YEARBOOK OF THE ALAMIRE FOUNDATION

SELLING THE MADRIGAL: PIERRE PHALÈSE II AND THE FOUR ‘ANTWERP ANTHOLOGIES’
with Pruenen that dates back to 1558 with the appearance of Waelrant’s sixth book
of motets for five and six voices, which also bears an address to Pruenen. 30 Waelrant’s
subsequent dedication of Symphonia angelica reveals that Pruenen enjoyed music
with his friends, as both performer and patron of Italian music (fol. 1v): 31
HAVENDO noi fatto Scelta & elettione (S or mio oss mo ) del fiore di | tutta
la Musica, che insino al presente si ritruoua, opera veramen- | te degna di
comparire dauanti a qual si voglia Principe, mi é par- | so debito mio, per
molti fauori & beneficij riceuuti da V.S. di | farnele parte, dedicandole questo
libro intitolato SYMPHONIA | ANGELICA &c. come a personaggio, che tra
le sue altre virtu ama & pregia | tantò questa scienza & arte liberale, che
non ostante li suoi negotij & tanti | trauagli del Paese, non intermette di
goderne spesso insieme con li amici, fa- | uorendo in tutti i modi li autori.
Priego adunque V.S. d’accettare il presen- | te, ben che piccolo alli suoi
gran’ meriti, con la solita benignita & gratia sua, alla | quale mi offero &
raccommando, pregando l’altissimo per la sua prosperita | con lunga vita.
Having made a choice and selection (my most worthy Sir) of the flower of
all the music composed up to the present, a work truly worthy to appear
before any Prince, it seemed my duty, for the many favors and benefits
received from you, your worship, to share them with you, dedicating to you
this book entitled Symphonia angelica, as to a person[age] who, among his
other virtues, loves and prizes this science and liberal art so much that,
notwithstanding his activities and many labors for his country, [he] does
not refrain from frequently enjoying it together with his friends, [while]
supporting the authors in every way [emphasis mine]. I pray you then, your
worship, to accept this offering, although small, to your great merit, with
your usual kindness and grace, to which I offer and recommend myself,
wishing your highness prosperity and long life.
The dedicatee is praised once again by the inclusion of the dedicatory madrigal Tra
rumor di tamburi by Waelrant, which recalls the siege of Antwerp of 1585. 32 The
madrigal is prominently positioned at the head of the section for six-voice settings
(folio 22v), a fitting placement for a piece that honoured Pruenen, one of the deputies
30 The Latin dedication of Waelrant’s sixth book of motets (1558) is transcribed and translated into English
in WEAVER, Waelrant and Laet, pp. 323–324. See also WEAVER, A Descriptive Bibliographical
Catalog, no. 17, pp. 87–92; and PIEL, Studien zum Leben und Schaffen Hubert Waelrants, p. 196.
31 The translation is from WEAVER, Waelrant and Laet, p. 330.
32 The madrigal also appears in a much later source, London, British Library, MS Additional 31409, fols.
113–115 – see FORNEY, Antwerp’s Role in the Reception and Dissemination of the Madrigal, p. 252,
n. 53.
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