Music in the Courts of Europe in the Early Modern Era

This book explores the multifaceted role of music in European royal courts during the early modern era, framing it as a vital instrument for projecting monarchical power, cultural identity, and political prestige. Research into the British court emphasises the significance of the London Chapel Royal and the public impact of its official compositions, while studies of the French Royal Chapel trace the evolution of the choral motet as a symbol of national identity. The aesthetic and social dimensions of the Mannheim School are examined alongside the legitimising function of the Palatine Chapel in Palermo. Further analyses detail the institutional resurgence of the Ducal Chapel of the House of Este and the creation of acoustic spaces for monarchical magnificence in Valladolid. Investigations into Spanish music history cover the ceremonial regulations of the Royal Chapel of Granada, royal festivities in Zaragoza, and the flourishing of the polychoral style in Madrid. Finally, the collection addresses the iconographic representation in Baroque painting, theatrical innovations during diplomatic marriages, the discovery of lost scores, and the biographical historiography of prestigious chapelmasters like Carlos Patiño and Antonio Ugena.

Paulino Capdepón Verdú is full Professor at the University of Castilla-La Mancha and Director of the Center for Musical Research and Documentation (Associated Unit with the CSIC).

Juan José Pastor Comín is full Professor at the University of Castilla-La Mancha and codirector of the Center for Musical Research and Documentation (Associated Unit with the CSIC).

Both editors have received the Government of Castilla-La Mancha’s Research and Innovation Award in the Arts and Humanities: Capdepón in 2023 and Pastor in 2025.