Alonso Mudarra

I was going to post this earlier today but the death of Les Paul caused me to be delayed shortly.

Alonso Mudarra
Alonso Mudarra was born around 1510 from all the sources there seems to be no real consensus. However everyone is agreed that he died on April 1, 1580. He was raised in Guadalajara in the households of the third and fourth dukes of the Infantado. It is very likely that he traveled to Italy in 1529 with the entourage of Charles V. He then entered the priesthood and became canon at Seville Cathedral on 18 of October 1546 less than two months before the publication he is most well known for, “tres libros de Musica in cifra para Vihuela” During the next 34 years he was an important member of the cathedrals affairs. His duties included arranging annual Corpus Christi celebrations, hiring wind players, and installation of a new organ. From March of 1568 he served as the major-domo of the cathedral, which meant he was in charge of all disbursements. After his death and the sale of his estate which raised 92,000 maravedis. The money was distributed to the poor according to the provisions of his will.
Alonso Mudarra was known for his books for the vihuela “tres libros de Musica in cifra para Vihuela. The three books contained 77 works total including 6 pieces for 4 course guitar and 1 work for harp or organ. The books contained several innovations for its time. The first is it is the earliest example of music published for the guitar. Second he invented a 14 line tablature system for harp and organ. Third he arranged the pieces in Suite-like groupings of works by mode, and finally it contained the earliest example of a farbodon ( early example of harmony being added to plainchant) psalm printed in Spain. Mudarra wrote many pieces using the musical styles of his time.

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