Geert van Turnhout (French: ''Gérard de Turnhout''; c. 1520 – 15 September 1580) was a Flemish composer, who became master of the

Flemish chapel (capilla flamenca) The Flemish chapel (Spanish: capilla flamenca) was one of two choirs employed by Philip II of Spain, the other being the Spanish chapel (or capilla española). La Grande Chapelle Philip I of Castile, "Philip the Handsome", son of Maximilian I ...

in Spain. He was born in

Turnhout Turnhout () is a Belgian municipality and city located in the Flemish province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises only the city of Turnhout proper. In 2021, Turnhout had a total population of 45,874. The total area is . The agglomeration, ho ...

. He had a younger brother, also a composer, Jan van Turnhout. Turnhout was employed first at Antwerp, then at the Church of St Gummarus,

Lier, Belgium Lier (; french: Lierre, ) is a municipality located in the Belgium, Belgian province of Antwerp (province), Antwerp. It is composed of the city of Lier proper and the village of Koningshooikt. The city centre is surrounded by the river ''Nete'', a ...

, (''maître de chapelle'' 1559), then in 1562 back to the

Cathedral of Our Lady (Antwerp) The Cathedral of Our Lady ( nl, Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal) is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Antwerp, Belgium. Today's see of the Diocese of Antwerp started in 1352 and, although the first stage of construction was ended in 1521, has never be ...

where he was made ''maître de chant'' in 1563. His motets (many of which have been lost) included at least two for Saint Cecilia, probably reflecting the importance of the celebration of Cecilia's Day in the cathedral of Antwerp. On 2 May 1571

Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba Fernando Álvarez de Toledo y Pimentel, 3rd Duke of Alba (29 October 150711 December 1582), known as the Grand Duke of Alba (, pt, Grão Duque de Alba) in Spain and Portugal and as the Iron Duke ( or shortly 'Alva') in the Netherlands, was a S ...

engaged Turnhout as maestro de capilla of the Capilla Flamenca Philip II of Spain in Madrid to succeed

Jean de Bonmarché Jean de Bonmarché (ca. 1525September 1570) was a composer of the Franco-Flemish school. Bonmarché was born in Douai. He became dean of Lille Cathedral, then in 1560 master of the choirboys at Old Cambrai Cathedral. On 30 November 1564, followin ...

. Turnhout arrived in Madrid with a group of singers from the Low Countries. He remained there until his death, when he was succeeded by

George de La Hèle George de La Hèle (also Georges, Helle, Hele) (1547 – August 27, 1586) was a Franco-Flemish composer of the Renaissance, mainly active in the Habsburg chapels of Spain and the Low Countries. Among his surviving music is a book of eight masses, ...

Works

* Missa ‘O Maria vernans rosa’ a 5 1570 * ''Sacrarum ac aliarum cantonum a 3'' (Leuven, 1569): 20 motets, 20 chansonsL.J. Wagner: Preface to Sacred and Secular Songs for Three Voices, RRMR, ix (1970) Dedicated to Adrian Dyck, notary of Antwerp, it includes a dedicatory motet to Phillip II. * 3 motets, 10 chansons, 2 voices, 1571 * 4 Dutch songs, 4–5 voices 1572 * 5 French sacred songs, 3 voices, in 1577

Discography

* chanson: ''En regardant'' on ''Musicians of the Chapelle de Bourgogne'' dir. Bernardin Van Eeckhout, L'Oiseau-Lyre OL 50 104 (LP, mono) * ''Jerusalem luge'' and 2 chansons: ''Craint' et espoir. Dueil, double dueil'' on ''Leal Amour: Flemish Composers at the Court of Philip II'' Turnhout, Hèle, Rogier, Gombert, Payen, Manchicourt, Egidius Kwartet Etcetera 1218 * 2 chansons: ''Je prens en gré la dure mort. Jouÿsance vous donneray'' on ''

Philippe Rogier Philippe Rogier (c. 1561 – 29 February 1596) was a Franco-Flemish composer of the Renaissance, active at the Habsburg court of Philip II in Spain. He was one of the last members of the Franco-Flemish school, in the closing days of the Renaiss ...

en Spanje'' Capella Sancti Michaelis & Currende Consort dir. Erik Van Nevel Eufoda 1161 (1993).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Turnhout, Geert 1520 births 1580 deaths Belgian classical composers Belgian male classical composers Flemish composers 16th-century Franco-Flemish composers People from Turnhout Renaissance composers