Abstract

The composer and singer Heinrich Isaac (c. 1450-1517) was born in Flanders and spent several years working for the Medici family in Florence before becoming court composer and musician for Habsburg King Maximilian I, the future Holy Roman Emperor. In this position, he was responsible for all musical entertainment at court and traveled with Maximilian wherever he went. Isaac composed this motet for six voices on the occasion of the Imperial Diet held in Konstanz in 1507. When Maximilian was crowned emperor a year later, Isaac also composed the music for the coronation mass. Isaac’s biography is unusual for the time since he spent most of his time in Florence even while in the service of the Habsburg court.

Heinrich Isaac, Virgo Prudentissima (1507)

Source

Source: Heinrich Isaac, Virgo Prudentissima, 1507. Recording: The Triumph of Maximilian I. Music of the 15th and 16th Centuries by Heinrich Isaac, Paul Hofhaimer & Ludwig Senfl. The London Ambrosian Singers, John McCarthy, director. The Vienna Renaissance Players. Nonesuch (HB-73016), 1966. Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/lp_the-triumph-of-maximilian-i_the-ambrosian-singers-john-mccarthy-the-vi/disc1/01.04.+Virgo+Prudentissima+(Motet+In+Honor+Of+Maximilian).mp3

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