In his seminal book The sounds of Milan of 2002, Robert Kendrick mentions a previously unknown exchange of letters between Tomás Luis de Victoria and Cardinal Carlo Borromeo dating from 1583-4.1 Given the focus of his book, Kendrick did not expand on these letters-the information is given in a brief passage and two endnotes-and there has been no follow-up from Victoria scholars since then. In this article, I present these two letters, introduce further documents and information relating to the contact between Victoria and Borromeo, and put the matter in the context of recent developments in both Victoria scholarship and Borromean studies. The autograph letter from Victoria to Borromeo (from Rome and dated 30 December 1583) and a copy of the cardinal's answer (dated 19 May 1584) are housed in the Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana in Milan.2 Victoria's letter (see illus.1a-b) accompanied one of his recently printed collections of music (see below). It comprises a single folded sheet with the text of the letter written on the right-hand side (now corresponding to fol.448r of Ms. f.166 inf.). The text reads:3.
Carlo Borromeo and Tomás Luis de Victoria: A gift, two letters and a recruiting campaign
Daniele V. Filippi
2015-01-01
Abstract
In his seminal book The sounds of Milan of 2002, Robert Kendrick mentions a previously unknown exchange of letters between Tomás Luis de Victoria and Cardinal Carlo Borromeo dating from 1583-4.1 Given the focus of his book, Kendrick did not expand on these letters-the information is given in a brief passage and two endnotes-and there has been no follow-up from Victoria scholars since then. In this article, I present these two letters, introduce further documents and information relating to the contact between Victoria and Borromeo, and put the matter in the context of recent developments in both Victoria scholarship and Borromean studies. The autograph letter from Victoria to Borromeo (from Rome and dated 30 December 1583) and a copy of the cardinal's answer (dated 19 May 1584) are housed in the Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana in Milan.2 Victoria's letter (see illus.1a-b) accompanied one of his recently printed collections of music (see below). It comprises a single folded sheet with the text of the letter written on the right-hand side (now corresponding to fol.448r of Ms. f.166 inf.). The text reads:3.
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