The Biography
of Alonso Mudarra
c. 1510 – April 1, 1580

Alonso Mudarra (c. 1510 – April 1, 1580) composed the earliest surviving music for the guitar. This Spaniard was a composer and vihuelist active during the renaissance, he was an innovative composer of instrumental music as well as songs.

Although his birthplace is not recorded, it is known that he grew up in Guadalajara, where it is thought he received his musical training. He probably went to Italy in 1529 with the Spanish King, Charles V, in the company of the fourth Duke of the Infantado, Íñigo López de Mendoza, marqués de Santillana. Back in Spain he became a priest, and in 1546 received the post of Canon at the cathedral in Seville, where he lived out the rest of his life. He directed all the musical activities at the cathedral, records show that his work included hiring of instrumentalists, buying and assembling a new organ, and working closely with composer Francisco Guerrero for various festivities. In accordance with his will, upon his death in Seville his sizable fortune was distributed to the poor of the city.

Mudarra's birthplace is not known
but we know he grew up
in Guadalajara, not far north of Madrid

The songs are in Latin, Spanish and Italian and include romances (Sad was the King David), canciones, villancicos, and sonnets. Spanish authors featured include :

• Jorge Manrique (Remember the sleeping soul)
• Juan Boscan (Claros and fresh rivers)
• Garcilaso de la Vega
• other anonymous authors (If you love the man beloved, Elizabeth, lost of your Faxa, What tears are all this?)

Italian authors include :

• Francesco Petrarca (La vita Fugger)
• Jacopo Sannazaro (O gelosia d'amanti)

Latin suthors include :

• Ovid (Hanc tua Penelope)
• Horacio (Beatus ille)
• Virgilio (Sweet Exuviae)

Mudarra's Tres libros de musica en
cifras para vihuela features songs
based on poetry by the likes of Jorge Manrique