Alonso Mudarra (c.1510-1580)
Alonso Mudarra, in addition to writing music for the Vihuela, wrote the earliest surviving four-course guitar music. Mudarra’s exact place and date of birth are unknown, but he grew up in Guadalajara and probably traveled to Italy with his patron, the duke of the Infantado, and Charles V of Spain.
We do, however, know a lot about Mudarra’s life after he returned form Italy. He entered the priesthood, eventually becoming a canon at Seville cathedral and oversaw musical activities there.
His book of vihuela and guitar music, Tres libros de musica en cifras para vihuela, was published in 1546. It contains fantasias, differencias (variation sets), instrumental dances (pavanas & a gallarda), short prelude-like pieces, several pieces for four-course guitar, and one piece for harp and organ. Mudarra uses symbols to indicate tempos, and he discusses plucking technique in his book’s preface.
Free Alonso Mudarra Sheet Music
- Fantasia X – International Music Score Library Project
- Thomas Konigs – Towards the bottom. Has Fantasia facil and Fantasia que contrahaze la harpa en la manera de Luduvico.
- Delcamp.net Guitar Scores
Alonso Mudarra Sheet Music for Sale
- Eight Masterpieces of Alonso Mudarra
- Guitar Music from Tres Libros de Musica
- Renaissance Vihuela & Guitar Music by Frank Koonce
Notable Concert Works by Mudarra
Fantasia X – this is probably the work that put Mudarra on your radar. Great piece, played often.
Gallarda
Fantasia XIV