Urreda, Johannes

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Urreda, Johannes

Urreda, Johannes, eminent composer who flourished in the 2ndhalf of the 15thcentury. He may have been of Flemish birth; whatever the case, he pursued his career in Spain. In 1476 he became a singer in the chapel of Garcia Alvarez de Toledo, the 1stDuke of Al va; by 1477 he was in the service of King Ferdinand V as master of the court chapel. His works were widely disseminated in Spain, Italy, and France. Among the most celebrated were the hymn Fange linguafor four Voices and the canción Nunca fue pena mayorfor three Voices, both of which were borrowed by subsequent composers. A few other sacred and secular vocal works are extant.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire