Francisco López Capillas (1608–1674) was a Mexican composer born in

Mexico City Mexico City ( es, link=no, Ciudad de México, ; abbr.: CDMX; Nahuatl: ''Altepetl Mexico'') is the capital city, capital and primate city, largest city of Mexico, and the List of North American cities by population, most populous city in North Amer ...

. He was born Francisco López, the son of Bartolome López, potentially a royal notary, and María de la Trinidad. He was admitted into the Mexico City Cathedral choir in 1625, where he studied under Antonio Rodriguez Mata. In 1643, López was appointed the assistant

organist An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists. In addition, an organist may accompany congregational h ...

and

dulcian The dulcian is a Renaissance woodwind instrument, with a double reed and a folded conical bore. Equivalent terms include en, curtal, german: Dulzian, french: douçaine, nl, dulciaan, it, dulciana, es, bajón, and pt, baixão. The predeces ...

player in the Puebla Cathedral, but left Puebla in 1648 to seek other opportunities. His whereabouts for the next six years are unknown. In March 1654, he presented a book of his compositions to the authorities of the

Mexico City Cathedral The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven ( es, Catedral Metropolitana de la Asunción de la Bienaventurada Virgen María a los cielos) is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mex ...

. A month later, the chapel's choirmaster, Fabián Ximeno, died. Four days later, López took over the role as choirmaster and principal organist. At this point he began signing his name as 'López Capillas' ('López of the Chapels'). He held this position until 1668, when the duties of the organist were separated from the choirmaster. He then held the choirmaster position until his death in 1674. He is regarded as the first notable composer born in America and the colonies of New Spain. He composed several Baroque masses, motets, and

magnificat The Magnificat (Latin for " y soulmagnifies he Lord) is a canticle, also known as the Song of Mary, the Canticle of Mary and, in the Byzantine tradition, the Ode of the Theotokos (). It is traditionally incorporated into the liturgical servic ...

Works

Masses

* Missa Pange lingua; 6 voices * Missa super scalam Aretinam; 5 voices (on hexachord) * Missa Aufer a nobis; 4 voices (on López motet) * Missa super Alleluia; 5 voices (on López motet) * Missa Benedicta sit Sancta Trinitas; 4 voices (on Palestrina motet) * Missa Quam pulchri sunt gressus tui; 4 voices (on Palestrina motet) * Missa Re Sol; 4 voices (on Riscos' canción) * Missa batalla; 6 voices (on Janequin chanson)

Motets

* Adiuva nos, Deus (part I by Antonio Rodriguez Mata) * Aufer a nobis * Christus factus est * Cui luna, sol et omnia * Cum iucunditate * Ecce nunc tempus * Ego enim * Et incarnatus est * In horrore visionis nocturnae * Lumen ad revelationem * Quicumque coluerit apostolorum * Tenebrae factae sunt * Velum templi

Other

* 8 magnificats

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Lopez Capillas, Francisco 1615 births 1673 deaths Mexican classical composers Mexican Baroque composers Musicians from Mexico City 17th-century classical composers Mexican male classical composers 17th-century male musicians