Ambrosio Cotes

Signature of Ambrosio Cotes in 1576.

Ambrosio (Coronado de) Cotes (ca. 15501603) was a Spanish Renaissance composer.[1]

Cotes was born in Villena, Alicante around 1550 of noble birth. He studied theology with the Theatines of Yecla. In 1573 he was maestro de capilla at the church of St. James Church in his hometown. In 1581 he was appointed maestro de capilla of the Capilla Real de Granada, in the place of Rodrigo de Ceballos. In 1596 he was maestrescuela in Cathedral of Valencia, until 1600 when he succeeded Guerrero at the Cathedral of Seville.[2][3] His works were copied and carried to the New World.[4] He died in Seville in 1603.

Extant works and editions

Like many other Spanish composers of the period, his secular villancicos and canzonetas have been lost. Of the sacred works 25 polyphonic compositions are preserved in Granada, a mass in the Cathedral of Valencia, and a further 3 motets in the Colegio del Patriarca. Four separate pieces without words have been published by López Calo, who believes they are the only instrumental works for church to survive from the sixteenth century.

Discography

References

  1. The New Grove dictionary of music and musicians, Volume 6 Sir George Grove, Stanley Sadie, John Tyrrell – Music – 2001 Page 545
  2. Soler García, José María. El polifonista villanense Ambrosio Cotes, [1550–1603] Volume 49 of Publicaciones del Instituto de Estudios Alicantinos. Diputación Provincial, Instituto de Estudios Alicantinos, Alicante 1979 325 pages
  3. Climent Barber, José. Historia de la música contemporánea valenciana 1978 p17
  4. Emilio Casares, José López-Calo, Ismael Fernández de la Cuesta, María Luz González Peña Diccionario de la música española e hispanoamericana, Volume 1 1999 Page 286
  5. Andrea Bombi, Juan José Carreras, Miguel Ángel Marín Música y cultura urbana en la edad moderna p286