Cristóbal de Morales
Spanish Renaissance composer Cristóbal de Morales was born in Seville in circa 1500. He was employed at Ávila and Plasencia, then worked as a papal singer in Rome from 1535 for ten years. There's some evidence that he was an awkward character, difficult to employ, and when he returned to Spain he found it difficult to keep jobs.
Morales was the first Spanish composer to be well known internationally. He wrote vocal music which was almost entirely sacred. His output included many masses, twenty-two of which survive, over a hundred motets and more than five settings of the Lamentations of Jeremiah, but it's his eighteen settings of the Magnificat that are performed most regularly in the twenty-first century.
Morales died in Marchena at some point between 4 September and 7 October 1553.
A selection of articles about Cristóbal de Morales
Classical music news - If The Night Grows Dark - Bright Shiny Things releases soprano Camille Zamora's survey of four centuries of Spanish song
Ensemble. A Serious Miscalculation - Music for choir and saxophone, heard by Mike Wheeler
CD Spotlight. Christmas Lambswool? - Shepherds' noels from the Marian Consort, recommended by Keith Bramich. '... a rather wonderful spin-off ...'
CD Spotlight. Riveting Stuff - Spanish early music in the new world, heard by Gerald Fenech. 'All thirty tracks have a charm of their own ...'
CD Spotlight. Perennial Concern - 'Lamentation' and other settings by Morales, heard by Robert Anderson
CD Spotlight. Uncommonly Addictive - Choral music by Eriks Esenvalds, recommmended by Howard Smith. '... exciting music of the utmost graciousness.'
Ensemble. A Sizzling Rendition - 'Carmen' from Phoenix Opera impresses Maria Nockin
A Real Find - Robert Davies made a remarkable impact when he stood in as Papageno late in the run of English Touring Opera's 'The Magic Flute'; Roderic Dunnett profiles him and celebrates the progress of other ETO cast members
Ensemble. Dramatic Essentials - 'Carmen' from Paris, enjoyed by Robert Hugill
Ensemble. Shimmering Harmonies - San Diego Opera's 'Carmen' delighted Maria Nockin