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 Belgium, Belgian Municipalities in Belgium, municipality and city located in the Flemish Region, Flemish Provinces of Belgium, province of Antwerp (province), Antwerp. The municipality comprises only the city of Turnhout proper. ...

. He had a younger brother, also a composer,

Jan van Turnhout Jan van Turnhout (c. 1545 – 1614 or 1618) was a composer of the Franco-Flemish School. Life and work Jan Jacob van Turnhout was possibly the brother of Geert van Turnhout. In 1577 he was appointed ''Kapellmeister'' at St Rumbold's Cathedral in M ...

. Turnhout was employed first at

Antwerp Antwerp (; nl, Antwerpen ; french: Anvers ; es, Amberes) is the largest city in Belgium by area at and the capital of Antwerp Province in the Flemish Region. With a population of 520,504,

, then at the Church of St Gummarus, Lier, Belgium, (''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 bee ...

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 engaged Turnhout as maestro de capilla of the Capilla Flamenca

Philip II of Spain Philip II) in Spain, while in Portugal and his Italian kingdoms he ruled as Philip I ( pt, Filipe I). (21 May 152713 September 1598), also known as Philip the Prudent ( es, Felipe el Prudente), was King of Spain from 1556, King of Portugal from ...

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, following ...

. 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 en Spanje'' Capella Sancti Michaelis & Currende Consort dir.

Erik Van Nevel Erik Van Nevel (1956) is a Belgian singer and conductor. He is the nephew of Paul Van Nevel. He pursued instrumental and vocal studies at the Lemmensinstituut in Leuven, the Koninklijk Conservatorium (Brussels) and the Koninklijk Conservatorium ...

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