Libros de Musica en Cifras para Vihuela: Obras para Guitarra. Fantasía del Quarto Tono— Hopkinson Smith
Performed by Hopkinson Smith
Tres Libros de Musica en Cifras para Vihuela: Obras para Guitarra. Fantasía del Primer Tono— Hopkinson Smith
Performed by Hopkinson Smith
Tres Libros de Musica en Cifras para Vihuela: Obras para Guitarra. Fantasía del Quinto Tono— Hopkinson Smith
Performed by Hopkinson Smith
Tres Libros de Musica en Cifras para Vihuela: Fantasía de Pasos para Desenbolver las Manos— Hopkinson Smith
Performed by Hopkinson Smith
Tres Libros de Musica en Cifras para Vihuela: Fantasía de Pasos para Desembolver las Manos— Hopkinson Smith
Performed by Hopkinson Smith
Tres Libros de Musica en Cifras para Vihuela: Pavana de Alexandre – Gallarda— Hopkinson Smith
Performed by Hopkinson Smith
Tres Libros de Musica en Cifras para Vihuela: Primer Tono. Tiento – Fantasía – Gloria Sobre el…— Hopkinson Smith
Performed by Hopkinson Smith
Tres Libros de Musica en Cifras para Vihuela: Fantasía Fácil I— Hopkinson Smith
Performed by Hopkinson Smith
Tres Libros de Musica en Cifras para Vihuela: Segundo tono. Tiento – Fantasía Sobre fa, mi, ut, re— Hopkinson Smith
Performed by Hopkinson Smith
Tres Libros de Musica en Cifras para Vihuela: Una Pavana— Hopkinson Smith
Performed by Hopkinson Smith
Tres Libros de Musica en Cifras para Vihuela: Fantasía para Desenbolver las Manos— Hopkinson Smith
Performed by Hopkinson Smith
Tres Libros de Musica en Cifras para Vihuela: Tercero tono. Tiento – Fantasía – Glosa Sobre un…— Hopkinson Smith
Performed by Hopkinson Smith
Tres Libros de Musica en Cifras para Vihuela: Fantasía— Hopkinson Smith
Performed by Hopkinson Smith
Tres Libros de Musica en Cifras para Vihuela: Quarto Tono. Tiento – Glosa Sobre un Benedictus…— Hopkinson Smith
Performed by Hopkinson Smith
Tres Libros de Musica en Cifras para Vihuela: Conde Claros en Doze Maneras— Hopkinson Smith
Performed by Hopkinson Smith
Tres Libros de Musica en Cifras para Vihuela: Tiento del Quinto Tono— Hopkinson Smith
Performed by Hopkinson Smith
Tres Libros de Musica en Cifras para Vihuela: Fantasía Fácil II— Hopkinson Smith
Performed by Hopkinson Smith
Tres Libros de Musica en Cifras para Vihuela: Sexto Tono. Tiento – Glosa Sobre el Primer Kyrie…— Hopkinson Smith
Performed by Hopkinson Smith
Tres Libros de Musica en Cifras para Vihuela: Romanesca o Guárdame las Vacas— Hopkinson Smith
Performed by Hopkinson Smith
Tres Libros de Musica en Cifras para Vihuela: Septimo Tono. Tiento – Glosa Sobre el Cum Sancto…— Hopkinson Smith
Performed by Hopkinson Smith
Tres Libros de Musica en Cifras para Vihuela: Fantasía Fácil III— Hopkinson Smith
Performed by Hopkinson Smith
Tres Libros de Musica en Cifras para Vihuela: Octavo Tono. Tiento – Fantasía Que Va Sobre fa,…— Hopkinson Smith
Performed by Hopkinson Smith
Tres Libros de Musica en Cifras para Vihuela: Fantasía Que Contrahaze la Harpa en la Manera de…— Hopkinson Smith
Performed by Hopkinson Smith
Tres Libros de Musica en Cifras para Vihuela: Obras para Guitarra. Una pavana— Hopkinson Smith
Performed by Hopkinson Smith
Tres Libros de Musica en Cifras para Vihuela: Obras para Guitarra. Romanesca o Guardame las Vacas— Hopkinson Smith
Performed by Hopkinson Smith
Fantasía. Glosa Sobre el Kyrie (Tiento del Primer Tono)— Hopkinson Smith
Performed by Hopkinson Smith
Fantasía. Glosa Sobre un Kyrie (Tiento del Tercero tono)— Hopkinson Smith
Performed by Hopkinson Smith
