1540s in music

The decade of the 1540s in music (years 1540–1549) involved some significant events.

Events

 * 1540
 * 4 April – Cristobal Morales leaves the position of master of the choristers at the Chapel of the Papal Basilica in St. Peter's, Rome
 * 23 April – Thomas Tallis loses his job at Waltham Abbey due to the Dissolution of the Monasteries
 * 27 April – Gioseffo Zarlino is elected capellini and mansionario of the Scuola di San Francesco in Chioggia
 * 1 May – Ambrose Lupo is taken on as a musician and composer at the court of Henry VIII
 * 30 December – Jacques Arcadelt is appointed maestro di cappella at the Sistine chapel in Rome
 * December – Nicolas Gombert dismissed from his position at the court chapel of the Emperor, Charles V
 * 1541
 * 25 May – Cristobal Morales re-joined the Papal choir at St. Peter's, Rome
 * 15 July – Jacques Buus appointed second organist at the basilica of S Marco, Venice
 * 1542
 * 3 April – Francisco Guerrero joined the Seville Cathedral choir as a contralto
 * 1543: Thomas Tallis becomes a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal in England.
 * 20 July Tielman Susato is granted a three-year privilege to print music in the Netherlands.
 * 1544
 * 28 October Giovanni Pierluigi Da Palestrina appointed organist at San Agapito Church, Palestrina
 * 1545
 * 1 May Bartolomeo de Escobedo appointed maestro di cappella at the chapel of the Papal Basilica at St Peter's in Rome.
 * 1 May Cristobal Morales was granted 10 months leave from the Papal Chapel in Rome. He never returned.
 * 31 August Cristobal Morales succeeded Andres de Torrentes as maestro di capilla at Toledo Cathedral.
 * 1547
 * 6 May Waclaw of Szamotuly joined the Chapel Royal of Sigismund II Augustus of Poland in Vilnius.
 * 28 May Jacques Arcadelt reappointed maestro di cappella at the Sistine chapel.
 * 12 June Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina marries Lucrezia de Goris in his home town of Palestrina, Lazio
 * 9 August Cristobal Morales leaves the position of maestro di cappella at Toledo Cathedral.
 * Bologna's first public theatre, the Teatro Della Sala, was opened. It burned down in 1623.
 * 1548 François Roussel appointed maestro di cappella at St. Peter's, Rome
 * 1549 Juan Francisco de Penalosa succeeded Francisca Sacedo as principal organist of Toledo Cathedral
 * Balint Bakfark appointed court lutenist to King Sigismund Augustus of Poland

Bands formed

 * 1548: Staatskapelle Dresden formed in Saxony.

1540

 * Sebald Heyden – De arte canendi, third installment, important treatise on singing
 * Francesco de Layolle – 25 canzoni for five voices (Lyon: Jacques Moderne)
 * Hubert Naich – Exercitium Seraficum for four and five voices (Rome: Antonio Blado), a collection of madrigals
 * Hans Neusidler – Ein newes Lautenbüchlein (Nuremberg: Hans Guldenmundt), a collection of lute music
 * Alfonso dalla Viola – Il secondo libro di madrigali for four voices (Ferrara: Henrico De Campis)
 * Claudio Veggio – Madrigali a quattro voci, published in Venice

1541

 * Martin Agricola – Book of Protestant hymns Sangbuchlein, published in Wittenberg.
 * Jhan Gero – Il Primo Libro de Madrigali Italiani et Canzoni Francese a due voci (Venice: Antonio Gardano)
 * Nicolas Gombert
 * Second book of motets for five voices (Venice: Girolamo Scotto)
 * Second book of motets for four voices (Venice: Girolamo Scotto)
 * Giovanni Domenico da Nola – Canzone villanesche, books 1 and 2, for three voices (Venice: Girolamo Scotto)
 * Giordano Passetto – Madrigali nuovi a voce pare, book 1 (Venice: Antonio Gardano)

1542

 * Benedictus Appenzeller – Des Chansons a Quattre Parties (Antwerp: Henry Loys & Jehan de Buys), a collection of chansons for 4 voices
 * Jacques Arcadelt – First book of madrigals for three voices (Venice: Antonio Gardano), "together with some madrigals by Costanzo Festa along with twelve French chansons and six new motets"
 * Pierre Certon
 * Second book of motets for four voices (Paris: Pierre Attaingnant & Hubert Jullet)
 * Third book of motets for four voices (Paris: Pierre Attaingnant & Hubert Jullet)
 * Domenico Ferrabosco – First book of madrigals for four voices (Venice: Antonio Gardano)
 * Silvestro Ganassi dal Fontego – Regola rubertina, Venice
 * Johannes Lupi – Third book of motets for four voices (Paris: Pierre Attaingnant & Hubert Jullet), published posthumously
 * Cipriano de Rore – First book of madrigals a5.

