Wacław z Szamotuł (Szamotuły, near Poznań, ca.
1520 ? ca. 1560, Pińczów), also called Wacław
Szamotulski and (in Latin) Venceslaus Samotulinus,
was a Polish composer.
Wacław studied first at the Lubrański Academy in
Poznań and in 1538 at Kraków University. Wacław
Szamotulski, as Wacław of Szamotuły was also
known, was a true Renaissance man, educated in
such diverse areas as law, mathematics and
philosophy?Aristotelian, in particular. In
addition to music, he wrote poetry in both Polish
and Latin. In 1547 or 1548 he was appointed
composer to the court of Sigismund II Augustus.
However, he was not required to teach young
singers, probably due to difficulties with voice.
In 1555 Wacław left Kraków, having received the
title of 'royal composer.'
He died early, and only a few of his works
survive. In the words of Szymon Starowolski, who
wrote the first concise biography of Wacław, 'If
the gods had let him live longer, the Poles would
have no need to envy the Italians their
Palestrina, Lappi or Vedana.'
His motets In te Domine speravi and Ego sum pastor
bonus were the first Polish musical compositions
to be published abroad. According to Gustave
Reese, Wacław's style may be seen in both of these
motets; 'the constant overlapping of phrases and
full-fledged imitative style reveal Franco-
Netherlandish influence.' (Reese, p. 749). Text source : Wikipedia (Hide extended text) ... (Read all)
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