Pedro Rimonte

1565-1627

Another composer of some really beautiful religious music and a man about who not so much is known. He was born in Zaragoza presumably to a poor family as his musical education was from a Melchor Robledo who gave lessons to the public at Zaragoza’s cathedral.

He spent much of his musical career in the Low Countries working under the patronage of Archduke Albert and Archduchess Isabella in Brussels. This was probab;ly around 1599.

His exact role is confused. In three different letters he gives three different titles, Master of Music at His Majesty’s Chapel, Master of the Chapel and Chamber of His Majesty and Master of the Music of the Chamber!

It is suggested the difference in titles was due to the arrival from Madrid of Géry de Ghersem in 1605 who was intended to take charge of music for the royal chapel. But then throughout his tenure Ruimonte was paid more than Ghersem which suggests he had the senior position.

Be that as it may, Ruimonte stayed in Brussels where he composed a sizable volume of religious work mostly polyphonic for the unaccompanied voice.

In 1614 he returned to Spain, but came back to work in Brussels from 1616 to 1622. His music was published in Antwerp, including a number of masses, the Lamentations below, psalms a Requiem Mass and motets set for four or six voices.

One of Rimonte’s colleagues in Brussels was the English composer Peter Philips. Philips, who had fled Anglican England in 1591 because of his Catholic beliefs, and in 1597 came to take up a position as the Archduke’s court organist in Brussels.

Ruimonte returned to Zaragoza in 1622 where he lived out the rest of his days. Whether he continued his musical career is not known, but by then he had married a wealthy widow and perhaps had no need to earn a crust!