1543

 * Jacques Buus – First book of French chansons for six voices (Venice: Antonio Gardano)
 * Sebastian z Felsztyna – Directiones musicae ad cathedralis ecclesia premislensis usum, Kraków
 * Silvestro Ganassi dal Fontego – Lettione seconda [=second book of Regola rubertina], Venice
 * Balthasar Resinarius – Responsorium numero orctoginta de tempore et festis...libri duo

1544

 * Jacques Arcadelt – Il Quinto Libro di Madrigali for 4 voices (Venice: Antonio Gardano)
 * Paolo Aretino – Sacra responsoria (Venice: Gerolamo Scotto)
 * Jacquet de Berchem – "Ala Dolc'ombra de le Belle Frondi" published by Antonio Gardano in Venice.
 * Simon Boyleau – Motets for four voices (Venice: Girolamo Scotto)
 * Francesco Corteccia – First book of madrigals for four voices (Venice: Girolamo Scotto)
 * Cristóbal de Morales
 * First book of masses, for four and five voices (Rome: Valerio and Luigi Dorico)
 * Second book of masses, for four, five, and six voices (Rome: Valerio and Luigi Dorico)
 * Hans Neusidler – three books of lute music: Das erst Buch: ein newes Lautenbüchlein, Das ander Buch: ein new künstlich Lautten Buch, and Das dritt Buch: ein new künstlich Lauten Buch.
 * Georg Rhau – Newe Deudsche Geistliche Gesenge published in Wittemberg.
 * Cipriano de Rore – Il secondo libro de madrigali for 5 voices published in Venice.
 * Tielman Susato (ed.)
 * Third book of chansons, for four voices (Antwerp: Tielman Susato), contains only compositions by Thomas Crecquillon
 * Fifth book of chansons, for five and six voices (Antwerp: Tielman Susato), contains mostly compositions by Nicolas Gombert

1545

 * Perissone Cambio
 * Madrigals for five voices (Venice: Antonio Gardano)
 * Canzone villanesche alla napolitana for four voices (Venice: Antonio Gardano)
 * Vincenzo Fontana – First book of canzone villanesche alla napolitana for three voices (Venice: Antonio Gardano)
 * Guillaume Le Heurteur – 12 Motets (Paris: Pierre Attaingnant)
 * Pierre de Manchicourt – Modulorum musicalium, tome one, for four voices (Paris: Pierre Attaingnant), a collection of motets
 * Gian Domenico del Giovane da Nola – Madrigali for four voices (Venice)
 * Cipriano de Rore – Motets for five voices
 * Vincenzo Ruffo – Li madrigali a notte negre for four voices published in Venice
 * Tielman Susato (ed.)
 * Ninth book of chansons, for four voices (Antwerp: Tielman Susato), contains only compositions by Pierre de Manchicourt
 * The Lutheran hymnal Geistliche Lieder published by Valentin Babst in Leipzig

1546

 * Giovan Thomaso di Maio – Canzone villanesche a3, book 1.

1547

 * Giovanni Animuccia – First book of madrigals for 4, 5, and 6 voices (Venice: Antonio Gardano)
 * Loys Bourgeois – First book of four-part psalms (Lyon: Godfroy & Marcelin Beringen frères), published for the Calvinists of Geneva using the French translations by Clément Marot.
 * Jacques Buus – First book of ricercars for four voices or instruments (Venice: Antonio Gardano)
 * Perissone Cambio – First book of madrigals for four voices (Venice: Antonio Gardano), also includes a few madrigals by Cipriano de Rore
 * Francesco Corteccia
 * New expanded edition of the first book of madrigals for four voices, including pieces composed for intermedii for the comedy Il furto by Francesco d'Ambra (Venice: Antonio Gardano)
 * Second book of madrigals for four voices (Venice: Antonio Gardano)
 * First book of madrigals for five and six voices (Venice: Antonio Gardano)
 * Claude Gervaise, ed. – Second book of dances for four instruments (Paris: Pierre Attaingnant)
 * Heinrich Glarean – Dodecachordon published in Basel.
 * Hoste da Reggio – First book of madrigals for four voices (Venice: Antonio Gardano)
 * Hans Neusidler – Das erst Buch: ein newes Lautenbüchlein
 * Caspar Othmayr
 * Bicinia sacra (Nuremberg: Johann Berg and Ulrich Neuber)
 * Symbola for five voices (Nuremberg: Johann Berg and Ulrich Neuber), a collection of motets
 * Dominique Phinot – First book of motets for five voices (Lyon: Godefroy & Marcellin Beringen)
 * Enriquez de Valderrabano – Book of vihuela music Libra de musica de vihuela intitulado Silva de Sirenas published in Valladolid

