Cipriano de Rore

Biography

Cypriano de Rore or Cipriano de Rore (1515 or 1516 – 11 September to 20 September 1565) was a Flemish composer and teacher. He was a central representative of the generation of Franco-Flemish composers after Josquin who went to live and work in Italy, and who were formative in the development of the late Renaissance styles there, and he was also one of the most prominent mid-century composers of madrigals. Current research has established his birthplace as Ronse (Renaix), a town in Flanders rig...

Cypriano de Rore or Cipriano de Rore (1515 or 1516 – 11 September to 20 September 1565) was a Flemish composer and teacher. He was a central representative of the generation of Franco-Flemish composers after Josquin who went to live and work in Italy, and who were formative in the development of the late Renaissance styles there, and he was also one of the most prominent mid-century composers of madrigals.

Current research has established his birthplace as Ronse (Renaix), a town in Flanders right on the linguistic boundary between the French- and Flemish-speaking areas, and he seems to have been born to a wealthy family. Little is known about his early musical training, though some research has suggested a connection with Margaret of Parma, who went to Naples in 1533 to marry into the Medici family. Rore may have accompanied her, receiving some education in Italy; alternatively, he may have received his early musical education at Antwerp. It has long been claimed that he studied in Venice with Adrian Willaert, and sang in the chapel there, but there is little evidence to support this; then again, a singer in that early period at St. Mark's would not necessarily have left much evidence. In 1542 he was at Brescia, where he probably remained until 1546; during this period he began to acquire fame as a composer, publishing a book of madrigals and two books of motets, which were highly regarded.

In 1547, he entered in the service of duke Ercole II d'Este in Ferrara as choir master. Giaches de Wert was one of his pupils there, as was Luzzasco Luzzaschi, the leading member of what was to be one of the most avant-garde musical establishments in late Renaissance Italy.

When Ercole died in 1559, Rore offered his services to his successor Alfonso, but the new duke refused and appointed Francesco dalla Viola instead.

From 1560 until 1563, Rore worked for Margaret of Parma in Brussels and for her husband Ottavio Farnese in Parma. In 1562 he was appointed choir master of St. Mark's in Venice, but he resigned in 1564 and returned to Parma, where he died.

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