Cornelis Verdonck (1563 – 1625) was a Flemish
composer of the late Renaissance. He was one of the
last members of the Franco-Flemish school of polyphony,
and was a notable composer of madrigals in a style that
blended both Italian and native Netherlandish
idioms.
Verdonck was born in Turnhout. From his earliest years,
he was in the household of Cornelis Pruenen, senator
and treasurer of Antwerp; in addition he was a choirboy
at Antwerp Cathedral until about the age of 9. In 1572
he we...(+)
Cornelis Verdonck (1563 – 1625) was a Flemish
composer of the late Renaissance. He was one of the
last members of the Franco-Flemish school of polyphony,
and was a notable composer of madrigals in a style that
blended both Italian and native Netherlandish
idioms.
Verdonck was born in Turnhout. From his earliest years,
he was in the household of Cornelis Pruenen, senator
and treasurer of Antwerp; in addition he was a choirboy
at Antwerp Cathedral until about the age of 9. In 1572
he went to Spain to be part of the choir of Philip II
in Madrid, where he stayed until his voice broke in
early 1580, at which time he returned to the
Netherlands to study in Antwerp with Séverin Cornet,
and possibly with Hubert Waelrant as well. His earliest
works, published along with those of Cornet, date from
this period.
"Ave Maria" exists in hundreds if not thousands of
versions and renditions throughout the years. It is,
after all a very antique Latin text ("Hail, Mary")
which has been in circulation for hundreds and hundreds
of years. It has taken the form of anonymous Medieval
chants, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, 20th
century and likely 21st century composers have all set
it for chorus, chorus and orchestra, a solo singer in a
larger choral work, solo voice and piano or some other
instrumental accompaniment.
Although this Advent Motet was originally written for
Chorus, I created this arrangement for Flute Quartet
(Flutes (2) & Alto Flute).
PARTITION