Mateo Flecha, el Viejo, en la Catedral de Valencia: sus dos períodos de magisterio de capilla (1526-1531? y 1539-1541) y su entorno musical

Abstract

The current biography of Mateo Flecha the Elder, the most outstanding composer of the Spanish genre of the ensalada, has been based on a few confi rmed data. As a result, there are big gaps in his known professional career. In this article, documents about his presence in the City of Valencia, as chapel master of the cathedral in two periods (1526-1531? and 1539-1541), are presented for the fi rst time. From them, his stay in the cathedral and some questions about his identity are studied. In order to know better the background where Flecha developed his principal activity, certain musical aspects of the Valencian cathedral are analyzed during the period included between the fi rst and last year of his presence in this institution (1526-1541). Finally, new ideas are presented, on account of the information now presented, that could add to the already raised ones about the opened issue on the creative context of some of his ensaladas.