Afro-Portuguese composer Vicente Lusitano, referred to as a “pardo” (Portuguese for mulatto), is believed to have been born to a white father and a Black mother in Portugal sometime around 1522. He was ordained as a Catholic priest, spent time in Rome, and environs where he became a well-respected music teacher and accomplished theorist. Lusitano wrote a treatise on improvising counterpoint which is believed to be one of the most thorough and detailed methods but was consistently overlooked by musicologists. It was also not possible for Lusitano (given his ethnicity) to secure the support of a patron which made it quite difficult for him to achieve the status he envisioned for his career as a composer. At some point in 1556 he converted to Protestantism, ended up in Württemberg, was married and sought refuge with Christoph, Duke of Württemberg and that is the last we hear of him. We will explore his vocal works along with the composers he may have encountered along the way.
The Church of St. Luke in the Fields
487 Hudson Street, NYC
Tickets:
$25 General
$10 Students & Seniors
Available online: https://gemsny.org/events/Abendmusik and at the door on the night of the performance
This concert is made possible by the fiscal sponsorship and administrative services of Gotham Early Music Scene, Inc., the “New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature,” and the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC).
