Joao Vaz

Flores de Musica 3: Liturgical Works

Manuel Rodrigues Coelho was born in Elvas, eastern Portugal, around 1555 and died in Lisbon in 1635. During his lifetime he held positions as organist in his hometown and in Badajoz (Spain); he was later appointed organist of the Royal Chapel in Lisbon. Flores de musica, his only known work, was printed in Lisbon in 1620 by Pedro Craesbeeck.
The original edition of Flores de música is a volume with 235 sheets of music printed in the score. All pieces of music use a four-line system, with the exception of the so-called Versos para se cantarem ao orgão (Verses to be sung on the organ), which use five staves (four for the organ and one for the line to be sung). The musical text is preceded by a twelve-page introductory section that includes Coelho's dedication to the king, the printing license, the technical opinion of the eminent polyphonist Frei Manuel Cardoso (1566-1650), five poems (by different authors) in praise of Coelho and his music, and a Prologue and Advertencias particulares by the composer.