Glosa Sobre un Benedictus de una Missa de Josquin (Tiento del Quarto tono)— Hopkinson Smith
Performed by Hopkinson Smith
Glosa sobre el Primer Kyrie de una Missa de Fevin (Tiento del Sexto Tono)— Hopkinson Smith
Performed by Hopkinson Smith
Fantasía que Contrahaze la Harpa en la Manera de Ludovico Obras para Guitarra— Hopkinson Smith
Performed by Hopkinson Smith
Fantasia que Contrahaze la Harpa en la Manera de Ludovico— Hopkinson Smith
Performed by Hopkinson Smith
Fantasia que contrahaze la harpa en la manera de Ludovico— José Miguel Moreno
Performed by José Miguel Moreno
3 Libros de musica en cifras para vihuela, Book 1: No. 1, Fantasia I— Massimo Lonardi
Performed by Massimo Lonardi
3 Libros de musica en cifras para vihuela, Book 1: No. 16, Pavana de Alexandre— Massimo Lonardi
Performed by Massimo Lonardi
3 Libros de musica en cifras para vihuela, Book 1: No. 17, Gallarda— Massimo Lonardi
Performed by Massimo Lonardi
3 Libros de musica en cifras para vihuela, Book 1: No. 11, Pleni de la Misa de “Faysan regres”…— Massimo Lonardi
Performed by Massimo Lonardi
Mudarra: Lute music – Spain: Fantasía que contrahaze la harpa en la manera de Lud.— Konrad Ragossnig
Performed by Konrad Ragossnig
Mudarra: Lute music – Spain: Romanesca: O guárdame las vacas— Konrad Ragossnig
Performed by Konrad Ragossnig
Mudarra: Lute music – Spain: (Diferencias sobre) Conde claros— Konrad Ragossnig
Performed by Konrad Ragossnig
Tres libros de música en cifra para vihuela – Libro 1: No. 12. Differencias sobre “Conde…— Toyohiko Satoh
Performed by Toyohiko Satoh
Tres libros de música en cifra para vihuela – Libro 1: No. 23. Fantasia, que contrahaze la…— Toyohiko Satoh
Performed by Toyohiko Satoh
Tres libros de música en cifra para vihuela – Libro 1: No. 13. Romenesca “O guárdame las…— Toyohiko Satoh
Performed by Toyohiko Satoh
Libros Mudarra, Book 1: No. 13, Diferencias de “Conde Claros”— José Miguel Moreno
Performed by José Miguel Moreno
Libros Mudarra, Book 1: No. 16, Pavana II de Alexandre (Arr. for Guitar)— José Miguel Moreno
Performed by José Miguel Moreno
Libros Mudarra, Book 1: No. 12, Fantasía X (Arr. for Guitar) (1)— José Miguel Moreno
Performed by José Miguel Moreno
Libros Mudarra, Book 3: No. 68, O gelosia d’amanti (Arr. for Guitar & Voice)— José Miguel Moreno
Performed by José Miguel Moreno
Libros Mudarra, Book 3: No. 73, Ysabel, perdiste la tu faxa (Arr. for Guitar & Voice) (1)— José Miguel Moreno
Performed by José Miguel Moreno
Libros Mudarra, Book 1: No. 23, Romanesca No. 2 (O guardame las vacas)— José Miguel Moreno
Performed by José Miguel Moreno
Libros Mudarra, Book 3: No. 71, Si me llaman a mí (Arr. for Guitar & Voice) (1)— José Miguel Moreno
Performed by José Miguel Moreno
Libros Mudarra, Book 3: No. 58, Claros y frescos ríos (Arr. for Guitar & Voice)— José Miguel Moreno
Performed by José Miguel Moreno
Libros Mudarra, Book 3: No. 64, Beatus ille (Arr. for Guitar & Voice)— José Miguel Moreno
Performed by José Miguel Moreno
Libros Mudarra, Book 3: No. 71, Si me llaman a mí (Arr. for Guitar & Voice) (2)— José Miguel Moreno
Performed by José Miguel Moreno
Libros Mudarra, Book 3: No. 73, Ysabel, perdiste la tu faxa (Arr. for Guitar & Voice) (2)— José Miguel Moreno
Performed by José Miguel Moreno
Libros Mudarra, Book 1: No. 17, Gallarda (Arr. for Chamber Ensemble)— José Miguel Moreno
Performed by José Miguel Moreno
Libros Mudarra, Book 1: No. 12, Fantasía X (Arr. for Guitar) (2)— José Miguel Moreno
