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.
In 1584 Verdonck returned to Spain, once again singing
in the choir of Philip II, staying there until 1598 or
1599, after which he again returned to Antwerp. Also in
1599 he participated in the elaborate entry procession
of the newly-married Archduke Albert and Archduchess
Isabella into Antwerp, writing a motet (Prome, novas)
for the occasion: it was performed by a six-member
boys' choir mounted on the back of an elephant, which
rode along with the Archduke and Archduchess (accounts
differ as to whether it was a real or artificial
animal). It is the only known motet composed for
performance on an elephant.
Although this Motet was originally written for Chorus
(SATB), I created this arrangement for Brass Ensemble
(Bb Trumpet or Flugelhorn, Eb Alto Horn, French Horn &
F Tuba).