Manuel Machado (composer)

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Manuel Machado (Lisbon, c. 1590 - Madrid, 1646) was a Portuguese composer and harpist. He was mostly active in Spain, as he was born when Portugal was under Spanish rule.

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[edit] Life

Manuel Machado studied at the Claustra college of the Lisbon cathedral with the renowned composer Duarte Lobo. He moved to Spain and in 1610 he became a musician of the royal chapel in Madrid, where is father, Lope Machado, was already a harpist. In 1639 he became a musician in the palace of Philip III of Spain, and in 1642 he was rewarded "for his long years of service".

[edit] Work

Machado composed mainly polyphonic cantigas and romances in an early Baroque style, but very few of his works have survived (most of them were destroyed during the 1755 Lisbon earthquake). All have Spanish lyrics, and are characterised by great skill in the flexible use of the meter and harmony to reflect the content of the poems. His known compositions are found in the most important songbooks of his time, such as the Cancionero de la Sablonara, which indicates that he probably enjoyed a considerable popularity.

[edit] Recordings

The following recordings include works by Machado:

  • 1989 - O Lusitano - Portuguese vilancetes, cantigas and romances. Gérard Lesne and Circa 1500. Virgin Veritas 59071. Track 2 "Dos estrellas le siguen", and Track 21 "Paso a paso, empeños mios"
  • 1994 - Canções, Vilancicos e Motetes Portugueses. Paul van Nevel and Huelgas Ensemble. Sony Classical SK 66288. Track 2 "Qué bien siente Galatea", and Track 3 "Dos estrellas le siguen".
  • 2007 - Entremeses del siglo de oro - Lope de Vega y su tiempo (1550-1650). Hespérion XX and Jordi Savall. Alia Vox. Track 12 "Que bien siente Galatea", and Track 17 "¡Afuera, afuera! que sale"
  • 2007 - Flores de Lisboa - Canções, vilancicos e romances portugueses. A Corte Musical and Rogério Gonçalves. Le Couvent K617195. Track 1 "Dos estrellas le siguen", Track 2 "Paso a paso, empeños mios", and Track 8 "¡Afuera, afuera! que sale"

[edit] References

  • Enciclopédia Verbo Luso-Brasileira de Cultura, ed. Verbo, Lisbon/São Paulo, 1998

[edit] External links