Performed by José Miguel Moreno
Libros Mudarra, Book 3: No. 64, Beatus ille (Arr. for Voice & Chamber Ensemble)— José Miguel Moreno
Performed by José Miguel Moreno
3 Libros de Música en Cifra para Vihuela, Libro 1 (Excerpts) : Fantasia No. 7— Shigeo Mito
Performed by Shigeo Mito
3 Libros de Música en Cifra para Vihuela, Libro 1 (Excerpts) : Fantasia No. 10— Shigeo Mito
Performed by Shigeo Mito
Tres Libros de Música en Cifra para Vihuela, Libro I: No. 17, Gallarda— Renata Tarragó
Performed by Renata Tarragó
Tres Libros de Música en Cifra para Vihuela, Libro I: No. 12, Fantasía X— Renata Tarragó
Performed by Renata Tarragó
3 Libros de música en cifra para vihuela (Excerpts) : No. 15, Pavana I— Paolo Cherici
Performed by Paolo Cherici
3 Libros de música en cifra para vihuela (Excerpts) : No. 9, Fantasia IX— Paolo Cherici
Performed by Paolo Cherici
3 Libros de música en cifra para vihuela (Excerpts) : No. 43, Tiento VII— Paolo Cherici
Performed by Paolo Cherici
3 Libros de música en cifra para vihuela (Excerpts) : No. 14, Romanesca I (O guardame las vacas)— Paolo Cherici
Performed by Paolo Cherici
3 Libros de música en cifra para vihuela (Excerpts) : No. 37, Tiento V— Paolo Cherici
Performed by Paolo Cherici
3 Libros de música en cifra para vihuela (Excerpts) : No. 8, Fantasia VIII— Paolo Cherici
Performed by Paolo Cherici
3 Libros de música en cifra para vihuela (Excerpts) : No. 6, Fantasia VI— Paolo Cherici
Performed by Paolo Cherici
3 Libros de música en cifra para vihuela (Excerpts) : No. 13, Conde Claros— Paolo Cherici
Performed by Paolo Cherici
3 Libros de música en cifra para vihuela (Excerpts) : No. 5, Fantasia V— Paolo Cherici
Performed by Paolo Cherici
3 Libros de música en cifra para vihuela (Excerpts) : No. 16, Pavana de Alexandre— Paolo Cherici
Performed by Paolo Cherici
3 Libros de música en cifra para vihuela (Excerpts) : No. 17, Gallarda— Paolo Cherici
Performed by Paolo Cherici
3 Libros de música en cifra para vihuela (Excerpts) : No. 1, Fantasia I— Paolo Cherici
Performed by Paolo Cherici
3 Libros de música en cifra para vihuela (Excerpts) : No. 4, Fantasia IV— Paolo Cherici
Performed by Paolo Cherici
3 Libros de música en cifra para vihuela (Excerpts) : No. 46, Tiento VIII— Paolo Cherici
Performed by Paolo Cherici
3 Libros de música en cifra para vihuela (Excerpts) : No. 12, Fantasia que contrahaze la harpa…— Paolo Cherici
Performed by Paolo Cherici
3 Libros de musica en cifras para vihuela, Book 1: Fantasia facil— Massimo Marchese
Performed by Massimo Marchese
3 Libros de musica en cifras para vihuela, Book 1: Pavana de Alexandre— Massimo Marchese
Performed by Massimo Marchese
3 Libros de musica en cifras para vihuela, Book 1: Gagliarda— Massimo Marchese
Performed by Massimo Marchese
3 Libros de musica en cifras para vihuela, Book 1: Fantasia que contrahaze la harpa en la…— Massimo Marchese
Performed by Massimo Marchese
3 Libros de Música en Cifra para Vihuela, Libro 2 (Excerpts) : Fantasia No. 17— Shigeo Mito
Performed by Shigeo Mito
3 Libros de Música en Cifra para Vihuela, Libro 1 (Excerpts) : Romanesca No. 1— Shigeo Mito
Performed by Shigeo Mito
3 Libros de Música en Cifra para Vihuela, Libro 1 (Excerpts) : Conde Claros— Shigeo Mito
Performed by Shigeo Mito
3 Libros de Música en Cifra para Vihuela, Libro 1 (Excerpts) : Pavana No. 2— Shigeo Mito
Performed by Shigeo Mito
Libros de música en cifra, Libro III: Romanza II. “Triste estava el Rey David”— Joel Cohen
Performed by Joel Cohen