1548

 * Benedictus Appenzeller – A collection of sacred songs without a title (Augsburg: Philip Ulhart)
 * Arnold Caussin – First book of motets for five voices (Venice: Antonio Gardano)
 * Heinrich Faber – Beginner's music textbook Compendium Musicae published in Nuremberg.
 * Didier Lupi Second
 * First book of spiritual chansons for four voices (Lyon: Beringen & Beringen), all texts by Guillaume Guéroult
 * Third Book, containing 35 chansons for four voices (Lyon: Beringen & Beringen)
 * Tugdual Menon – Madrigali d'amore for four voices (Ferrara: Giovanni de Buglhat & Antonio Hucher)
 * Jan Nasco – Madrigals for five voices (Venice: Antonio Gardano)
 * Dominique Phinot
 * Second book of motets for six, seven, and eight voices (Lyon: Godefroy & Marcellin Beringer)
 * First book of thirty-seven chansons (Lyon: Godefroy & Marcellin Beringer)
 * Second book containing thirty-six chansons (Lyon: Godefroy & Marcellin Beringer)
 * Francesco Portinaro – Primi frutti de motetti for five voices (Venice: Antonio Gardano)
 * Cipriano de Rore – Il terzo libro de madrigali a cinque voci (Third Book of Madrigals for Five Voices) published in Venice.

1549

 * Gasparo Alberti – First book of masses (Venice: Girolamo Scotto), the first printed book of masses dedicated to a single Italian composer
 * Paolo Aretino – Libro primo delli madrigali cromati (Venice: Girolamo Scotto)
 * Jacques Buus
 * Second book of ricercars (Venice: Antonio Gardano)
 * First book of Intabolatura d'organo di recercari (Venice: Antonio Gardano), a collection of ricercars in organ tablature
 * First book of motets for five voices (Venice: Antonio Gardano)
 * Ghiselin Danckerts – Canons for four voices (Augsburg: Melchior Kriesstein)
 * Nicolao Dorati – First book of madrigals for five voices (Venice: Antonio Gardano)
 * Jhan Gero
 * Libro primo delli madrigali a quatro voci (Venice: Girolamo Scotto)
 * Libro secondo delli madrigali a quatro voce (Venice: Girolamo Scotto)
 * Claude Goudimel – book of chansons.
 * Clement Janequin – XXX chansons nouvelles
 * Didier Lupi Second – 30 Psalms for four voices (Lyon: Beringen & Beringen), French translations by Gilles D'Aurigny
 * Hans Neusidler – Das ander Buch: ein new künstlich Lauten Buch
 * Giovanni Domenico da Nola – First book of motets for five voices (Venice: Girolamo Scotto)
 * Caspar Othmayr
 * Tricinia (Nuremberg: Johann Berg & Ulrich Neuber)
 * Reutterische unnd Jegerische Liedlein for four voices (Nuremberg: Johann Berg & Ulrich Neuber)
 * Robert Wedderburn (probable) – The Complaynt of Scotland, including the earliest known references (in Middle Scots) to a number of Border ballads
 * Gioseffo Zarlino – Moduli motecta vulga noncupata liber primus – book of motets for 5 voices

1541

 * Gasparo Alberti – Magnificat

1542

 * Gasparo Alberti – Magnificat

1547

 * Louis Bourgeois – published his first 4-voice psalms

1540

 * date unknown – Giovanni Maria Artusi, Italian composer and theorist (d. 1613)
 * probable – William Byrd, English composer (d. 1623)
 * probable – Jakob Regnart, Franco-Flemish composer (d. 1599)
 * probable – Girolamo Dalla Casa, Italian composer, cornetist and writer (d. 1601)
 * probable – William Daman, Flemish recorder player, organist and composer (d. 1591)
 * probable – Giovanni Dragoni, Italian composer (d. 1598)
 * probable – Noel Fagnient, Flemish composer and shopkeeper (d. c. 1600)
 * probable – Johannes de Fossa, Flemish composer and choirmaster (d, 1603)
 * probable – Marcin Leopolita, Polish composer and musician (d. c. 1585)
 * probable – Francesco Rovigo, Italian composer and organist (d. 1597)
 * probable – Alexander Utendal, Flemish singer, composer and choirmaster (d. 1581)
 * probable – Matthaus Waissel, German lutenist, composer, Lutheran theologian, publisher, schoolteacher and writer (d. 1602)

