Monday 7 February 2022

Cristóbal de Montemayor (fl. 1583-1600): Salve sponsa Dei (SATB)

Cristóbal de Montemayor (or Cristoforo Montemayor) is a rather unknown Spanish Renaissance composer. The only source for his works is the Liber primus cum octo et sex et quinque et quatuor vocibus (Napoli, 1593), a collection with psalms for double choir, hymns, motets and a couple of Masses. Though the double choir psalms and hymns are quite uninteresting, the works that stand out are the motets for four, five and six voices.

We are publishing the motets for four, five and six voices by Montemayor in Ars Subtilior Editions. The copy of the Liber primus (I-RN Mss musicali 135) has a lot of errors (text, accidentals, values...) that have been corrected for our editions.

Salve sponsa Dei is a four-voice motet dedicated to Saint Clare. Montemayor uses the first notes of the melody of the Salve regina in the beginning of the motet.

You can buy or download this score here. Remember, you can buy our scores for the price you want to support Ars Subtilior Editions!


© 2022 Jorge Martín