1541

 * September 7 – Hernando de Cabezon, Spanish composer, publisher and editor (d. 1602)
 * probable – Vincenzo Bellavere, Italian composer and organist (d. 1587)

1542

 * January 27 – Gioseffo Guami, Italian composer, organist, singer and teacher (d. 1611)
 * February 22 – Santino Garsi da Parma, lutenist and composer (d. 1604)
 * May 20 – Gasparo da Salo, Italian violin maker and double bass player (d. 1609)
 * November 1 – Tarquinia Molza, Italian singer (d. 1617)
 * probable – Cesare Bendinelli, Italian trumpeter (d. 1617)
 * probable – Jakob Meiland, German composer, organist and choirmaster (d. 1577)

1543

 * Alfonso Ferrabosco the elder, Anglo-Italian composer (d. 1588)
 * Andreas Pevernage, Flemish composer and choirmaster (d. 1591)
 * Giovanni Maria Nanino, Italian composer, teacher, tenor and choirmaster (d. 1607)

1544

 * Maddelena Casulana, Italian composer, lutenist and singer. First female composer of the period to have her music printed and published.
 * Ivo de Vento, Flemish composer and organist (d. 1575).

1545

 * October 19 – Giovenale Ancina – Italian priest and composer (d. 1604)
 * probable
 * Gioseppe Caimo, Italian composer and organist (d. post 1584)
 * Luzzasco Luzzaschi, Ferrarese composer (d. 1607)
 * Lodovico Balbi, Italian composer, singer, choirmaster and Minorite friar (d. 1604)
 * Antoine Barbe II, Flemish organist and choirmaster (d. 1604)
 * Gioseppe Caimo, Italian composer and organist (d. 1584)
 * Bernardo Clavijo del Castillo, Spanish composer, organist, harpsichord player and teacher (d. 1626)
 * Anthony Holborne, English composer (d. 1602)

1546

 * date unknown – Luca Bati, Italian composer (d. 1608)

1547

 * April 8 – Lucrezia Bendidio, Italian noblewoman and singer (d. c. 1584)
 * George de la Hele, Flemish composer (d. 1586).
 * Manuel Mendes, Portuguese composer (d. 1605).

1548

 * Gines Perez De La Parra, Spanish composer (d. 1600).
 * Lambert de Sayve, Flemish singer and composer (d. 1614).
 * Tomas Luis de Victoria, Spanish composer, singer, organist, priest and choirmaster (d. 1611).

1549

 * December 9 – Costanzo Antegnati – Italian organ builder, organist, and composer (d. 1624).
 * December 24 – Kaspar Ulenberg, German theologian, poet, and composer (d. 1617)
 * Eustache du Caurroy, French composer and singer (d. 1609)
 * Giovanni de Macque, French composer, singer, organist and choirmaster (d. 1614)

Deaths

 * 1540: Francesco De Layolle, Italian composer and organist (b. 1492)
 * 1541:
 * Lupus Hellinck, Flemish composer (b. c. 1493/1494)
 * Hans Kotter, Organist and composer (b. 1480)
 * 1542: Lodovico Fogliano, theorist and composer (c. 66)
 * 1543: probable
 * Ludwig Senfl, Swiss composer (b. c. 1486)
 * Francesco Canova da Milano, composer and lutenist (b. 1497)
 * Avery Burton, composer (c.73) died in England
 * 1544:
 * Balthasar Resinarius, (b. c. 1483)
 * Benedictus Dulcis, (c. 52)
 * 1545: April 10 – Constanzo Festa, Italian composer (b. c.1485–1490)
 * July 7 – William Crane, English composer, musician and merchant.
 * Pietro Aaron, Italian composer, theorist and priest (b. c. 1480)
 * Sebastian z Felsztyna, Polish composer and theorist (b. c. 1480-1490)
 * 1546: October 18 – John Taverner, English composer (b. c. 1490)
 * 1547: October or November – John Redford, English composer, poet and playwright (b. c. 1500)
 * 1548: June 14 – Elzéar Genet de Carpentras, French composer (b. c. 1470)
 * January 23 – Bernardo Pisano, Italian composer and singer (b. 1490).
 * April 10 – Giacomo Fogliano, Italian composer, organist and teacher (b. c. 1468)
 * August 16 – Georg Rhau, printer, publisher and composer, died in Wittenberg (b. 1488)
 * October 21 – Sixt Dietrich, composer and teacher, died in St Gallen, Switzerland (c. 55)
 * Vincenzo Capirola, lutenist and composer, died in Brescia (b. 1474).
 * 1549: Richard Pygott, English composer and choirmaster